Who’s Guarding the Henhouse: Government Employees Owe IRS Billions

 

700 IRS contract employees among the scofflaws

If you owe money to the IRS, you are in good company.  It turns out that 318,000 of your employees in the federal government are behind in paying taxes owed. The sum total of debt owed is 3.3 billion and climbing. They must be taking a cue from the methods used by their bosses; debt is a good thing, therefore more must be better.

To make the story even more intriguing, the Inspector General has reported that:

Nearly700 employees of Internal Revenue Service contractors owe $5.4 million in backtaxes,.

According to Breitbart.com:

More than half of those workers are supposed to be ineligible to do work for the IRS because they are not enrolled in installment plans to pay the taxes they owe.

Unlike other federal agencies, the IRS requires employees and those who work on agency contracts to comply with federal tax laws. That means they have to file returns on time and either pay all the taxes they owe or enroll in a payment plan.

What about the ultimate overseers of the government, Congress? Seems they have caught the bug as well.  Reuters Reports:

About 700 congressional employees, which could include senators and representatives, owed $8.6 million in unpaid taxes last year, down from $10.9 million in 2012, the IRS said.

The House of Representatives had a tax delinquency rate of 4.9 percent, while the Senate's rate was 3.2 percent.

The lowest rate was Treasury employees, which includes the IRS at 1.2%. This is not surprising, given that IRS employees, according to Breitbart:

IRS "employees are held to a very strict standard, even in cases of personal hardship. If they fail to file on time or pay their tax debts, they face disciplinary action, including removal," said Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS employees. "The IRS has the same requirement for contractors, but they are monitored with much less frequency."

We have a recommendation for all those who serve us, but are having difficulty with taxes owed. Demetriou, Montano & Associates has been helping folks like you solveyour IRS tax problems for a quarter century. Talk to one of our tax resolution specialists (we employ no salesmen), and find out what your options are in reducing, eliminating, or resolving your tax debt. Call (888) 987-1040 and ask for Jim Demetriou EA or Mike Montano EA.

Choose Your Tax Resolution Company Carefully – Reputation Matters

Many fly-by-night IRS tax debt help companies close down

If you are dealing with tax debt problems, the last thing you need is for the company you hire to help resolve those issues turn out to be a fraud.  Unfortunately, many unscrupulous players have taken the money of folks who were already under stress, and then failed to perform.

We have already mentioned some of the ways for you to judge the services of various companies who are in the business of helping you with your tax problems.  You can read in detail about how important experience is here.  We suggest that you talk to an actual Enrolled Agent, not a salesman, here.

One more way for you to inform your decision about which company to use is to review the reputation of the choices before you. Where might you get that information.

Look for reviews on Google, Yelp, Linkedin and other review sites.  Check the company’s record with the BBB.  Find out if they have worked with others in the tax industry who have endorsed their work.   You should determine how long they have been in the business of representing people before the IRS.  Those who are dishonest in this business tend to get found out.  Finally, if you call the business, are you talking to a sales person or are you talking to someone licensed to help?

Demetriou, Montano, and Associates has been in business since 1989. Both Jim Demetriou EA and Mike Montano EA worked for the IRS enforced collection unit learning and implementing every policy, practice and procedure used by the IRS to collect taxes. 

DM&A routinely receive referrals from other EAs, CPAs, attorneys, even TAX attorneys because they have come to rely on DM&A for their long experience of negotiating with the IRS. Some of these have provided testimonials on the website here.  One example would be:

"Over the years I have referred a large number of people to DM&A for assistance, including many lawyers, doctors and other professionals who had unique tax problems.   These individuals had problems with delinquent taxes, others were levied by the IRS or their business was facing seizure.   Many had not filed tax returns for several years.   I have never seen DM&A fail in their efforts on behalf of these individuals.   Their expertise is so unique that I referred my own CPA to them when he had a very troublesome matter with the IRS.   When all seems lost...  when it looks as if there is no way out...   I insist that my friends and clients go to Demetriou, Montano & Associates.   Their name ought to be "Houdini & Associates."

                                                                                                                     THEODORE COHEN, ESQ.
                                                                                                                                       Attorney at Law

The Better Business Bureau has rated the company A-. The BBB website goes on to say that the rating is based on a lack of information.  You see, after 25 years in business, not a single individual has ever made any type of report with the BBB.

You might want to read the rest of this review found onYelp. We’ve given you a brief excerpt:

“I got that dreaded letter from the IRS on July 20, 2010: "Your federal income tax return for the year shown above has been selected at random for a compliance research evaluation."  Que that sound of a needle being ripped off a record.

Even though my records are clean and in order, I was scared.  My own (now former) accountant assured me, "I'll be there for you all the way, man!"  In the intervening weeks leading to my appointment at the IRS office it became clear to me that, not only was my accountant not going to be there for me, he was doing a full disappearing act.  I was being left alone to face the monster.

56 hours before the meeting, and not knowing if I was preparing anything correctly, I called that tax master firm that advertises on the radio.  I got some hardcore salesguy in a boiler room in Texas who, after taking in what info I was able to give him over the phone, came back with a fee of  $9875 to get me through my audit.  My mind was spinning …

The next morning, it occurred to me to call a more local tax rep that I'd heard of on the radio - Demetriou, Montano, and Associates.  I called at 8:30 and Jim Demetriou answered the phone - my blood pressure started to go down.  We talked for about half an hour, he was very calm, straightforward, and professional.  …

I strongly recommend Demetriou, Montano, and Associates.  Being audited, even when your records are in fairly good order, is a rotten experience, mostly because of the unknown factors: You're dealing w/ a huge powerful federal agency with a massive sense of entitlement that knows it's pretty much a law unto itself.  The whole thing is a miserable experience, so get qualified professional help from DMA.”

When the dreaded letter comes, call a company who has a reputation for being straight forward, professional, and can do. Do you owe at least $20,000 to the IRS right now?  Pick up the phone and ask for Jim Demetriou or Mike Montano, and let’s get the ball rolling on a solution that will be perfect for your unique circumstances.   888-987-1040

Nothing Beats Experience When Choosing a Tax Debt Resolution Company

How to select a lasik eye surgeon or a tax resolution service

I have been considering getting lasik eye surgery, but have to admit that I am not that excited at the thought of having someone cut into my eye.  As I read various advertisements or watched commercials about lasik, the information that seems to penetrate my heart the most about selecting the right doctor is "over 10,000 surgeries completed."  There is great comfort in knowing that the surgeon has done this so often that he or she is prepared for any contingency and has honed their skill to a fine edge.  

Contemplating surgery on my tax debt is not that different.  I dread the idea.  The potential for disaster with the slightest slip is huge.  You need to be able to put trust in a practitioner who is going to give you the best  outcome possible.  The best way to be confident you have the best representation for the job is to hire the one who has the most experience.  That way you can have the comfort of knowing that you are dealing with someone who has seen it all, who has all the skills needed to bring you peace of mind. 

Demetriou, Montano and Associates has been helping their clients with complex tax issues for 25 years.  Prior to that, both Jim Demetriou and Mike Montano worked for the IRS enforced collection unit learning and implementing every policy, practice and procedure used by the IRS to collect taxes.  The key to their success is their personal involvement with every client and by interacting with the IRS collection function every day to implement every possible option available to clients for resolving tax debt issues.  

Seriously:

•  You would not do lasik eye surgery on yourself!
•  You would not select an eye surgeon based on a great sales pitch!
•  You probably don't want the lowest cost doctor for any surgery!

Go with experience when you select a professional to do important and complex work.  If you owe more than $20,000 in tax debt, call Demetriou, Montano and Associates now and speak with a partner about your situation.  888-987-1040

Demetriou, Montano & Associates - Tax Resolution Specialists

12301 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 318
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-581-2900
888-987-1040
jdemetriou@taxrepair.com
http://taxrepair.com

Haven't Filed Taxes in a While? Here are 5 Tips Specially for You

5 Things You Need to Know if You Have NOT Filed Tax Returns

1)     If taxes are owed, a delay in filing may result in penalty and interest charges that could increase the tax bill by 25 percent or more.  If you don't have the money, file anyway.  Otherwise you will get a penalty for failure to file on top of the late payment penalty.

2)     Filing an extension doesn't mean you've got additional time to come up with the cash. Interest is charged on taxes not paid by the due date, whether or not an extension is filed. Interest is also charged on penalties.

3)     Don't assume that because you're getting a refund, you don't need to file. True, there is nopenalty for failure to file a tax return if a refund is due, but by waiting too long to file you'll lose the refund. The return must be filed within 3 years of the due date.  Plus, if you're self-employed you won't receive Social Security credits towards your retirement unless you file tax returns reporting self-employment income within three years of the due date.

4)     Ignoring those letters from the IRS is not a winning strategy. Ignoring the IRS and repeatedly failing to file can result in more penalties and possible criminal prosecution.

5)     If you come forward, it's extremely unlikely you'll land in jail. Assuming your income is earned legally, you filed a return, and are trying to pay off the amount owed, the IRS is willing to work with you.

The IRS' Offer in Compromise program allows a delinquent taxpayer's debt to be settled for less than the full amount owed.  But taxpayers who have not filed or owe money should find a licensed tax professional to guide them through the maze of IRS rules and regulations. IRS itself licenses enrolled
agents. An "EA" can help get you out of tax trouble and keep you there. To earn the EA license, candidates must pass a background check and a stringent three-part exam on tax. To maintain the license, they must complete annual continuing education that is reported to the IRS.

If you are ready to file those back taxes Demetriou, Montano & Associates can help.  We have an excellent tax preparation department, and our core business is helping folks just like you work with the IRS to resolve old tax issue and get on with your life.  Call today and speak to one of our Enrolled Agents about the next step for you:

Jim Demetriou EA  888-987-1040
Mike Montano EA  888-987-1040

IRS Says Phone Scammers Are Ripping Off Taxpayers at Record Levels

 

Largest IRS Scam in history says IRS Commissioner

If you don't read anything else about this story, just read the following:
Do Not ever give credit card approval . . .

Read the rest of the story here

Help! I'll Never Be Able to Pay Off My IRS Tax Debt!!

 

Social Security Doesn't Go Too Far - Even if Twice this Amount

The IRS Might Reduce What You Owe - Offer in Compromise

Dear Demetriou, Montano & Assoc:

I am 66 years old and owe the IRS over $50,000.  I have set up a payment plan of $700 a month forever.  This was based on my ability to pay.  I am still working and earning a substantial income.  If I were to quit my job or be forced to quit, thereby reducing my income to just social security, I would no longer be able to afford the $700 a month.  I'd be lucky to afford $50 a month.  What can I do?

George L

Dear George:

If you make a permanent decision to go on Social Security, you may be a candidate for the Offer in Compromise.  The IRS collection division understands that they can't get blood out of a turnip.  On the other hand, they don't like to see taxpayers bailing out on their obligation.  Before they are going to approve a reduction in your obligation, they will look to see if you have any equity in assets and analyze your monthly income and living expenses.  

If your Offer is accepted and if you do not file and fully pay your taxes for the next five years, the IRS could rescind the Offer in Compromise and the entire tax liability with penalties and interest would come back and the IRS would be after you again.   

With our experience in these matters, we can easily evaluate your specific circumstances and give you wise counsel on the best direction to take in the matter.  We will work hard to minimize your tax debt or even eliminate it completely.  However, since every case is very different, the outcome cannot be predicted with 100% accuracy.  That is why it is hard for citizens to go through the collection negotiations on their own.  Using an Enrolled Agent (EA) like Jim Demetriou EA or Mike Montano EA gives you the best chance of an excellent result.  

Demetriou, Montano, and Assoc, Tax Resolution Specialists

12301 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 318
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-581-2900
888-987-1040
jdemetriou@taxrepair.com
http://taxrepair.com