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How Tax Attorneys Help You Deal with IRS Revenue Officers

If you have a serious tax issue, the IRS may assign a Revenue Officer (RO) to your case. Once a RO has been assigned, the situation is serious. They use aggressive collection tactics such as contacting your employer, issuing summonses, and filing liens and levies. In the past, they used to show up at taxpayers homes or offices unannounced, but now, if they want to meet, they send an appointment request with Letter 725-B.

Dealing with them on your own can be scary and intimidating, and if you don’t know how to respond, the situation can become worse.

Communicating with IRS Revenue Officers

When you work with experienced tax attorneys, they represent you in front of the IRS. After you sign Form 2848 (Power of Attorney), the RO will direct all communication to the attorney.

They will no longer be able to come to your home or office or contact your employer. All communication must go through your designated representative.

Establishing a Positive Relationship with Revenue Officers

Negotiating with RO on your own can be challenging. They often act like they have a chip on their shoulder. If you’ve missed deadlines in the process, they may be more aggressive.

Experienced lawyers understand the importance of establishing a good working relationship with the RO. They neutralize any negative predispositions they have and work hard to negotiate the best outcome possible for their clients.

Often they have worked with the RO in the past, or have already worked with their field office. They leverage these prior relationships to the taxpayer’s advantage, resulting in a less hostile negotiation and better resolution outcome.

Handling Revenue Officer Paperwork

RO request an enormous amount of paperwork. They almost always send out Form 9297 (Summary of Taxpayer Contact), the taxpayer has a very short amount of time to provide the requested information.

The paperwork must be filled out correctly and organized well. IRS Revenue officers don’t like sloppy paperwork and presentation. Attorneys know how to present the paperwork in a clear concise way.

They develop a complete understanding of their clients’ tax problems and financial situation. They know from experience what information is going to be demanded and have all the financials and paperwork completed and prepared to submit when the RO makes contact.

Extending Deadlines

RO impose stringent deadlines that can be impossible to meet. For example, they might expect a taxpayer to submit unfiled tax returns faster than you can gather the information. The IRS lawyer negotiates deadline extensions so you don’t suffer the consequences of missing deadlines.

Negotiating with the Revenue Officer

Some RO can be aggressive, however, attorneys that have experience working with them aren’t intimidated. If needed, they push back and elevate the case to the group manager to defend the taxpayer’s interest.

They can also request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing. The CDP brings in an objective third-party. They halt the previous collections’ actions and let you negotiate with a settlement officer.

RO generally have a lot of discretion in negotiations. They can accept or reject resolutions. They can use aggressive negotiation tactics to force taxpayers into a settlement that causes them to pay more than they can afford.

Many taxpayer advocates are skilled negotiators. They know the tax codes and IRS procedures. They have the experience to negotiate through difficult issues. They can help you avoid liens and garnishments or get them withdrawn. They use their experience to deliver the best outcome for the taxpayer.

Filing Forms for Taxpayers

The taxpayers designated representative has a team to collect all the necessary information to draft and submit Forms 433a (Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed People) and 433b (Collection Information Statement for Businesses). RO almost always request these statements. They also know the importance of updating financials regularly during negotiations until the outcome is certain.

H2 Revenue Officers Vs. Revenue Agents

If you’re dealing with unpaid taxes, you’re probably talking to a revenue officer. In contrast, if the IRS audits your return, you will deal with a revenue agent. To help you out, this guide explains the differences and similarities between these two IRS employees. 

Get Help with Revenue Officers

The RO job is to take as much of your money as they can for the IRS. An experienced IRS lawyer thoroughly understands the IRS Collection Financial standards. They use their knowledge and experience to maximize your allowable expenses and reach the best resolution possible.

If an RO has been assigned to your account now may be a good time to consider leveraging the services of The W Tax Group. The team of experienced tax attorneys at The W Tax Group can help you deal with them. To learn more, contact us at The W Tax Group today.