Question 1

How much does tax resolution cost in Weir Lake, PA?

Accepted Answer

Tax resolution fees depend on the complexity of your case and which services you need. We charge a consultation fee that gets credited 100% toward your resolution work if you hire us. This ensures you're getting serious professional advice, not a sales pitch.Most clients save far more than they pay in fees. If we negotiate a $50,000 tax debt down to $8,000, our fee is a small fraction of what you're saving. We're transparent about costs upfront because surprise bills are the last thing you need when you're already dealing with tax problems.Payment plans are available for our services. We understand that if you had extra money lying around, you probably wouldn't have tax problems in the first place.

Question 2

Can the IRS really take my house for back taxes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the IRS can seize your home, but it's rare and usually happens only after they've tried everything else. They prefer to work out payment arrangements because foreclosing on houses is expensive and time-consuming for them too.Before any seizure happens, you'll receive multiple notices giving you chances to resolve the debt. This is where professional representation becomes crucial. We can negotiate payment plans, offers in compromise, or other solutions that protect your home while resolving your tax debt.The key is acting before things get to the seizure stage. Once you're in our system, we put a hold on collection activities while we work out your resolution. Your house stays yours while we fix the underlying problem.

Question 3

What's the difference between a tax lien and a tax levy?

Accepted Answer

A tax lien is the IRS claiming a legal right to your property as security for your tax debt. It's like a mortgage—they're saying they have first dibs on your assets if you sell them. Liens hurt your credit score and make it hard to sell property or get loans.A tax levy is when they actually take your stuff. They can levy bank accounts, wages, business assets, even Social Security benefits. A levy is immediate—your money disappears from your account or gets deducted from your paycheck.Both are serious, but levies create immediate financial emergencies while liens create long-term problems. We can help release both, but the approach is different. Lien releases often require payment arrangements or settlements, while levy releases usually need immediate negotiation to restore your income.

Question 4

How long does tax resolution take in Pennsylvania?

Accepted Answer

Simple cases like payment plan requests can be resolved in 30-60 days. Complex cases involving offers in compromise or multiple tax years can take 6-18 months. The IRS has specific timeframes they're supposed to follow, but they don't always meet them.Pennsylvania state tax issues usually resolve faster than federal cases. The state Department of Revenue is generally more willing to work with taxpayers, especially if you're making good faith efforts to resolve the problem.The timeline depends on what resolution option makes sense for your situation. Emergency situations like wage garnishments get handled immediately—we can usually stop collection actions within days. Long-term solutions like offers in compromise take longer because the IRS reviews your entire financial situation.

Question 5

Do I qualify for an offer in compromise?

Accepted Answer

Offers in compromise let you settle your tax debt for less than you owe, but the IRS only accepts about 25% of applications. You need to prove you can't pay the full amount without creating financial hardship, or that there's doubt about how much you actually owe.The IRS looks at your income, expenses, assets, and future earning potential. If you can afford to pay the full debt over time, they'll reject your offer. But if paying would leave you unable to cover basic living expenses, you might qualify.Pennsylvania residents often qualify because of the state's high cost of living and property taxes. We analyze your complete financial picture to determine if an offer makes sense before filing. There's no point submitting an offer that's going to get rejected—it just wastes time and money.

Question 6

What happens if I ignore IRS notices about back taxes?

Accepted Answer

Ignoring IRS notices makes everything worse and more expensive. They start with friendly letters asking you to pay or call them. If you don't respond, the letters get more threatening and the penalties keep adding up.Eventually, they'll file tax liens that destroy your credit, then move to levies that empty your bank accounts and garnish your wages. They can also seize business assets, revoke professional licenses, and even deny or revoke your passport for seriously delinquent tax debt.The longer you wait, the fewer options you have and the more it costs to fix. Early intervention gives us more negotiating power and more resolution options. Once they've started aggressive collection actions, we're playing defense instead of offense. Call before it gets to that point.

Tax Resolution Weir Lake, PA