What is the Fresh Start Initiative?

The Fresh Start Initiative was just some changes the IRS made, back in 2012, to how they process installment agreements and offers of compromise. When you listen to the national ads or the ads on the radio, they make it sound like the IRS is ready to make deals, and that’s not really what happened. In fact, when these ads are telling you this, they’re making it sound like “Just make an offer and compromise. The IRS is going to take it,” like a used car salesman. A tax attorney and a CPA knows that that’s not true.

The IRS hasn’t fundamentally changed the way it deals with tax payers who owe. If you have assets or income, the IRS is not going to accept anything less than 100%, unless you’ve got some compelling story. The IRS isn’t going to waive your penalties and interest merely because you say I’m having a hard time. You need to know how the system works, and then best put your client’s story forward to get the result you desire.

That’s what a tax attorney can do. These national programs won’t tell you, but they can only deal with the IRS on an administration level. If you have to appeal it, it usually goes to federal court. If you don’t have an attorney, you’re dead in the water unless you hire one. That means an additional amount of money that has to come out of your pocket. By hiring me, I’m with you all the way through, maybe not to supreme court, but I’ll take you to the tax court where I think we can resolve your matter to your satisfaction.