Photo: Kelly Sikkema / UnsplashNotices and getting started
- Debt and bankruptcy
IRS Notices and Letters: What They Mean, How to Respond and Deadlines to Watch
How to read an IRS notice, common notice types, response deadlines, how to dispute errors, scam warnings and when to get help from a tax professional.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
IRS Audits: What Triggers Them and Your Rights
How IRS audits work, types of audits, your taxpayer rights and tips for responding to an audit notice.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Unfiled Tax Returns: What to Do, Penalties and How to Catch Up Safely
What happens if you did not file tax returns, penalties and interest, how to get missing records, filing old returns, statute of limitations and avoiding collection problems.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Tax Identity Theft: What to Do If Someone Filed a Return in Your Name
How to recognize tax-related identity theft, report it to the IRS, protect your account and prevent repeat fraud.
2 min read
Ways to resolve tax debt
- Debt and bankruptcy
Owing the IRS: Payment Plans, Offers in Compromise and Hardship
Options if you cannot pay your tax bill, including installment agreements, offers in compromise and currently not collectible status.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
IRS Payment Plans vs Offer in Compromise: Options for Paying Back Taxes
How installment agreements and offers in compromise work, who qualifies, what they cost, effects on liens and levies and how to choose among IRS relief options.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Innocent Spouse Relief and Joint Tax Debt: When You May Not Owe Your Spouse's Tax
How joint tax liability works, types of relief for spouses and former spouses, eligibility, deadlines, how to apply and what to expect.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
How Bankruptcy Works: A Step-by-Step Guide From Filing to Discharge
A plain-English walkthrough of the bankruptcy process: credit counseling, filing, the automatic stay, the creditors meeting, discharge and what happens afterward.
4 min read
Collection actions
- Debt and bankruptcy
IRS Levies, Wage Garnishment and Tax Liens: How Collection Works and How to Stop It
How the IRS collects unpaid taxes through liens, levies and wage garnishment, notice requirements, your hearing rights, how to release a levy and options to resolve the debt.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Wage Garnishment: Limits, Exemptions and How to Stop It
How wage garnishment works, the federal limit on how much can be taken and what you can do if your paycheck is garnished.
5 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Frozen Bank Account and Bank Levy: What You Can Do
Why a bank account may be frozen, which funds are protected and how to respond to a levy.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Bankruptcy Exemptions: What Property Can You Keep?
How state and federal exemptions protect your home, car, retirement accounts and personal belongings in bankruptcy.
2 min read
Business and help
- Debt and bankruptcy
Small Business Bankruptcy Options: Chapter 7, 11 and Subchapter V
How businesses use bankruptcy to liquidate or reorganize, including simplified small business reorganization and owner liability.
2 min read - Work and lawyers
Sales Tax for Online Sellers: Nexus, Registration and Marketplaces
When online sellers must collect sales tax, how economic nexus works and how marketplace facilitators handle tax.
2 min read - Work and lawyers
How to Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help in the US
Where to look for legal aid, law school clinics, bar association referral programs and court self-help centers.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
What to Do If You Were Scammed: Report, Recover and Protect Yourself
Steps to take after falling for a scam, who to contact, whether you can get money back and how to protect your accounts.
2 min read
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if I receive an IRS notice?
Read it carefully, note the deadline, compare it with your records and respond as instructed, in writing if you disagree.
Can I set up a payment plan with the IRS?
Often yes. Installment agreements are available to many taxpayers who cannot pay in full.
Can the IRS take my wages without a lawsuit?
Yes, after required notices, because it does not need a court order.
What if I have not filed returns for years?
File as soon as you can, gather transcripts and seek professional help if the situation is complex.
Are tax relief companies legitimate?
Some are, but many charge high fees for services you can do yourself. Be cautious.