IRS tax revenue officers normally visit people at home only after a tax balance is well overdue and other efforts at collection have failed.
These are specially trained agents of the IRS whose job it is to talk with you to figure out a way for you to get up to speed and up to date on your obligations to the agency. Their goal is to resolve such issues as quickly, efficiently, and completely as possible.
The problem with tax revenue officers is that they often seem compassionate about your issues, but you quickly discover that it is a smokescreen. Their job is not to help you. It is to get you to pay.
They do not care about missed deductions or errors made by the IRS and are not particularly interested in being fair or equitable so long as they follow IRS policies. They are there to get you to pay.
That is why it’s so important if you are facing a visit from an IRS officer, to speak with the expert, experienced tax relief professionals at Instant Tax Solutions. We will look out for your own interests — helping you find the best path forward for you, not the IRS.
We will apply missed credits and deductions. We will correct errors, and we will represent you to the IRS.
Get in touch with our experienced Portland tax relief attorneys for a free, no-obligation, confidential review of your case by calling (888) 363-8958 or contacting us online today.
Portland IRS Tax Revenue Officer Negotiation
IRS tax revenue officers exist for one reason and one reason only: to collect debts. They may be assigned to a wide range of tax issues and responsibilities such as audits, delinquent returns, overdue back taxes, investigations, reporting tax liability issues, verifying tax refund claims, verifying the accuracy of returns, notifying taxpayers of monies owed, and of course, home visits for collections.
The first step in negotiating with an IRS tax revenue officer is to understand who they are and what they do. First, understand that an IRS revenue officer and a Revenue Agent are two different things.
A revenue officer collects delinquent fees and back taxes. They are dispatched on a case-by-case basis.
Most often, they will try to talk to you on the phone, or they may conduct scheduled in-person visits to get you to settle tax debts. Revenue Agents, on the other hand, are auditors who review your tax return for discrepancies or errors.
Revenue officers do not carry firearms, nor do they have the authority to arrest you. They are there to work out a way for you to pay off the taxes you owe.
The first step in negotiating with an IRS revenue officer is to verify that they are indeed an IRS official. They should carry two forms of official identification, each of which includes a photo and serial number.
You have the right to review these credentials. You can also call the IRS using the number on their official website to confirm that these agents are legitimate.
It can be very difficult to negotiate with an IRS revenue officer, as their job is to pressure you to pay. They will not advise you on your taxes or account, and if you agree to their demands, you may end up overpaying the IRS.
Your best bet when you know you have a visit imminent is to contact Instant Tax Solutions. We are ready to equip you with the advocacy you need while negotiating on your behalf with the IRS revenue officer.
We can review your finances and tax returns, uncover errors made by the IRS (or you), apply credits and benefits you may have overlooked, and potentially reduce the amount of taxes you owe.
Even if your tax burden is correct, we can help you to examine options for things like offer in compromise, fee and penalty abatement, installment plans, release of levies and liens, and other ways to make repaying your taxes more manageable. We are here to fight for you and represent your interests.
Let us help you to prepare for your visit today.
When and Where Do IRS Revenue Home Visits Occur?
Normally, you will get several notices and warnings before the agency schedules a home visit. These can include a notice of delinquent payments, final warnings, and even notices of levies and liens.
Only if your balance remains unpaid after all other options will the agency send a request to schedule a visit.
If you get such a request, do not ignore it; respond quickly and schedule the visit. If you ignore it or put off a response, you are putting yourself in a bad position, and you can be assured that a visit will happen anyway.
The IRS officer will come to your home if your accounting records are kept there. If you run a business off-site, they may visit you at your business location.
An IRS officer may also request to visit you at your accountant’s office if your records are kept there. The key is they want to meet where you (and they) have the best access to your financial records.
It is unlikely that a revenue officer there to collect a debt will demand to go through your records personally, but they may request that you provide certain information or proof of income/expenses/etc. Requests for information often happen in situations where you have failed to provide requested information multiple times already or in situations where you are claiming financial hardship or currently not collectible status.
If you are dealing with an agent conducting an audit, on the other hand, you may have to provide extensive records and information.
Will I Get a Surprise Portland IRS Revenue Home Visit?
While it is still possible to get a surprise IRS revenue home visit in Portland, it is highly unlikely. As of July 2023, the IRS has ended its policy of allowing unannounced visits.
This was done in an effort to increase safety for taxpayers and agents alike and end the confusion by shocked taxpayers.
Currently, the IRS uses mailed letters to schedule meetings. This protocol helps to confirm that the officer is who they say they are and is not a scam artist.
There are, however, limited circumstances where unannounced visits still may happen. These include when you are being served a subpoena or court summons, asset seizure situations, and other extreme situations. It should be noted also that this is a policy change and not a legal change.
The IRS does still have the right to conduct unannounced visits. They are simply not likely to do so.
Preparing for a Portland IRS Revenue Home Visit
Scheduling your IRS revenue officer home visit means that you have time to properly prepare when they do show up. Preparation is your best defense when conducting negotiations, so be sure to take the following steps before your visit:
- Contact Instant Tax Solutions for help. We can assist you at every stage of the visit, from early prep to final negotiations and financial planning for the future. It may be the most important call you make.
- Review your accounting, tax, and financial records going back at least three to five years. Make sure that all of your reporting is accurate and that you tool all (and only) the deductions and credits to which you were entitled. If you failed in any of these aspects, prepare to discuss why.
- Organize your records and prepare to present them efficiently, particularly if you are planning to file an amended return, request lenience, seek tax relief, or otherwise seek to adjust what they say you owe.
- Make a plan of action that includes several options to resolve the debt, any relief options you intend to seek, and reasons to defend your ideas in the face of the officer’s offers. Be clear and well-documented. Be ready to work with the officer rather than against them. Get in the right mindset to negotiate rather than to make demands.
- On the day of the visit, be on time, be well-groomed, and keep an air of confidence and calm about you.
What to Expect During an IRS Revenue Home Officer Visit
Remember that the name of the game during an IRS home officer visit is negotiation. They want you to pay as much as possible, as quickly as possible.
You want a reasonable accommodation and may even disagree that you owe as much as they say. The key, often, is to come to a middle ground that satisfies everyone.
In most cases, you will benefit by being patient and sticking to your guns. Remember that you have rights and to stand firm — but at the same time, listen to what they have to say and acknowledge any reasonable points they may have.
In other words, you will want to work with the officer, not against them. Courtesy and respect are particularly important if you are trying to remove tax levies, abate fees and penalties, and reduce the amount owed.
Try to view this encounter as both of you having the same common goal: to get this issue resolved. At the same time, do not cave to unreasonable or unfounded demands, but be willing to stand up for yourself.
If you are unable to negotiate a solution, you can file an appeal of the decision made, but you may face the same officer again during this process. That is why it helps to have an experienced tax relief company in your corner.
Where to Get Help with IRS Tax Revenue Officer Negotiation
When you face a home visit from an IRS tax revenue officer, negotiation can be scary and tricky. If you are not experienced in doing so, it is easy to feel bullied and overwhelmed.
At Instant Tax Solutions, our professionals have decades of combined experience dealing with the IRS. We will help you to prepare for your visit and conduct negotiations.
We will work to give you peace of mind and get you out from under the IRS tax burden. Call us today at (888) 363-8958 or reach out online to schedule your free, confidential case review.
