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At Solvable, we care about your financial well-being and are here to help. Our research, articles and ratings, and assessments are based strict editorial integrity. Our company gets compensated by partners who appear on our website. Here is how we get compensated.
At Solvable, we care about your financial well-being and are here to help. Our research, articles and ratings, and assessments are based strict editorial integrity. Our company gets compensated by partners who appear on our website. Here is
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What Does Tax Relief Mean and Who Qualifies for It?
Tax Relief means that you pay less than what you owe in back taxes. You can achieve a reduction in tax debt by qualifying for an IRS plan called ‘An Offer in Compromise.’ Only those taxpayers who are financially strained and cannot afford to pay back their entire back taxes can hope to achieve tax relief using An Offer in Compromise.
How Can I Get Tax Relief with An Offer in Compromise?
An Offer in Compromise is an IRS tax debt reduction program open only to those taxpayers who are in financial difficulty and can only pay for basic living expenses. Both individual taxpayers and businesses can apply for an Offer in Compromise. The amount of tax debt reduction you get depends upon your paying capacity.
Since it is a tax debt reduction program, the IRS looks at your current and future financial condition before agreeing to reduce your back taxes. They consider your income, rental income, commissions, tips, house, car, assets, and also right to property to determine your paying capacity. Essentially, they consider your income from all sources, expenses, and asset equity.
If, after the financial analysis, the IRS finds that you cannot pay the full amount of your back taxes, they will reduce it to an amount that you can pay without pushing you into a financial crisis. You are said to be in a financial crisis when you cannot pay for allowable living expenses or basic living expenses. You may check the national standards for allowable living expenses for the current year online.
What Do I Do If I’m Not Happy with the IRS’ Reduction of My Tax Debt?
The IRS looks to recover the most in back taxes. However, you can negotiate the terms of an Offer in Compromise with the IRS. It is best to hire a qualified tax attorney for the negotiations because tax lawyers have the knowledge of tax laws and IRS rules, and are also experienced in conducting such negotiations with the IRS.
Though a taxpayer can handle simple tax debt relief cases, in cases where you need to negotiate with the IRS or wish to get the maximum tax debt reduction possible, it’s wise to hire a tax attorney or a tax debt resolution company for the best outcome.
How Do I Apply for Tax Relief under An Offer in Compromise?
Before applying for an Offer in Compromise, you need to have filed all your past tax returns. You can apply for tax relief under an Offer in Compromise by sending your application to the IRS along with the setup fee. Taxpayers in financial hardship can potentially get a reduction in the setup fee.
If you apply for an Offer in Compromise, but you clearly do not qualify for it, the IRS will return the setup fee along with the application. However, the IRS will not return the initial payment you have sent with your application. They apply that to your tax debt bill.
Tax Relief using Partial Payment Installment Agreements
Along with an Offer in Compromise, there is another IRS tax debt relief program called the Partial Payment Installment Agreement (PPIA). In a Partial Payment Installment Agreement, you pay a reduced amount in back taxes in installments. Just like in an Offer in Compromise, in Partial Payment Installment Agreement too, the IRS looks at your financial condition to determine your paying capacity.
The IRS accepts resolution under Partial Payment Installment Agreement if they cannot collect full tax debt by the Collection Statute Expiration Date, but can recover some amount in tax debt.
Collection Statute Expiration Date is the last date until the IRS can collect back taxes. Generally, the IRS has a 10-year collection period for collecting tax debt. If they cannot do so within 10 years, they usually close the case.
For the Partial Payment Installment Agreement, just like in an Offer in Compromise, the IRS will consider your income, equity in assets, and expenses to judge your ability to pay. If they find that equity in assets can be used to pay the tax debt, they will seize and sell the asset(s) to fulfill the tax debt. However, they cannot use the equity in assets if doing so pushes the taxpayer into financial hardship.
IRS tax relief plans are for struggling taxpayers and small businesses in financial distress and cannot pay their entire tax debt. Using these IRS tax relief programs, they can resolve their back taxes and begin anew.
Taking advantage of IRS tax relief plans, some unscrupulous tax relief companies use misleading advertising and sell these programs to people as ‘pennies on the dollar.’ They promise tax debt reduction to anyone who hires their service. Due to these malpractices, plans such as an Offer in Compromise and Partial Payment Installment Agreement are misunderstood by many.
Before you apply for tax relief programs, it is important to know whether you can qualify for them or not. Apart from tax relief programs, the IRS also has other tax debt payment plans such as Installment Agreements that allow you to pay your full back taxes in installments. You may consider applying for an Installment Agreement if you can pay your full tax debt.
Hiring Help
Tax relief may require negotiations with the IRS. There are complicated tax debt cases that are best handled by a professional. If your case is straightforward, you may not need help. However, suppose you wish to get maximum reduction in tax debt, or need to pay other loans before paying the IRS, or have any complication that requires you to hold discussions with the IRS. In that case, it is best to hire a tax attorney or a tax resolution service.
Tax lawyers can help you to get the most tax relief from the IRS. Before you hire help, research well and find a qualified and trustworthy tax attorney or tax resolution company that can ease the process for you and get you maximum tax relief.
Solvable is a for-profit company that helps customers resolve their tax problems, but a free service for consumers. Partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable editorial reviews or ratings. We do not publish favorable (or unfavorable) editorial reviews or assessments at the direction of an advertiser or partner. We always work to put consumers first and do our best to provide value in meaningful ways, but our reviews are subjective.
How We Make Money
Solvable is compensated by some of the companies seen on our website. Most often, Solvable receives fees when one of our readers clicks, fills out a form, applies for, or receives a financial product from one of our partners. We also earn fees for capturing consumer stories and writing about them, displaying advertising, having our partners sponsor certain parts of the site, and writing content that may be relevant to our partner and their audience. This compensation may impact where products appear on this site, including article pages, comparison listings, the order in which they appear or if they will even appear on a given page, and our matching recommendations. Solvable has not written about, reviewed, or rated all financial products available to consumers.
In addition, we may be compensated in the following ways:
Referrals to consumers who use the online form or locator line that may provide expert answers to questions;
Marketing tax resolution, tax preparation, tax audit help and general tax assistance.
Referrals to services that help consumers with tax resolution, tax preparation, tax audit help and other tax issues.
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The offers that you are matched up with are from companies or attorneys/law firms that we may receive compensation from. Based on our initial review of such companies or individuals, we feel comfortable introducing them to our readers. We won’t recommend something just because we’re offered payment to endorse or promote it. However, we do recommend that you shop around and compare services and costs with other companies while performing you own due diligence, especially since people’s experiences with companies can change over time.
We are not attorneys and we don’t provide legal advice. As always, we encourage you to do your homework and check out individuals and companies before you hire them. If you are already working with an attorney, we urge you to ask them your questions. After all, they will be familiar with your situation and the laws in your state.
We hope that you find Solvable helpful in your efforts to get a fresh start.
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Be sure to speak with your representative about the actual term and rate you may qualify for based on your credit history and ability to repay the loan. Lenders may charge an origination fee generally around 1% of the amount sought. Be sure to ask up front about all fees, costs and terms associated with each loan product. Loan amounts of $1,000 up to $35,000 may be available through participating lenders or affiliates; however, your state, credit history, credit score, personal financial situation, and lender underwriting criteria can impact the amount, fees, terms and rates offered. In some cases, lenders may require that you have an account with them already and for a prescribed period of time in order to qualify for better rates on their personal loan products. Ask your representative for details.
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There is no one-size fits all business loan. Rather there are several types that will likely be offered and or discussed with you upon completing your request. Business Funding Partners determine the underwriting criteria necessary for approval, you should review each Partner’s terms and conditions to determine which business funding option works for your business’s financial situation. All reasonable efforts are made to provide and maintain accurate information. All rates, fees, and terms are presented without guarantee and are subject to change pursuant to each Partner’s discretion. There is never a guarantee your business will be approved for credit or that upon approval your business will qualify for the advertised rates, fees, or terms shown. Lender terms and conditions will apply and all products may not be available in all states. Ask your loan representative for details.
Student Loan Refinancing Advertiser Disclosure
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Potential savings may vary based on the interest rates, balances and remaining repayment term of the loans you are seeking to refinance. Your overall repayment amount may be higher than the loans you are refinancing even if your monthly payments are lower. Variable rate options will fluctuate over the term of your loan with changes in the LIBOR (or other index utilized by the lender) rate, and will vary based on applicable terms and presence of a cosigner. Fixed interest rates may be based on applicable terms and presence of a co-signer. Additional terms and conditions, and rates are subject to change at any time without notice and may not be available in all states or for all types of current student loans. Such changes should only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change. Please note: Due to federal regulations, Lenders are required to provide every potential borrower with disclosure information before they apply for a private student loan. The Lender you select is required to provide you with an Application Disclosure and an Approval Disclosure within the application process before you accept the terms and conditions of your loan. solvable is not a lender or creditor, it does not offer, extend or alter credit terms. Only participating lenders can perform the full application and deliver the required disclosures, please ask your lender about rates, terms, fees, and potential discounts that may be available for each product.
Please Note:
Certain federal and private student loans may not be eligible for consolidation/refinance.
Certain consolidation/refinance plans may result in higher monthly payments or negative consequences (i.e. prepayment penalties).
Consolidation/refinance may lead to other negative results, such as loss of grace periods.
Loans in default generally cannot be consolidated until completion of a repayment trial plan so tell your lender if you are in default and determine relevant options (be wary of those asking for upfront fees as well)
Other options or programs may fit your needs (i.e. personal loan, debt consolidation and/or debt relief). Consult your financial and/or tax advisor prior to making any decisions.
Solvable is not a creditor as it does not offer, extend or alter credit; rather it is an online market lead generator that allows consumers to shop and compare rates, terms and costs associated with financial products such as mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, student loans, etc. solvable does not originate or fund any product it markets; rather it has a network of lenders or Partners/affiliates. You may choose to speak with one or more of these lenders or Partners/affiliates to determine what your actual terms and savings may be. Only a lender can provide you with a formal application for credit, your inquiry form here is merely an expression of interest and/or intent to obtain credit or assistance. You must discuss your actual credit situation and fill out the lender’s required documents prior to obtaining an extension of credit. Network lenders may not have the best or the lowest rates so you are encouraged to continue to shop and compare additional lenders, credit unions, local financial institutions, etc. to ensure you are truly getting your best deal for your situation.
You should contact your tax professional or other financial advisor to determine if you can actually realize savings by refinancing when it can extend the life of your current loan. You should ask the lender about all terms, rates, fees and costs associated with each product and if you will realize a net tangible benefit from the same. All initial estimated savings is done by trying to calculate what your rate may be; however, solvable does not have that information and cannot guarantee potential savings or that lenders will approve you for such product that would warrant those savings. Rates are not guaranteed and change daily. Lenders/Brokers/Dealers/Partners that perform the actual underwriting will have to determine if you meet their underwriting criteria which is unknown to solvable at the time of matching/offer/quote delivery. All amounts are estimates and examples only and do not represent an actual offer.
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