Allison Soares, Attorney at Law
Allison Soares is a tax attorney in San Francisco and has represented hundreds of clients before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Employment Development Department (EDD), and CDTFA (formerly known as SBOE). We help our clients with a wide range of legal issues, including most forms of tax law and corporate law, and by advising on various business matters in the San Francisco area. With Ms. Soares' tenacity, you can trust that your issue will be resolved efficiently, allowing you to move forward with your life.
What Does an IRS Tax Attorney Do?
As an IRS tax lawyer in San Francisco, CA, Allison Soares has extensive experience negotiating complex tax issues. Although you can represent yourself in an IRS appeal, having a tax attorney is likely to significantly increase your chances of success. A lawyer must act in your best interest, keep your information confidential, and competently represent you in tax court. A seasoned attorney can assist you with any of the following:
IRS audits, including extensive field audits;
Collection Due Process (CDP), to appeal a tax lien or levy action;
Requesting a payment plan;
Collection Appeals Program (CAP), to appeal a payment plan denial;
Innocent Spouse Relief;
Payroll Tax Issues; and
Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) issues.
If you receive a notice of action from the IRS, it's important not to ignore it. Failing to pay your taxes on time can result in property liens and levies, a monthly late fee, and interest charges. Even if you disagree with a decision, you must respond promptly or lose your right to appeal. Allison Soares can help you successfully manage this detailed legal process from start to finish.
IRS Appeals
When dealing with the IRS, you will encounter two types of decisions:
Assessments-I.e., audit results; and
Collections-Actions to collect the taxes you owe, including liens, levies, and payment plan approvals.
When you disagree with a tax decision, you can object and request a hearing. As an IRS tax attorney in San Francisco, Allison Soares will help you enforce your rights and manage the process.
Assessment Decisions: Appealing an IRS Audit
The IRS may audit a tax return to verify that individuals and businesses pay the correct amount of taxes. If the IRS selects your return for an audit, it will notify you by mail. Some audits request additional information by mail, and others require an in-person review. After the audit, the IRS will send a notice of its proposed decision. If you disagree, do not sign a settlement agreement. You have the right to appeal the decision, but you must respond by the deadline.
Collection Due Process (CDP)
If you do not pay your taxes, the IRS can use a property lien or levy to collect the amount owed, plus penalties and interest. If the IRS decides to seize your property, it will send a Final Notice of Intent to Levy or Federal Tax Lien Filing. If you disagree, you have 30 days before the action begins to request a CPD hearing with the IRS Office of Appeals. The IRS cannot levy on your property during these 30 days.
Payment Plans
You might benefit from a payment plan if you need more time to pay your taxes. Depending on how much you owe and how long you need to pay, you have several options. These options include the following:
Short-term payment plan: Pay off the amount owed in 120 days or less with no setup fee;
Long-term payment plan (installment agreement): Make automatic payments from your checking account for more than 120 days (has a $31 setup fee);
Guaranteed Installment Agreement: You can use this option if you owe less than $10,000 and can pay it off within three years;
Streamlined Installment Agreement: You can use this option if you owe less than $50,000 and can pay it off within 72 months; and
In-Business Trust Fund Express Installment Agreement (IBTF-Express IA): You can use this option if you owe $25,000 or less in payroll taxes and can pay it off within 24 months.
A payment plan stops the IRS from placing levies, but you could still collect interest and penalties.
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