IRS Tax Resolution for Small Businesses

The IRS considers three factors: doubt as to collectability (they can't realistically collect the full amount), doubt as to liability (you dispute the amount owed), and effective tax administration (paying in full would create financial hardship). Luisa evaluates your eligibility based on your actual income, assets, and expenses — not an online calculator. Most people who see OIC ads on TV don't qualify, but some do. We'll give you an honest assessment.

The IRS requires at least six years of returns to be in compliance, though they may request more. We'll prepare all unfiled returns accurately, determine the correct amounts owed, and explore penalty abatement options before we file. Getting into the system is almost always better than waiting — the IRS has ways of filing returns for you (SFR), and their estimates are never in your favor.

Levies and garnishments generally come after a series of notices the IRS is required to send first. If you've been ignoring those notices, the threat is real. We can often request a hold on collection action while we develop a resolution strategy — but the sooner you act, the more options are available.

It depends on what you're resolving. An installment agreement can be set up in weeks. An Offer in Compromise typically takes 6–12 months for the IRS to process. Audit representation timelines vary. We'll give you a realistic timeline at the start — not a vague promise.

Yes. Luisa represents both business entities and individual taxpayers before the IRS — payroll tax problems, business audits, personal income tax issues, and everything in between. Her EA credential covers all federal tax matters.

An installment agreement is a payment plan — you pay the full amount owed over time. An Offer in Compromise settles the debt for less than the full amount if you qualify. Both stop active collection. We evaluate which resolution path is most favorable for your specific situation.

The IRS can levy personal assets (bank accounts, wages, property) for personal tax debt. For business entities, they can also pursue trust fund penalties against individual owners for payroll tax liability. The boundaries depend on your entity structure. We assess your exposure before recommending a resolution strategy.

First-time penalty abatement (FTA) is an IRS administrative waiver that removes failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, and failure-to-deposit penalties for taxpayers with a clean compliance history for the prior three years. It's often the fastest way to eliminate penalties — and most taxpayers don't know to ask for it.