What are Offers in Compromise?

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THE BASICS OF OFFERS IN COMPROMISE

Charles Frazier is a tax attorney who helps business owners and entrepreneurs through audits, tax collection matters, and many other tax situations. We explain in layman's terms to our clients the applicable tax laws and how we can help. If you need help with a tax issue, contact our offices today. Below, we will explain what offers in compromise, which may be a boon to those who owe the IRS back taxes are.

WHAT ARE OFFERS IN COMPROMISE?

An offer in compromise (OIC) is an agreement between you, the taxpayer, and the Internal Revenue Service that settles your tax liabilities for less than what you owe. In essence, if you are accepted for this program, your tax slate can be wiped completely clean.

An OIC enables the taxpayer to pay a lesser amount in satisfaction of unpaid tax liability, including interest, penalties, and additions to the tax. The OIC program is a way for taxpayers to resolve their tax liability and for the IRS to collect funds that may not be collected through other means.

 LIABILITIES TO BE COMPROMISED

An OIC is effective for the entire assessed liability for tax, penalties, and interest for the years or periods covered by the offer. All questions of tax liability for the years or periods covered by the agreement are conclusively settled. Neither the taxpayer nor the IRS can reopen a compromised tax year or period unless there was (a) falsification of information or documents, (b) concealment of ability to pay and/or assets, or (c) a mutual mistake of a material fact sufficient to set aside or reform a contract.

GROUNDS FOR ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION

The IRS will consider an OIC on the following grounds:

  • Doubt as to Liability. For this ground to apply, there must be a genuine doubt about the validity of the liability. Since an OIC is a “compromise,” a client making an OIC on doubt as to liability is required to offer some payment, even if he or she believes that no tax liability exists. In deciding what amount to accept, the IRS will weigh the hazards of litigation. The greater the hazard, the greater likelihood that the IRS will accept smaller payments.
  • Doubt as to Collectability. An OIC filed on this ground must demonstrate that (a) it is unlikely that the tax can be collected in full within the collection statute of limitations and (b) the OIC reasonably reflects the amount the IRS could collect through other means, including administrative collection remedies. This determination requires a detailed analysis of the taxpayer's net worth and future income potential.
  • Promotion of Effective Tax Administration. This option is the most subjective ground for filing an OIC. The IRS may compromise a tax liability on this ground if (a) full collection is possible but would cause the client an economic hardship, or (b) there are no other grounds of compromise, but public policy or equity considerations provide a sufficient basis for compromising the liability.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR AN OFFER IN COMPROMISE?

  • This program is mainly for those who are incapable of paying their tax bill in full because they lack a steady income stream and have little to no equity in their assets. Those who can pay their tax bill in installment payments typically will not qualify for an offer in compromise.
  • A taxpayer must have filed all of their taxes to qualify. After all, how will the federal government know you can't pay if they don't know the amount you owe?
  • Some payment may be required upfront for you even to apply. This can include paying the current quarter's tax liability.
  • Reasonable collection potential (RCP), or your ability to pay your tax liabilities, must be calculated. This can include all of your assets, including cash on hand, property owned, and even cars. Furthermore, future income is often taken into account, minus the cost of living in your area.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE SUBMITTING FOR AN OFFER OF COMPROMISE

  • An offer in compromise should be one of your last resorts to settle your tax bill. This is not an easy program to qualify for. Proof of your income can take months to approve, with some cases, such as with a business, requiring you to submit boxes of documentation.
  • The decision is subjective. The federal government has no legal obligation to compromise or settle with you at all.
  • Submitting to this program will bring IRS scrutiny, much more so than if you apply for an installment payment plan.
  • Because the IRS now knows your entire financial situation, the IRS now has all the information it needs to accelerate collection efforts against you.

The Law Offices of Charles Frazier recommends you only submit an offer in compromise when you are fairly certain your application will be approved. The IRS offers an online pre-qualifier assessment tool for just this purpose. Another drawback to the offer in compromise program is that interest is still accruing on the amount you owe during the application process, which, as previously stated, can take a while. As almost always with the federal government and IRS processes, you have the right to appeal to a rejected offer.

Charles Frazier is a Nashville lawyer who practices tax law and estate planning. We can help with all of your business tax matters as well as your nonprofit organization's tax-exemption establishment. Our mission is to help you, but only if an OIC is a good solution for you. Contact us today to discuss the best options for resolving your tax problems!

Offer in Compromise Scams

DON'T FALL PREY TO OIC MILLS

Are you receiving mail from companies promising to fix your tax problems? Did the letter you received to notify you that the IRS has filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien?

Beware because you may be the target of predatory debt relief firms (OIC Mills). In July 2020, the IRS included these OIC Mill operators in its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams. A few large tax resolution companies, JK Harris, Roni Deutsch, and Tax Masters, have been in the news in past years for the atrocious, often criminal treatment of their clients.

OIC Mills often target taxpayers by monitoring public records for tax lien information. Once a taxpayer is on their list, they send letters that are often misleading and warn of drastic consequences if you fail to contact an “800” phone number.

THE ODDS ARE AGAINST OIC ACCEPTANCE

Unfortunately, we have consulted with many potential clients who have paid thousands of dollars for either very disappointing results or no results at all.  The clients have often been misled to believe that they can settle their tax debt for pennies on the dollar.

Offers in Compromise (OIC) are good options for the right situations, but many taxpayers' OICs are rejected. In 2019, the Service accepted only about one out of every three OICs (17,890 of 54,225) that were submitted. Typically, taxpayers who have a very limited stream of income and no equity in assets have the best chance of being approved for an OIC.

THE OIC PROCESS

The OIC is an agreement between the taxpayer and the IRS to settle the taxpayer's tax liability when the taxpayer cannot fully pay the liabilities through asset liquidation, personal loans, an installment agreement, or other methods for full satisfaction of the outstanding tax balance.

The Law Offices of Charles R. Frazier will guide you through the requirements necessary to qualify for an OIC. We advise taxpayers to ensure that they are in compliance with tax filing and required tax payment obligations.

We will advise you regarding your estimated reasonable collection potential (RCP) because the IRS won't accept an OIC for any amount less than the taxpayer's RCP. We can help you obtain and submit all documentation the IRS deems necessary to determine your ability to pay your outstanding tax liabilities. To determine if an Offer in Compromise is right for you, we review your financial information, including your current assets and future earning potential.

The IRS is only authorized to accept an OIC based on three grounds: (1) doubt as to liability; (2) doubt as to collectability; and a compromise based on (3) effective tax administration. We will analyze your specific tax circumstances and advise on whether you qualify for an OIC based on these grounds. However, we will not waste your time or money if we believe you will not be successful when seeking an OIC.

Tax and Estate Planning Lawyer serving clients in Tennessee, Michigan and Texas

At the Law Offices of Charles R. Frazier, we help businesses avoid or resolve tax problems and we protect families with cost-effective estate planning services. As a former IRS agent and veteran of the U.S. Army, Charles R. Frazier has the experience and understanding to find the right solution for your needs. We provide counseling and representation to business owners facing difficulties with the IRS or State Department of Tax Revenue. We also develop plans to help families preserve their hard-won assets so they are prepared in case of death or incapacity. Schedule Now

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4007 Hillsboro Pike Ste B
Nashville, TN 37215
615-267-0125

Rutherford County, Tennessee

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