Handling an IRS Collection Case: From Initial Call to Offer Acceptance (Full-Day Course) (Completed)

As the federal government faces extreme financial pressures while the IRS has seen 18% of its budget cut, the IRS is using every tool it has available to collect taxes owed and to close the "tax gap." As of December 31, 2014 there were more than 12.4 million taxpayer accounts in the IRS Collection Division's inventory, an increase of nearly 6 million accounts since 2005, a 91% increase! IRS lien filings are up a staggering 1,600 percent over the past 10 years, and levies served on third parties have increased 475 percent during the same period. When the IRS places liens on property and accounts or levies strip money from taxpayers' paychecks, the reality of tax problems become unavoidable. And those enforcement activities send taxpayers scrambling for professional help in resolving their IRS problems.

On Dec. 4, 2015 President Obama signed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which now requires the IRS to use private debt collectors and to suspend taxpayer’s passports for unpaid taxes! The coming year will see new enforcement action being taken and clients will be scrambling for help. The Impact of the IRS Appeals Judicial Approach and Culture (AJAC) will change the way we find Collections handling our cases and our collection appeals. Finally, the IRS has begun sending Collection cases to the Department of Justice Tax Division for suit to bring tax liens down to a judgment for 20-years of DOJ collection action!

Based upon the numbers and changes we see happening, Collection is almost certainly the hottest growth area in tax right now, and 2016 will usher in some good (and not so good) changes to the IRS Collection process. Tax preparation has started to be viewed by clients as a commodity service that can be purchased anywhere and clients are increasingly price sensitive. Representing clients through the Collection process, however, is a specialized area that increases your practice's visibility and commands premium billing rates, as well as creating long-term client relationships as you help these clients solve their immediate problems and avoid future difficulties with the IRS.

This full-day "deep dive" online CPE seminar (8 hours CPE credit) with highly regarded tax controversy expert, Eric L. Green, Esq. of Green & Sklarz, LLC in Connecticut will provide a detailed discussion of how the IRS collection process works, what practitioners — both new and experienced — must understand and do to operate competently in this area, and how to make this a valuable part of your practice. This client-focused program will tap into Mr. Green's extensive experience as he uses examples from his own case files to show practitioners how to advocate for clients and get problems resolved quickly and effectively.

All professionals involved in tax planning, tax return preparation, and taxpayer representation will benefit from this seminar. The presentation time will include opportunities for you to ask questions directly to Mr. Green.

Who Should Attend
All CPAs, enrolled agents, tax return preparers, tax attorneys, and other practitioners who are involved in tax return preparation or tax consulting and who advise taxpayers on federal tax issues or disputes will benefit from this insightful seminar.

Topics Covered

• Inside the IRS Collection Division
• IRS Collection Procedures and the New FAST Act
• The Collection Statute of Limitations
• Collections Appeals and the Impact of AJAC
• The Federal Tax Lien Mechanics
• Withdrawal, Discharge and Subordination of the Federal Tax Lien
• Department of Justice Action to Seek Converting the IRS Lien into a Judgment and its Impact on Clients
• Federal Tax Levy Mechanics
• Avoiding a Federal Tax Levy
• Getting Levies Released
• Installment Agreements
• Offers-in-Compromise
• Having Clients Deemed Uncollectable
• Utilizing Bankruptcy to Resolve Tax Issues
• Payroll Tax Issues
• Client Case Studies

Learning Objectives

• Understand how the IRS collection process works
• Learn how the IRS utilizes liens and levies to collect taxes due the government
• Show how to handle and remove liens and levies
• Identify opportunities to resolve outstanding tax debts
• Define the steps necessary to help clients with payroll tax problems

Level
Intermediate

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (8 hours)

Program Prerequisites
Basic understanding of federal income taxation concepts and IRS procedures.

Advance Preparation
None