If you’re getting IRS letters — or avoiding opening them — you’re not alone, and it’s more fixable than it feels. Tax problems rarely improve on their own, but they almost always have a path out. Here’s the shape of it.
1. Get current
The first step is usually filing any missing returns. The IRS generally won’t discuss a resolution until you’re caught up, and filing often reduces what you owe compared to the estimates they’ll make for you.
2. Understand the real number
We pull your account transcripts to see exactly what the IRS thinks you owe and why. Sometimes the balance is wrong, or penalties can be reduced.
3. Choose a path
- Payment plan (installment agreement) — pay over time.
- Offer in compromise — settle for less than the full amount, if you qualify.
- Currently not collectible — a pause when paying would cause real hardship.
- Penalty abatement — relief from penalties when there’s reasonable cause.
Which one fits depends on your finances — and not everyone qualifies for every option. What matters is having someone licensed to represent you deal with the IRS directly. Our enrolled agents and tax attorneys do exactly that.
General information, not legal or tax advice. We can’t promise a specific outcome.