The "NEW" IRS
Since IRS Commissioner Mark Everson took office, the IRS has been working to collect back taxes with renewed vigor.
The
Congressional hearings of 1988 and new laws resulted in the creation of
the "Kinder and Gentler IRS." The IRS had a whole new set of rules to
work under that made it harder than ever for them to collect back taxes.
Mr.
Everson changed all that. With the federal budget running in the red,
a war on terror to pay for, and a faltering economy, Uncle Sam needs
the money and he's coming for it harder than ever. That means more and
more people who owe back taxes are being contacted by the IRS. Federal
Tax Liens are up tremendously, wage and bank account levies are rising
and there's no end in sight.
Many times it is best for a person
who owes back taxes to consult with a Tax Professional when dealing
with the IRS. A trained professional can help their client minimize
the amount of tax, interest and penalties they owe and help get them
back on track financially.
How do you pick a Tax Professional?
When
choosing the person or firm who will represent you before the IRS it's
important for taxpayers to know they are dealing with a professional
who is well versed in tax law and the programs the IRS has available
that can limit the amount you have to pay the IRS.
IRS
representation is a complicated field with many different laws to
interpret. While any Attorney, CPA or Enrolled Agent CAN represent
clients before the IRS, only a few are truly qualified to provide the
knowledge and experience needed to successfully represent someone
before the IRS.
ASTPS members are required to take classes each
year to maintain their membership. Members also receive regular
information on the latest techniques and strategies in dealing with the
IRS.
When you see the ASTPS membership certificate in the
waiting room of a professional's office, you can have confidence
knowing that you're dealing with a trained tax professional, not one of
those big national firms where you get to talk to some telemarketer
about your case or even worse, someone who doesn't specialize in IRS
representation, but takes the case anyway.
