Tony: I have practiced law since 1976, and even though I have had other businesses, I never stopped practicing law. For five years I was in the real estate syndication business, plus I started and owned a couple of other businesses. This has helped me understand the life of the small business owner and their stresses and problems.


In the recent past, I have focused full-time on IRS debt resolution whereas earlier in my law career I had other areas I worked in like, bankruptcy, real estate, and immigration law.

Read more: Meet the attorney, Tony Ramos, and Meet the team

A Notice of Intent to Levy is one of the most serious letters you can receive from the IRS. In simple terms, it is the IRS's final, formal warning that they are preparing to legally seize your assets to satisfy an unpaid tax debt.

A levy is different from a lien. A lien is a legal claim against your property, which affects your ability to sell it and damages your credit. A levy is the actual seizure of your property. This can include:

• Draining funds from your bank accounts.
• Garnishing a significant portion of your wages directly from your employer.
• Seizing personal property like your car, or even your home.

The good news is that receiving this notice does not mean a levy is immediate. You typically have a 30-day window from the date on the letter to either pay the debt in full, set up a payment plan, or appeal the decision.

This notice is a critical call to action. Ignoring it will almost certainly lead to the seizure of your assets. However, it is also your final opportunity to proactively resolve your tax problem before the IRS takes these aggressive collection actions. An experienced tax attorney can intervene on your behalf during this 30-day period to protect your assets and negotiate a workable solution.

See the full post: "3 Things You Should Do Immediate...

Penalty Abatement is the process of formally requesting that the IRS remove—or abate—penalties that have been added to your tax debt. Penalties for things like failing to file on time, failing to pay on time, or failing to deposit certain taxes can add thousands of dollars to your original bill, making it even harder to get out of debt.

However, the IRS may agree to remove these penalties if you can show you had a "Reasonable Cause" for not meeting your tax obligations.

Simply not having the money is not considered a reasonable cause, but other legitimate circumstances often qualify.

Valid reasons for requesting a penalty abatement may include:

• Death, serious illness, or significant disability of the taxpayer or an immediate family member.
• A natural disaster, fire, or other serious event that destroyed your records or ability to file/pay.
• Receiving incorrect advice from a tax professional or even the IRS itself.
• Inability to obtain necessary records for reasons beyond your control.

Successfully abating penalties requires building a strong, well-documented case that persuades the IRS your situation meets their criteria.

While interest charges are rarely abated, removing the underlying penalties can significantly reduce the total interest you owe. This is a complex area of tax law where the knowledge and experience of a tax attorney can be invaluable in presenting your case for the best possible outcome.

Learn more: Abatement of Penalties & Interest

A surprise notice from the IRS can quickly derail your plans, both in business and personally.

But how should you respond?

What can you do to get the IRS to take you seriously, offer you a reasonable path to relief, and give you the best possible deal?

Today, you’ll learn exactly what to tackle when it comes to IRS tax debt to reduce IRS pressure. You already know you need to settle. Here’s how to start making progress toward that goal.

We’ll start things off with the 4-5 notices the IRS sends you about 5 weeks apart which let you know they are about to levy. Here's the good news you should know:

The IRS must send you several notices before seizing your assets.

See full post: "3 Things You Should Do Immediately When The IRS Sends You “Notice of Intent to Levy”

Fixed fees. I recommend hiring an attorney that charges you a set fee for services rather than an hourly rate. My experience is that clients want to know exactly what the attorney is going to charge rather than being surprised with a higher than expected legal bill because the attorney spent more time than predicted. Clients can’t decide if they can afford to pay their attorney if they don’t know how much the legal fees will be!

See more: How can I afford a tax attorney?

Almost certainly, yes.

I began practicing law in 1976 and have focused my practice exclusively on IRS debt resolution for over 20 years. In that time, I have personally handled thousands of cases for individuals and small businesses across Texas.

While every client's story is unique, the types of problems people face with the IRS follow predictable patterns.

Over the last four decades, I have successfully helped:

• Small business owners struggling with payroll tax debt and the threat of business closure.
• Individuals who fell behind on taxes due to divorce, illness, or job loss.
• Contractors and self-employed professionals facing audits and complex income verification issues.
• Families terrified of losing their homes to an IRS lien or having their bank accounts levied.

My experience isn't just in law; I've also owned and operated other businesses.

This gives me a firsthand understanding of the stresses and pressures that small business owners face.

This unique combination of legal expertise and real-world business experience allows me to craft effective strategies that are grounded in reality.

So, while the specifics of your situation are personal to you, it is very likely that I have seen the core elements of your case many times before. I have successfully navigated these issues for thousands of clients, bringing them control over the situation and peace of mind. The best way to know for sure is to discuss your case with me directly.

Read more: Meet the attorney, Tony Ramos

The IRS has started sending Notice 1450 with its correspondence to taxpayers.
You may be wondering why the IRS has sent you this notice.

The IRS is encouraging taxpayers to use their personal online account at irs.gov.

This is because the IRS is so understaffed and is not answering a great majority of phone calls at this time. If you can open your own account at irs.gov, then you will relieve IRS personnel trying to answer phone calls.

Notice 1450 encourages you to set up an online account at irs.gov. Here are the benefits to you when you have your own account.

1. Manage communication preferences
2. View your balance
3. View or create payment plans
4. Make and view payments
5. Access tax records
6. View tax pro authorizations

Here is a copy of the Notice 1450 recently received by one of my clients.

If you need help from a tax attorney, please fill out a contact form.