What can you do if the IRS wants to seize your property to pay off your tax debt? If you have found yourself in this situation, you most likely have been ignoring the IRS' phone calls and letters or you have challenged the IRS' assessment of your tax debts. Whatever your case may be, the following options may be able to buy you enough time so that you can gather together the cash you need to make some payments on your debt.

If an impending seizure is on the cards, it is advisable for you to contact a lawyer. Dealing with the IRS can be extremely confusing and one-sided. This is because of the complex legal matters involved and the fact that without legal counsel you are at a distinct disadvantage. If you are risking having property, cash, or belongings taken and auctioned off by the IRS to pay your debt, it is time to bring in the legal eagles.

Secondly, talk to the IRS in an open manner. If you have been civil with them up to this point but things have still gotten this far, then you likely already know what your options are. Nevertheless, if you communicate openly with the IRS and frankly explain to them your situation, your action may stave off the seizure. In reality, it costs the government money and time to seize your property so if it can be avoided, it would be in the best interests of all parties. Therefore, if you can present any other kind of options, the IRS will be more than willing to listen.

Thirdly, you could list out all the properties that are seized and identify those which do not belong to you and therefore should not be seized. It is up to you to check and double-check the list of property that is due to be seized in case some of it belongs to others. You are required to then notify the IRS of this so that proper actions can be taken.

Finally, it may be practical to come to an agreement with the IRS on a payment plan. Such a plan may have been suggested by the IRS themselves to you before, in which case you can just fall back on it now. Since you are facing the possibility of a seizure, you might as well take up this option, even if you are sure that it will not work. Agreeing to a payment plan permits you to keep your property and it allows you to have extra time to try and work out what to do next. It is a win-win situation all around and it helps you avoid IRS seizures.

Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.

What to Do about IRS Seizures is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Every taxpayer should know about IRS paycheck levies. This is more so if you are presently contending with the IRS over your tax debts. According to current laws, the IRS can take up to 75 percent of your salary. The IRS will only allow you the amount of money you need for bare necessities like food and shelter every month. If you want to avoid this state of affairs all together, follow the tips below.

Firstly, you should never ignore any correspondence from the IRS. The letters start out polite and typically don't even sound threatening, but if you ignore them and don't take any action to resolve your debt, they can take on a darker, more threatening tone. You must be serious in dealing with the IRS and that includes keeping channels of communication open at all times. Ignoring the predicament will not make it go away, so do what you can to respond and discuss with IRS agents that have contacted you.

Secondly, bear in mind the extent and limits of what the IRS can do. For example, the IRS does not consider other debt that you may have, such as credit card bills, as living expenses. Whether you default on your credit card debts or other loans is immaterial. In fact, just about the only exception is child support. Child support is not included in IRS paycheck levies but you must inform them about your situation and seek exemption.

Most of the time, there are ways to overcome your tax problems but you have to be civil in discussing them with the IRS. Of course, you will not have your levy removed completely just by being polite, but you can put off the situation as long as possible by dealing in good faith and showing that you take this situation seriously. Do not get caught in an ego battle with the IRS.

Finally, most times you may be able to avoid an IRS paycheck levy by just working out a mutually acceptable payment plan with them. Again, many avoid doing this because they feel that they have been wronged or that they do not deserve the levy in the first place. If you can put your ego aside and do what is best for your pocketbook, agreeing to a payment plan, if nothing else, buys you a bit more time so you can figure out what to do. You need to avoid an IRS paycheck levy at all costs and by carrying out some of the suggestions in this article, you can stay ahead of the game.

Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.

How to Avoid IRS Paycheck Levies is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Can the IRS locate your bank accounts legally and without your approval? The answer is yes if it is for the purpose of getting back the money you owe in taxes. They can put a levy on your bank accounts until your taxes are paid up. This is just one of the strong arm tactics the IRS may use to get you to pay up. But how do they identify your bank?

One method is to issue you a check and when it is cashed, the name of your bank and your account number are written at the reverse side of the check. This is by far the simplest method and will often be the initial choice of the IRS since it costs almost nothing to carry out. Another way is to issue a general levy on all the banks in the location around where you live. In this method, the IRS is assuming you use a bank that is nearby your own home. This is a time-consuming and expensive way to go about things and it doesn't ensure success. If you are using an offshore bank to conceal your assets or if you are using a state-owned bank and you do most of your banking online, this method won't work. With the rise of the Internet, a blanket levy is becoming less and less workable.

If they want to get down and dirty, the IRS may obtain a search warrant and with the police, search through your premises for evidence of which bank you use to keep your money. They will need the help of a judge who will issue the order and the help of the local police force. If things have gotten this far with the IRS, you may want to just call them and talk about entering into a payment plan of some kind because this is almost as serious as things can get.

Another means the IRS may resort to is to find a paper trail of legal documents you may have signed like previous or current lease agreements in hopes of obtaining information about where you keep your money. They can also search your tax forms or any documents that you have on file with the government. Remember that these methods used by the IRS to locate your bank accounts are all within the law. To avoid all these, the best thing to do is to contact the IRS and work out a payment plan. The best person to speak to about this is a tax attorney.

Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.

How the IRS Locates Your Bank Account is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Because creditors collect payments directly from paychecks, salary garnishment is a tough situation for people in debt. For a number of reasons, people can get their wages garnished.

First, wage garnishment happens after a verdict has been arrived at against a defendant. The defendant's paycheck is garnished as a result. This means that money is directly taken from the paycheck (or other source of income) to be paid to the creditor or plaintiff. Here are some typical reasons that wages are garnished:

* Child support is required.
* Taxes are in arrears.
* Court fines unpaid.
* Student loans are in arrears.
* Credit card debt.
* Other debts.

Differing from state to state, federal law maintains garnishment at 25%. States like Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, and Texas don't allow garnishment, while others allow lower amounts for garnishment. The fixed order for garnishments to be taken when income is insufficient is federal first, state second, and credit cards last.

When garnishing wages, the IRS has a process that needs to be complied with:

* The first thing served is a Notice and Demand for Payment.
* A Final Notice is served no more than thirty days before the garnishment will take effect. (Note: A lot of settpeople don't receive the Final Notice because it doesn't have to be delivered personally. They may not be aware of the garnishment on their wage.)
* Unless other deals are reached for settlement or the debt is paid off, salary will be garnished. Defendants can't decline to have their salary garnished.

The 1099 is the form that is provided to freelancers, such as writers, actors, and artists who are not employees of particular companies. They must file a 1099 form if a freelancer makes $600 or more in a year from a firm. These declare income to the IRS. They do not deduct any taxes or withholdings, so the 1099 freelancers have to deduct the taxes themselves.

When wages are garnished, the settlement has to be taken out of an employee's paycheck by the employer. Employers aren't responsible to do so, though, with private contractors or freelancers. Instead of the salary being garnished, the contractor's bank account or accounts receivable are levied by the creditor.

When a bank account is levied, it is frozen, and all or some of the money in the account is seized. This is most commonly practiced by the IRS, but other creditors can do it, as well. Until the debt is paid, creditors can levy bank accounts.

Having your wage garnished or your bank account levied is serious. To assist you with this and for IRS help for other tax problems, talk to an experienced lawyer.

Darrin T. Mish is a nationally recognized tax attorney whose practice represents clients nationally and internationally with IRS problems. With over a decade of experience resolving clients’ IRS issues, he is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been honored by a listing in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With a passion for providing IRS help to taxpayers with both individual and payroll tax problems, he travels the country training attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 888-GET-MISH.

What Happens During IRS Collection Through Salary and 1099 Garnishments is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Your employer has no choice but to directly give a part of your paycheck to the Internal Revenue Service if he gets a notification that you are under a wage garnishment. It's definitely as terrible as it seems since you'll never see that money.

The IRS drastically deducts a considerable 80-85% of your net pay in a wage levy. This means that you will just be bringing home $200 out of $1000.

You will be able to address the garnishment of your wages with resources. In fact, in some cases, after working with a tax professional such as a tax attorney, they may be able to get your IRS wage garnishment released in a relatively timely manner. This relies on your tax professional's level of advice and expertise and your particular situation.

Similar to all areas of the IRS, there are very specific rules and guidelines related to an IRS levy being released and your wage garnishments being stopped. IRS employees need to follow strict rules before they handle any cases, or else face severe job punishments. A qualified and experienced tax professional will understand when the IRS is just giving you the runaround, and when they're telling the real truth about whether or not an allowance can be made or if there are simply no other choices. The IRS typically simply doesn't want to help taxpayers.

The IRS wishes to take money from you in the shortest possible time; that's why your wages are garnished. Essentially, the argument can be made that this is really the job of every single person working in the IRS. Although many people who work in the IRS are quite nice and cordial, they all have those underlying and fundamental job characteristics that can eventually ruin your life.

You require a tax lawyer or any tax professional who are not only knowledgeable of the IRS guidelines, but also have a successful track record in dealing with the IRS regarding wage garnishments. This way, you're sure that your case goes through the proper channels and that the IRS follows their own rules.

It is better to pick a tax professional you can easily work with as proceedings may take time. You should make it as easy as possible for yourself.

Darrin T. Mish is a nationally recognized attorney whose practice solely represents clients across the United States with IRS Problems. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. He has been honored with a listing in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is passionate about providing IRS help to taxpayers with both individual and payroll tax problems. He also extensively travels the nation providing training to attorneys, CPAs and Enrolled Agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 888-GET-MISH.

How to Get Through an IRS Wage Garnishment Unscathed is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

This is a real excerpt from an email that I received the other day. I get emails like this just about every day but I found this one to be especially poignant. I have also posted my response in the hopes that it will help someone else before this happens to them!

Today I was financially raped by the IRS.

I am up to date on all my yearly tax returns.

Due to cashing out of a 401K in 2005, I owed roughly $9K to the IRS. They have Obviously been intercepting my federal tax returns which are about $3K a year. This year, they seized my economic stimulus check of $900.

They say since I have never formally setup a payment plan for the $9K, they had every right to take $1705.00 out of my checking account today 11/14/2008. It brought my bank account to zero and items starting bouncing now.

In my checking account, I recently deposited a check for $1200.00 from my home owners insurance for a claim regarding a tree falling and damaging my roof. That money was obviously for the average estimates of repair, for my roof repair claim.

As of today, currently I have less then -$22 to my name.

When I called them on teh afternoon of (11/14/2008) to get back the $1705, or at least the $1200 from my insurance company, the agent no longer wanted to deal with me because she stated I was \"venting\" and \"raising my voice\" and \"interrupting her\".

Our connection was not good (I was on a cell phone) which I apologized for and stated I was very financially devastated today. I am a single father of two teenage boys, I just got paid on Wednesday 11/12/08 and the IRS, after receiving at minimum $3,900 already this year, just took another $1705 out of my checking account leaving me with no ability to feed my family.

If the IRS recordings of my call where reviewed, I firmly believe it would show that the IRS agent was clearly the one not letting me finish my sentences. The recordings would also reveal that the IRS agent (Ms. Greer) lacked common courtesy and even an ounce of compassion. Finally, the recordings would show that she just \"didn\'t want to deal with me\" and in her words \"we don\'t normally give back what we have taken, but I was going to see if a portion could be returned, but I am not going to do that because you vented on me\".

I am totally blown away, and feel that I was financially raped by the IRS on Friday, November 14th, 2008.

They came in like thieves in the night and stole food from my children’s mouths. They took my ability to put gas in my car so I could make a living for my family and to pay the wretched IRS back.

Answer-I'm sorry to read about what happened. I want to strongly urge you to visit this webpage: http://www.irs.gov/advocate/article/0,,id=147000,00.html

There you can find the contact information for your local Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. You need to download a form 911 from the IRS website and fill it out. Then fax it to the Sacramento Taxpayer Advocate office. You need to indicate on the form 911 that your bank account has been levied, and that this has created an "economic hardship" for you. That they took the $1200 that was intended to fix the roof from the tree damage. It may take a week or so but I am confident that you can get the money back. Also indicate to the Taxpayer Advocate that you want an Installment Agreement in the amount of $150 per month. They should take that.

We can't really do anything about the bounced check fees. The IRS most likely had the right to do what it did. It would have been far better to have worked this out in advance but you didn't really know that at the time.

Take care,

Darrin Mish

Reader says he was "financially raped" by the IRS is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

I don't write a lot of blog articles about particular cases. Generally I stick to more generic explanations and fact patterns. Today I can't help myself. Here is a short background on this particular taxpayer's case.

Mr. Taxpayer is a shareholder of a rather large company that had a payroll tax problem. He is over 70 years of age and is trying to wind down his work and responsibilities etc. Due to a downturn in business and an embezzlement by a trust employee, the IRS assessed the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty against he and his partner. The total liability for the Trust Fund Recover Penalty was in the neighborhood of $200,000.00. When the Automated Collection System (ACS) issued a Final Notice of Intent to Levy, we filed a Request for a Collection Due Process (CDP) knowing that it would likely be easier to deal with IRS Appeals rather than ACS. ACS has a reputation for being difficult to deal with. I believe that they are difficult to deal with and the reason is that they are not entrusted with very much authority whatsoever. Their authority extends to those acts which are detrimental to the taxpayer not those acts that might be considered helpful to a taxpayer. Even when they know the law is not on their side, they stonewall and rarely act in a manner consistent with the law. But I digress….

Back to our story. Mr. Taxpayer agrees to a monthly installment agreement in the amount of $3150.00 and pays it for 11 months. IRS levies his bank account (in my opinion contrary to the law.) Initially when we called to request a release of the IRS bank levy (a very rare concept, they almost never agree to release money they have already seized) they agree to the release and request copies of the checks paid against the installment agreement. Fast forward…..10 days goes by and no bank levy release? What's up with that? I call them back and I'm told the manager didn't approve the release. You see it turns out that Mr. Taxpayer made two payments (over six months ago) about a week late. So…the IRS seized the $9000 he had in the bank and defaulted his installment agreement. Now they want to go over his financials again. A process that is guaranteed to take over six months. All the while he won't be making his $3150.00 payments. So it will turn out to be a net loss for the IRS. It just goes to show you that the IRS routinely bites its nose off to spite its face.

The IRS doesn’t always act in its own self-interest is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

A huge percentage of all individual tax returns processed by the Internal Revenue Service's modernized account information computer system. Known as the Customer Account Data Engine, or CADE. This system is the centerpiece of modernization efforts at the IRS. CADE is handling significantly more tax returns each year. CADE, which is at the core of the effort to replace many of the agency's aging systems, dramatically speeds up internal IRS processing, permitting taxpayer accounts to update on a daily basis. This helps the IRS better administer the nation's tax system. The IRS is rolling out CADE in a series of "releases," each improving on and adding to the system capabilities. CADE was envisioned to replace the legacy Master File system, parts of which date back to the Kennedy Administration and will eventually house the account information of more than 200 million individual and business taxpayers.

The IRS will process nearly 140 million individual tax returns in 2008 and collect approximately $2 trillion in federal government revenue with the help of this system. Once processed by CADE returns are then analyzed by the computer system and compared against IRS data. As the computer processes each return error notices, balance due statements and audit alerts are all automatically generated. Each return requiring further collection is placed into a "notice queue" to receive a series of timely notices, each designed to increase compliance. If the computer notice is not successful in collecting past due tax or encouraging the taxpayer to file past due returns, the account is then assigned to the automated collection system (ACS), or in more extreme cases assigned to an IRS agent for collection.

Wage and bank account levies as well as federal tax liens can all be issued through the computer system. This highly impersonal way of enforcing the collection of taxes is often problematic and compounded by the "not so friendlier" IRS agents that man the phones at call centers. It's not an uncommon experience for a taxpayer to get lost in this complex "maze" and the pure frustration can become maddening. Often the frustration factor alone results in increased collection by the IRS because it's simply easier and more time efficient for some taxpayers to pay the computer generated bill, rather than fight it, even when the IRS is wrong. While the automation of an agency that employees nearly one million people makes sense from an efficiency standpoint, it likely spells continued frustration from a "customer service" standpoint. Taxpayer disagreements with computer notices and errors inevitably mean the involvement of a real live IRS agent after weeks or even months of frustrating phone calls.

Furthering taxpayer frustration as time passes, interest and penalties are accumulating. A simple tax problem can become a complex tax problem at blinding speed. Unfortunately the procedural steps to exercising these rights are often confusing and further must be implemented in a short period of time (usually 30 days or less). A competent professional can save you time, stress and money. Why? A tax professional deals with the IRS and taxpayer problems all day, every day. Most taxpayers only have limited contact with the IRS regarding their own personal circumstances. A competent tax professional on the other hand has seen a wide variety of tax problems regularly. In the long run you'll spend less time and SAVE money by hiring a competent professional to handle your tax problem, even the "minor" ones. Plus you'll have peace of mind and sleep a lot better each night. Why not give us a call tollfree at (888) 438-6474? We represent taxpayers in all 50 states and around the world.

Welcome to Tax Collection Tyranny in the Computer Age is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

A tax levy is when the IRS literally seizes your money to pay an outstanding tax liability you owe them. They can seize your money in bank or brokerages accounts, in retirement plans, from your credit card processor (if you have a business), from your commissions (if you get paid 1099 income), from your inheritance and from your paycheck, social security income and/or pension. Any account you have an ownership interest in can be seized to pay your tax bill. Before the IRS levies anything they will send you a "Final Notice of Intent to Levy," giving you 30 days to deal with the problem. If you don't take action within those 30 days you'll be waking up at some time in the future to an empty bank account or a reduced paycheck. You might even be the proud winner of a visit from you local Revenue Officer at your home or business.

If the IRS is going to seize your bank account they will send a notice straight to your bank (they don't even need your account number, just your social security number). Your bank will "freeze" the funds in your bank account on the date of the levy notice. This will inevitably result in "reversed" transactions wreaking havoc to your bank account. Any funds arriving after the date of the levy notice should not be frozen by your bank and be made available to you to withdraw. Of course all those "reversed" transactions must be settled first. Usually leaving you with nothing in the bank. The funds that were seized on the levy date are held for 21 days before being sent to the IRS. This short window gives you time to protest and appeal the action by the IRS. Very few people succeed in challenging a bank levy, but in some cases it's worth the effort.

Seizing your paycheck, social security or pension check, or commissions can be even worse. YES! If you are an independent contractor they can and will levy your commissions, similar to how they levy a bank account with one exception, it's ongoing. A wage levy can really hurt and cause serious financial problems because they can take  up to three quarters of your paycheck, what they don't take is your social security, medicare and withholding taxes – they get the last laugh in other words. Wage levies are intended to get your attention, and they do, real quick. Ignoring your tax problem for this long really ticks the government off and they go after your livelihood in an attempt to get you to make your tax debt a priority payment.

A wage levy will only be released when three things happen: 1. You get current on your tax return filings 2. You maintain a proper amount of federal withholding from your paycheck and make timely estimated deposits if required and 3. You establish some alternative method of paying your tax debt with the IRS. Avoid this type of action if possible at all costs by seeking competent professional representation before the IRS levies your wages or financial accounts. An IRS debt is one debt that won't go away on its own.

If you are looking for IRS Help, look no further, we're here to help! Give us a call tollfree at (888) 438-6474.

What is a tax levy? and can the IRS Really do that? is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Regular, hardworking taxpayers can be blindsided by an IRS Wage Levy. Many times despite required notices before such action, a taxpayer picks up their paycheck on payday, opens it expecting to see everything in order just as it has been every previous payday, and to their astonishment they find up to 80% of their expected pay seized by the IRS. You wouldn't be human if that experience didn't throw you into panic. It's not uncommon for a taxpayer to respond by calling the IRS and asking how the problem can be resolved – this can be a big mistake for the ill-informed. The purpose of a wage levy was originally to get the taxpayer's attention on the problem of their tax debt and seek an alternative solution. However, today the IRS looks at a wage levy as guaranteed payment on a debt you owe them. They view it as their money after all. What could possibly make a taxpayer think the IRS will "let go" of a wage levy without a fight?

So, you've discovered you're wages are being levied, what do you do next? First and foremost with every Notice of Levy on Wages, Salary, and Other Income a Statement of Exemptions and Filing Status is included. A copy of Publication 1494, Table for Figuring Amount Exempt from Levy on Wages, Salary, and Other Income is also included. With this information you need to make sure your employer is correctly reporting your filing status and claiming the proper number of exemptions to minimize the amount of your paycheck the IRS can legally take. If you are current on your income tax filing requirements and estimated tax payments (if required), as well as if you have a proper amount of federal withholding from your paycheck you have completed the foundational steps to getting your wage levy released. If you have not met these requirements your wage levy will not even be considered for the next step in the process until you do meet these requirements. Failure to get current means the IRS will levy your wages until you tax debt is paid in full.

Getting a wage levy released quickly is dependent on having all the required information ready for the IRS when they ask for it. A wage levy release in 2-5 days doesn't include the time it will take to get this information together and on the proper form. The IRS is going to want your complete financial information on Form 433F before you call. Anytime you are giving your financial information to the IRS it is recommended you seek the services of a qualified representative (Attorney, CPA, Enrolled Agent), doing so will insure you don't make a critical error and keep as much of your hard earned money as possible. Provided your financials are in order your will be able to get your wage levy released when an alternative solution to your tax problem is proposed and accepted by the IRS. Usually an installment agreement or "hardship" status. When provided financial information to the IRS be prepared to be required to substantiated your income and expense claims with 3 months of statements and records.

Can You Really Get Your IRS Wage Levy Released in 2-5 Days? is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help