When you owe money to the IRS, we understand how stressful it is to open a tax collection letter with threats to seize your assets or file tax liens that can ruin your credit. You've likely encountered hundreds of advertisements from large, nationally syndicated tax resolution firms promising to settle your tax debts for pennies on the dollar. It's tempting to give in to the hype when you can't see another way out, but remember, these companies know how to play on your hopes and fears. Some of these firms are nothing more than "Offer in Compromise mills" — eager to submit an offer for almost any client while knowing full well that many such offers are unlikely to be accepted. The truth is that you may not qualify for an Offer in Compromise or may have far better alternatives for addressing your tax debt.

In order to submit a successful offer to the IRS, you must provide a financial statement complete with detailed information regarding your household income, assets, and living expenses. What you present and how you present it is extremely important. Unless you understand the complicated rules and procedures governing financial statement analysis, you could end up settling for more than necessary or having your offer rejected altogether. If you want an honest, accurate assessment of your prospects for submitting a successful Offer in Compromise, you need experienced local counsel. We know how to negotiate the best possible deal for you, and we won't waste your time or money with offers that have no chance of being accepted. We offer free consultations and flat-fee arrangements for Offers in Compromise. Send us a message for more information.

Depending on your financial circumstances and the amount you owe, the IRS offers several types of installment agreements to pay your balance. The most common type, known as a "streamlined installment agreement" is available to taxpayers with a total balance of less than $50,000 who can satisfy the entire delinquency in six years or less. If your balance is more than $50,000, or if you are unable to afford the required minimum payments under the streamlined procedures, you'll need to negotiate a monthly payment plan with the IRS. To do this, you must submit a financial statement and provide detailed information regarding your household income, assets, and living expenses. What you present and how you present it is extremely important. Unless you understand the complicated rules and procedures governing financial statement analysis, you risk paying more than the minimum amount required.

The Oregon Department of Revenue and other state tax agencies also offer payment agreements to satisfy delinquent taxes, but on much less favorable terms than those offered by the IRS. Unless you can demonstrate financial hardship, the Department of Revenue will require you to pay your entire balance, regardless of amount, in just 12 months. The Department of Revenue has little regard for taxpayer rights and is extremely aggressive when it comes to tax collections. Our lead tax attorney, Dominic Paris, has won groundbreaking lawsuits against the Department of Revenue, for example, by convincing the Oregon Tax Court to recognize its jurisdiction over the Department's collection decisions, and by establishing precedent to demonstrate how the Department may issue a notice of assessment in bad faith.

Regardless of which tax bureaucracy you're dealing with, it is important to keep in mind that taxpayers are all too often forced to interact with poorly trained, unprofessional, underpaid, and unsatisfied government workers who may be having a very bad day and who are prone to making irrational or uninformed decisions. They may not understand (or care about) the law or your constitutional rights. We will protect your interests with our comprehensive knowledge of the statutes, regulations, and policies under which these agencies operate. At London & Paris, we are passionate about doing what it takes to shield you and your assets from abusive tax collection practices.

The IRS imposes harsh penalties on taxpayers who fall behind on filing their tax returns or making tax payments. With the assistance of competent counsel, you may be able to escape those penalties by showing "reasonable cause" for your failure to comply with the tax laws. If your failure to file tax returns or pay taxes was due to illness, death of a loved one, financial hardship, or other difficult circumstances, you have the right to request relief. We have helped clients completely erase six figure tax penalties through determination and aggressive advocacy. Whether you've been hit with state or federal tax penalties, contact us today to discuss your options.

Many taxpayers are unaware that outstanding tax debts can be discharged in bankruptcy under certain circumstances. The law surrounding the treatment of taxes in bankruptcy is highly complicated and requires specialized skill. To summarize, you could be a candidate for bankruptcy if all or some of your tax debts meet the following criteria: (i) the tax return that gave rise to the tax debt was due at least 3 years prior to filing for bankruptcy, (ii) the tax return that gave rise to the tax debt was filed at least 2 years prior to filing for bankruptcy, and (iii) the tax debt was assessed at least 8 months prior to filing for bankruptcy.

Although these criteria may sound straightforward, they involve many highly technical definitions and hidden traps for the unwary. In addition, every jurisdiction has different rules regarding the discharge of tax debts in bankruptcy, and this area of law is constantly evolving. Contact London & Paris to determine whether a tax-driven bankruptcy is right for you.