rs-irs-audits Archives - Page 9 of 9

Who Qualifies for IRS Legal Aid?

April 23, 2026December 17, 2013 by Brotman Law

Click here for the previous section about legal aid.

Disabled Veteran Status

If you are a disabled veteran, you may qualify for free IRS legal aid. Eligibility is based upon issues that may range from rental assistance to child visitation matters. To determine if you are eligible, contact your local veterans association. The association will help you to determine if you or a member of your household qualifies for a number of services and free legal aid.

Key Takeaways

If you are a disabled veteran, you may qualify for free IRS legal aid. Eligibility is based upon issues that may range from rental assistance to child visitation matters. To determine if you are eligible, contact your local veterans association.
Most agencies and organizations offer free IRS legal aid services to immigrants and noncitizens that need help with visa applications, green cards, deportation proceedings, and work authorizations (“Do You Qualify for Free Legal Aid?”).
You may be eligible to receive free IRS legal aid if your issue falls under civil rights, or lack thereof.

The Current IRS Organization

April 23, 2026November 2, 2013 by Brotman Law

The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 triggered a comprehensive reorganization of the IRS, which modernized the Service and made it closer to being run like a private sector organization. As such, the IRS organization is led by the Commissioner serving as the chief official, the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff in the executive leadership roles below, and a number of “specialized IRS units” that serve different functions. [1] Staff members from each of these multiple units report to the Commissioner within the IRS Organization. Here is a list of the specialized units within the IRS Organization that report directly to the Commissioner. [2]

Key Takeaways

The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 triggered a comprehensive reorganization of the IRS, which modernized the Service and made it closer to being run like a private sector organization.
Perhaps of most interest within the IRS organization from a tax resolution standpoint is the Services and Enforcement Unit.
Another key official within the IRS organization is the Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support, who also reports directly to the Commissioner.

IRS Revenue Officers and Strategies for Dealing with Them – Part Five

April 23, 2026October 2, 2013 by Brotman Law

IRS Revenue Officers Tip # 6 – Knowing When to Get Tough

This is one of the most difficult things for me to advise you on how to do properly and effectively. Experience and knowledge of tax procedure have seasoned me throughout the years on when is an appropriate time to get tough with your revenue officer. The fact of the matter is that some revenue officers will try to take advantage of your weakened position and, if you let them, they will walk all over you. Some will go on a fishing expedition by requesting a ridiculous amount of documentation to substantiate the positions on your financial statement or for them to conduct their investigation. Some will take a hard line position by insisting on good faith payment amounts or monthly installment payment amounts that are too difficult for the taxpayer to meet without them suffering financial hardship.

Key Takeaways

This is one of the most difficult things for me to advise you on how to do properly and effectively. Experience and knowledge of tax procedure have seasoned me throughout the years on when is an appropriate time to get tough with your revenue officer.
As I mentioned, it is always better to be nice to the revenue officer and maintain an amicable relationship. However, sometimes this is not always possible and some people just need to be put into check.
In closing, I hope that these tips have been helpful for you in learning how I deal with revenue officers. My goal here was to assist you in achieving better results and to minimize the stress that an IRS collection matter can put on your life.

IRS Revenue Officers and Strategies for Dealing with Them – Part Four

April 23, 2026October 2, 2013 by Brotman Law

IRS Revenue Officers Tip #5 – Manage Your Expectations

One of my favorite IRS revenue officer sayings is that “the IRS is not a bank.” I find this slightly humorous in light of how many people have outstanding tax liabilities, but it also is a key takeaway about the mindset in which revenue officers approach their cases. IRS revenue officers are tasked with achieving the best possible resolution for the government, which means having the taxpayer satisfy their liability as soon as possible and/or squeezing as much money out of the taxpayer over the long run as they can without putting the taxpayer in financial hardship. Do not think for a second that they are going to sway from this purpose. In addition, revenue officers have a manager look over and approve all resolutions before they become final. If they slack in their job, they will hear about it from their managers.

Key Takeaways

One of my favorite IRS revenue officer sayings is that “the IRS is not a bank.
For example, one of the most important and difficult questions that I get from families with IRS problems is whether or not they are going to be able to keep their kids in their private schools or pay their college tuition on an IRS payment plan.
The main thing that I want to communicate to you is that you need to manage your expectations going into the process of what the end result is going to be.

IRS Revenue Officers and Strategies for Dealing with Them – Part Three

April 23, 2026October 2, 2013 by Brotman Law

IRS Revenue Officers Tip #3 – Get on the Revenue Officer’s Good Side by Making Life Easy For Them

Whatever your occupation, there are just some people that we encounter over the course of our chosen professions that make life difficult for us. They may turn in things that are substandard and require a lot of your time to make right. They may require constant follow up in order to get the things that you have asked for or miss appointments or deadlines without notifying you in advance. You may be one of these people to someone else, but absolutely do not be that person to your revenue officer. Getting on the revenue officer’s bad side is never a good thing. They will be generally less inclined to give you the resolution you are seeking and will make interactions with them more stressful and more difficult for you.

Key Takeaways

Whatever your occupation, there are just some people that we encounter over the course of our chosen professions that make life difficult for us. They may turn in things that are substandard and require a lot of your time to make right.
In addition, missing deadlines with the revenue officer can lead to harsh consequences. They can place a lien or levy you pretty quickly if you start to get out of line.
IRS revenue officers generally have a lot going on. They have roughly forty cases or so to sift through.

IRS Revenue Officers and Strategies for Dealing with Them – Part Two

April 23, 2026October 2, 2013 by Brotman Law

IRS Revenue Officers Tip #1 – Be Aggressive in Getting Everything Ready BEFORE the Revenue Officer Gets Involved.

Key Takeaways

Tax resolution services for self-employed individuals and independent contractors (individual tax resolution)
Tax resolution services for individuals and families (individual tax resolution- W2 and wage earners)
Legal representation before IRS collections {{cta(‘169c92b5-8355-4ceb-80f4-acb2fe9313da’)}}

There are two things that an IRS revenue officer judges themselves on when it comes to their own job performance: how much money they can collect toward the satisfaction of the liability and how fast they can close a case out. From the taxpayer standpoint, the most important objective other than a successful resolution to your account is to get them out of your life as soon as possible. No one likes the IRS looking over their shoulder and the longer that they linger than the more opportunity exists for them to make your life miserable. So do not let them.

IRS Revenue Officers and Strategies for Dealing with Them – Part One

April 23, 2026October 2, 2013 by Brotman Law

Introduction: About IRS Revenue Officers

IRS revenue officers are the most senior collections agents in the IRS.[1] IRS revenue officers handle those delinquent accounts that the IRS places the highest priority on, so much so that the government has assigned a local agent to specifically work the case in order to collect what is owed to the IRS. Generally, these individuals are highly trained and will incorporate an arsenal of tools and tactics in order to resolve the account in the favor of the IRS. They can retrieve third party records through summons, contact your employer, show up at your home or work, and seize a variety of assets (wages, accounts receivable, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, merchant accounts, etc…) in order to satisfy your tax liability. Having a revenue officer assigned to your collection account is a serious matter and it is important to take that person and their collection efforts seriously. Failure to do so may end you up on the bad side of the revenue officer and may make your life extremely difficult.

Key Takeaways

IRS revenue officers are the most senior collections agents in the IRS.
Many revenue officers are nice people and there some I would consider professional friends. However, I am under no illusions when I have to deal with a revenue officer.

IRS Transcripts – Part Two – W&I and Return Transcripts

April 23, 2026September 30, 2013 by Brotman Law

IRS Transcripts – Wage and Income Transcripts

These types of IRS transcripts are a record of all of the wage and income data provided to the IRS by 3rd party providers including your employer, banks, financial institutions, brokerage houses, other government agencies, corporations, casinos, and a few others. All W2s, W2-Gs, 1099s, 1098s, 5498s, K1s, and other records of income on file for your social security number will be listed. Wage and income transcripts are most beneficial when preparing past returns because they are a quick and easy listing of income that you may have earned for that tax year. However, wage and income IRS transcripts should be checked for potential errors and compared with the information that you have in your records. 3rd parties can and frequently do make mistakes. Also, equally important, is to check your wage and income transcript for instances of identity theft. Wage and income transcripts are also an excellent provide insight into what information the IRS has on file for you. Although hopefully you will be able to prevent adverse collection activity before it occurs after reading this book, wage and income transcripts can give some idea of what they may come after (and how quickly they will be able to find it) if collection activity does occur.

Key Takeaways

It is also important to note that wage and income IRS transcripts are not always complete for the current year, as the IRS is still receiving and processing information from 3rd parties.
Return transcripts are itemized line by line records of your individual income tax return (Form 1040, 1040a, 1040ez) as it was filed and processed by the IRS. When the IRS receives a tax return, it breaks it down into bits of data that it can more easily use.

IRS Transcripts – Part One – IRS Account Transcripts

April 23, 2026September 30, 2013 by Brotman Law

To assist taxpayers and practitioners, the IRS will provide taxpayers with transcripts of the information that the IRS has on file. There are three main types of IRS transcripts that taxpayers should be aware of before checking their account. These are IRS account transcripts, IRS return transcripts, and IRS wage and income transcripts.

Key Takeaways

To assist taxpayers and practitioners, the IRS will provide taxpayers with transcripts of the information that the IRS has on file. There are three main types of IRS transcripts that taxpayers should be aware of before checking their account.
The most important transcript for checking activity on your account for any given year.
IRS account transcripts should be reviewed thoroughly to ensure that all information is correct on your account. The first thing that you should check for is to make sure that your return appears on this transcript as being filed.