The Tax Fixer FAQs

You begin with Step 1: IRS Investigation.
This gives us a full, factual picture of your IRS account so we can determine exactly what needs to be addressed. No guesswork, no assumptions—just clear data. 

An IRS Investigation is a comprehensive pull of your IRS transcripts, balances, filings, notices, and compliance history.
It reveals:

• What you owe
   
• Which years are affected
   
• Whether you’re in collections
   
• Any active enforcement (liens, levies, etc.)
  This step is mandatory because it establishes the foundation for all next steps.

According to Treasury regulations, the IRS generally has a ten-year period to collect a tax debt when no formal payment agreement is in place.

**** Certain facts and circumstances will extend this the timeframe.***

We begin every engagement by conducting a full IRS Investigation. This gives us a precise, data-driven picture of the taxpayer’s account and eliminates guesswork. We don’t rely on assumptions when advising our clients—Step 1 ensures we start with facts, not speculation.

When a client retains our services, they move through the following workflow:

Step 1: IRS Investigation
A comprehensive review of all IRS records to understand the exact status of the account.

Step 2: Financial Evaluation
A detailed analysis of the client’s financial position to determine what resolution options they qualify for.

Step 3: Implementation of the Tax Solution
Execution of the resolution strategy identified in Step 2.

 After we understand your IRS account, we move to Step 2: Financial Evaluation.
This is where we assess your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities to determine which IRS resolution programs you qualify for. 

The Financial Evaluation determines your eligibility for programs such as:

• Installment Agreements
   
• Offer in Compromise
   
• Currently Not Collectible status
   
• Penalty abatements
   

We analyze your financial data using IRS formulas to match you with the strongest resolution option.

Step 3 is implementing your tax solution.
Once we identify the right path, we handle all filings, negotiations, submissions, and communication with the IRS to execute the approved plan. 

When a formal payment agreement is in place, the IRS continues to collect until the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) runs out.
Most tax debts have a 10-year collection period, and that period continues running even while you’re on an agreement. 

In most cases, yes.
Once we notify the IRS we are working with you, the IRS will typically pause enforcement activity depending on your case type and compliance status. 

Yes. 

We routinely assist clients who have multiple unfiled years.
We will determine which years the IRS needs, prepare filings, and bring you back into compliance. 

Yes.

We are not representing you before the IRS.
We handle all communication with you on the calls to the IRS. This helps keep you informed of what is going on with your account. We believe in tax education and what better way to learn than by being present while the tax issues are being resolved. 

Timelines vary by case, but most clients move through the full process within:

• 1–2 weeks for IRS Investigation
   
• 2–4 weeks for Financial Evaluation
   
• 2–6 months for implementation, depending on the IRS program selected

No.

No reputable firm can guarantee IRS outcomes.
What we can guarantee is a methodical, fact-driven process designed to secure the best result you qualify for under IRS rules. 

 To launch Step 1, you only need:

• Your personal information
   
• Signed authorization for us to pull IRS records
   

We handle everything else.

An Offer in Compromise is an IRS program that allows taxpayers to settle their tax debt for less than the full balance owed. When approved, it’s essentially the IRS saying, “We’ll take what you can reasonably pay and call it done.” 

The IRS calculates your “Reasonable Collection Potential (RCP),” which determines your settlement amount.
This formula is based on:

• Allowed living expenses
   
• Disposable income
   
• Asset equity
   

Your offer must match or be close to that number to be considered.

No—OIC approval is highly selective.
This is one of the most scrutinized programs the IRS offers, and your financials must align with their strict guidelines. A strong application depends on accurate documentation and correct IRS calculations. 

 Eligibility is based on your ability to pay, not how much you owe.
The IRS evaluates:

• Income
   
• Monthly expenses
   
• Equity in assets
   
• Overall financial hardship
   

If the IRS determines you cannot realistically pay the debt in full within the remaining collection period, you may qualify.

IRS review times vary, but most OICs take:

• 6 to 12 months for initial review
   
• Up to 24 months if the IRS requests additional documentation or your case is complex
   

During review, IRS collections generally pause.

Once accepted:

• You must stay compliant for the next five years
   
• The IRS releases applicable tax liens
   
• Your remaining tax debt is permanently settled when payments are completed
   

In other words, you get a clean slate—just don’t fall out of compliance.

 The IRS offers two structures:

1. Lump-Sum Cash Offer
   Pay 20% upfront and the rest within five months of acceptance.
    
2. Periodic Payment Offer
   Make monthly payments while the IRS reviews your offer, then continue paying under the approved terms.

No.
The IRS automatically disqualifies taxpayers who are in open bankruptcy proceedings. 

Not always.
Sometimes other programs—like a streamlined payment plan or hardship status—provide faster relief with fewer requirements. The right option depends on your financial profile and IRS position. 

We first complete:

1. IRS Investigation – to understand your debt and compliance history
    
2. Financial Evaluation – to run the same calculations the IRS uses
    

This ensures we only submit offers that have a real shot at approval.