What is the most annoying thing about taxes? The IRS says it’s back taxes and tax evasion. But if you ask me, it’s how difficult it is to get help when you’re working with the system like an outsider.
The IRS says that even if you owe money, you can still get help with your taxes. All you need to do is qualify for assistance in their special programs. Here, I’ll tell you how to get help when the IRS won’t make it easy.
If you file late and owe more than $25,000 (the requirement in 2021) they call this category of taxpayer an “NFF.” You’ve got tax problems they can fix!
You just have to be approved for one of the special NFF programs that only someone who owes big bucks is eligible for. For example, they could approve you under a Special Installment Agreement or Offer promise.
I know what you’re thinking: pay the IRS their money and go? Not good.
You don’t want to go that route! The other options are far more appealing.
If you qualify under one of these programs, like the NFF Direct Debit Installment Agreement, they’ll be happy to take your tax payment every month without hassle—as long as you pay on time and in full each month.
If you miss a payment or fail to honor the agreement, the IRS gets out its ball and chain right away and starts seizing assets (this means they can get anything from your property to cash in your bank accounts).
If this happens, I’d just think about how much easier it would have been if you just did what the IRS wanted in the first place. But at least you have some options to keep the IRS off your back even if you owe money.
If your qualifying tax situation falls under Unagreed Tax Liability, they’ll send you two bills with different payment amounts.
The first bill includes the amount of taxes that are in dispute between yourself and the IRS. You can either pay this reduced amount or file a petition with the U.S. Tax Court before the due date on your second statement (don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds).
Of course, one way or another, you still have to pay what you owe them—it just depends on how quickly you want to make things happen.
So even if you don’t qualify for an NFF program, you can still get help with your taxes either way, as long as the IRS thinks that they owe you money. If they think that you owe them money instead, then what are your options?
If you don’t have the cash to cover it, of course, they’ll send in an auditing team, which means more fees and penalties throughout time.
The easy way out sounds tempting, right?
But there’s no such thing as free money—or is there? The IRS says if your offer appears to be too good to be true, then it probably isn’t.
For example, someone has tried to convince taxpayers that by filing one return for all their business profits or losses, they will only pay one year of back taxes—and this is NOT true.
You may be wondering how these scam artists are still in business, with companies like the IRS trying to put them out (so to speak).
Sometimes they can take advantage of loopholes in the law—but most of the time it’s the victims’ own fault for not knowing what they were signing up for.
For example, I got an email last week from someone who received a notice saying that she was overdue on her estimated payments and now had to pay $10,000 or else face further penalties or interest on top of that!
She obviously panicked because she had no idea where all that money would come from. However, if you’re ever unsure about anything, just go straight to your local IRS office and ask them what to do next.
But I Got An Audit!
No matter how many times you tell people that filing your taxes doesn’t mean that the IRS is going to audit your return, some people still think they can get away with not paying.
They’re wrong. Sure, sometimes the IRS will send in an auditor just to double-check on a few things if they feel like something isn’t right.
But even then it’s nothing serious (unless you’ve been engaged in major criminal activity, of course).
So don’t worry about getting audited. Just file your tax returns correctly and honestly and don’t forget about any payments or withholding allowances so you don’t have any surprises when April comes around each year—and you should be fine.
Now, if you’re ever in a situation where you feel like the IRS is coming down on you too hard, and you need some help. Well, there’s always someone to talk to at Tax Help Line (1-555-TAX-HELP).
Fill Up Your Taxes for IRS and File by November 15th
If you owe $10,000+ in back taxes and don’t file by November 15 the at, expect a penalty of at least 5% and up to 10%.
You’ll also lose your money, and pay % interest per month on your back taxes. If you think this sounds complicated, that’s because it is.
In 2018 the IRS collected over where 80% can qualify for free can tax help from a provider like known as an.
But only about 20% of those who needed to file their taxes took advantage of this program.
Clearly, there needs to be more education done around this issue – especially because not using a volunteer tax preparer will not only cost you financially but also physically/emotionally (and even worse if you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck).
The Internal Revenue Service offers free tax help by computer and telephone and in person. The IRS helps taxpayers get forms and publications and answers a wide range of tax questions.
The IRS can also help individuals find free tax preparation services. Taxpayers can access a wealth of free tax information on IRS.gov.
Will the IRS help me with my taxes?
- Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours.
- Select your language, pressing 1 for English or 2 for Spanish.
- Press 2 for questions about your personal income taxes.
- Press 1 for questions about a form already filed or a payment.
- Press 3 for all other questions.
How do you speak to a live person at the IRS?
There are three different ways to speak with a live person at the IRS.
Call 1-800-829-1040 during the support hours for your language and press 2.
Call 1-800-829-4933 from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm Monday through Friday, local time zone of the taxpayer whose books or records you need to inspect.
How to talk to a live person at the IRS?
1-800-829-1040 support hours, press 2 for questions about your personal income taxes, press 1 for questions about a form already filed or a payment, press 3 if you have any other questions.
Note that filing taxes is different from being audited, so don’t worry unnecessarily!
If you think you are being wrongly audited by the IRS call Tax Help Line (1-555-TAX-HELP) to find out what your rights are.
Can you help me fill out my taxes?
No! The IRS only has the authority to answer tax questions, provide forms and publications, and refer taxpayers – not prepare returns.
Only volunteers who have been trained by the IRS can do these services. If you want someone else to prepare your return, see “Where Can I Get My Taxes Prepared For Free?”
How can a taxpayer get help from the IRS?
There are three ways you can get assistance from the IRS:
1) A tax preparer who is an IRS Authorized volunteer prepares your return for free. You can search online or check with a non-profit organization like (555-TAX-HELP). If the costs of preparing and filing your taxes go over $60 (excluding penalties and interest), you can file a form to get your money back. Make sure you keep all receipts!
2) If you filed a for this year, call 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours and select language, then press 2 for questions about personal income tax returns (or 3 if none of these apply). When you call that number, listen to the entire message and don’t hang up. You may be able to get your tax question answered without waiting on hold.
3) If you are having an ongoing issue that hasn’t been resolved, call 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours (and listen to the entire message) and select language, then press 3. For the hearing impaired with access to TTY/TDD equipment, dial 1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or order forms and publications.
Where can I get my taxes prepared for free?
If you make $60,000 per year ($12,000 if you’re married filing separately) or less in 2018 – that’s about 85% of Americans – you qualify for free tax preparation from a trained volunteer.
All you have to do is walk into a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, fill out the forms they provide, and your information will be entered into their tax software.
If you can’t find one of those VITA sites near you, call 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours to ask where there’s a site in your area.
What if I’m being audited by the IRS?
If you think you are being wrongly audited or if the IRS tells you that additional money is owed, don’t panic!
You should always receive a series of notices from the IRS before being audited to give you time to contest any issues with them.
Make sure you follow the instructions on each notice you receive and always retain all documents sent to you by the IRS.
If the audit is regarding incorrect information that was filed by someone else, tell the auditor if your spouse or ex-spouse had any part in it. Call Tax Help Line (1-555-TAX-HELP) for more information on your rights with an audit.
How do I contact the IRS to ask a question?
Call 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours (and listen to the entire message) and select language, then press 3. For the hearing impaired with access to TTY/TDD equipment, dial 1-800-829-4059.
IRS Tax Assistants
1-555-TAX-HELP
Tax assistants, or TAS, are trained volunteers who answer general tax questions. They are not allowed to prepare your return for you or answer any specific tax questions about withholding, reporting tips, business expenses, etc. Only the IRS can provide that information!
If you make $60,000 per year ($12,000 if you’re married filing separately) or less in 2018 – that’s about 85% of Americans – contact Tax Help Line (1-555-TAX-HELP) and they will connect you with a TA near where you live.
Who qualifies for free tax preparation from a volunteer?
If you make $60,000 per year ($12,000 if you’re married filing separately) or less in 2018 – that’s about 85% of Americans – you qualify for free tax preparation from a trained volunteer.
All you have to do is walk into a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, fill out the forms they provide, and your information will be entered into their tax software.
If you can’t find one of those VITA sites near you, call 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours and listen to the entire message and ask where there’s a site in your area.
