There are those who wonder how they can ever attain IRS debt relief, or even if it is possible. The Internal Revenue Service, a creation of Congress to collect federal taxes, enforces the most Byzantine tax code the world has ever known. Traditionally, the IRS has taken a harsh view on tax debt relief, where it would garnish wages, establish tax liens, and in extreme cases, seize property. Fortunately, there are ways to seek tax relief help that avoid many of these steps.
The first thing to remember about tax debt relief is that it is best to work with the IRS. Fighting the IRS for tax debt relief is almost always a no win situation. Unless the individual has truly been assessed taxes unfairly, the IRS will almost always win. They have significantly greater legal resources at their disposal, and in any case are very thorough.
With this in mind, there are a few ways to obtain tax debt relief. One is with the IRS directly. The IRS offers a program called an Offer in Compromise, or OIC, which lets a delinquent tax payer repay what he can, usually in less than a 24 month period. In exchange, the IRS will either compromise or write off the existing debt, making this effective tax debt relief for many individuals. There are many different OIC plans out there, with varying stipulations on how to spend money and how quickly to repay debt.
The second option for tax debt relief is to seek private sector help. Tax attorneys can look at the situation of an individual, and decide how the tax code applies to the individual. Often, a tax attorney can work with the IRS for a negotiated settlement, or even total forgiveness of the debt.
However one decides to seek IRS tax relief, one must not fight the IRS. Rather, one must work with them in harmony. Following this strategy is often the best way to receive eventual tax debt relief, and regain a financial life.