If you can’t afford your tax bill this year, know that the IRS offers payment options for struggling taxpayers.
While individuals are urged to file their tax returns and and pay any taxes owed by April 15, the agency is aware that the economic downturn has made this difficult for many people.

Taxpayers who do not file their tax returns by the April 15 deadline may be subject to a failure-to-file penalty.
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Taxpayers can get in tax trouble because of their spouses or (ex-spouse’s) financial problems – but the good news is the IRS has guidelines for innocent spouse relief.  And in a recent email, the Chief Counsel’s office has just released additional guidelines on the sharing of information in these types of cases.
CCH (http://tax.cchgroup.com/) reports:
The Chief Counsel’s Office has provided guidance, in an e-mail, regarding the sharing by the IRS, in
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If you haven’t filed your 2008 tax return, haven’t paid your your taxes owed, or are requesting an extension of time for filing, the IRS has issued last minute tax tips that can help you in these final hours.
Knowing how to get tax help and learning about options that are available to you as a taxpayer can save you time, money and frustration in the long run. For instance, if
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The Los Angeles Times released a list of California taxpayers with the largest delinquent income tax bills who together owe $143 million in back taxes.
While O.J. Simpson and his $1.5 million bill have been taken off the list (after being sentence to 9 years in prison), Dionne Warwick (who owes $2.18 million) and Burt Reynolds (who owes $225,000) are among the notable names on the list of 250 people with
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The IRS urges taxpayers who need additional time to complete their tax returns to e-file their requests for extensions by April 15. All taxpayers can e-file a Form 4868, Automatic Extension of Time to File at no cost from a home computer. This is a convenient and secure way to receive confirmation of your extension for your records.
The extension gives taxpayers 6 more months or until October 15 to file
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In attempts to close the tax gap, the IRS is increasing tax compliance and aggressively taking action against tax cheats and tax promoters. As the tax gap grows, more Americans than ever will be facing audits and the IRS will be re-asserting it’s position on individuals who maintain frivolous arguments for not paying their taxes.
CCH (http://tax.cchgroup.com/) reports:
Sanctions were properly imposed on an individual who advanced a frivolous argument that he was not
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Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Obama’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, did not pay $7,040 in taxes between 2005 and 2007. She paid the back taxes and penalty after they were identified.
In addition to Sebelius, five other Obama administration nominees have come under fire for unpaid taxes including Tom Daschle and Timothy F. Geithner. Labor secretary Hilda L. Solis  had to answer questions about $6,400 in
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Many people may qualify for a significant reduction in their tax burden if they qualify for an educational tax break from the IRS. While there are tax benefits available for college and other post-secondary expenses, trying to figure out if and how your qualify for the various benefits can be confusing.
It can be difficult to determine which breaks you are eligible for and what will produce the greatest benefit. When
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According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, a push by the IRS to be more aggressive with wealthy taxpayers means that it’s critical to know the common tax audit red flags.
The IRS has been strongly disputing a report this week from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse that says audits of the wealthy Americans have significantly dropped off.
Taxpayers who make more than $10 million a year or more
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I recently appeared on The Chuck Morse Show on WBNW 1120AM (Boston, MA) to encourage taxpayers to file thier taxes by April 15 – even if they don’t have the money to pay the taxes they owe to Uncle Sam.
There’s going to be a lot of people caught up in this recession, and they’ll quickly find out that they owe taxes for 2008, if they don’t know that already. I
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Just got a nice note from a client in Monroe, Washington and wanted to share his kind words. Our team of tax relief experts was able to greatly reduce his tax debt by negotiating an offer in compromise settlement with the IRS on his behalf.
When he came to us for tax help, he owed the IRS $212,555. We worked on his behalf to negotiate a tax settlement of $2,400. The
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I’ve blogged before about how closing the tax gap could help fund deficit reduction activities. And the White House is definitely searching for new tax revenues. Plans are underway to create a task force that will be looking to end corporate loopholes and bolster IRS enforcement.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
Mr. Obama’s budget proposal began the process of addressing problems such as the tax gap, the difference between taxes owed and
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As the KLOS Tax Man, I give free tax advice to listeners with IRS problems. It’s the perfect way for me to help people with tax debt and reach more Americans who need tax help. Check it out!
The KLOS Tax Man, Tax Tip #58: Buyers of new cars can deduct a sales tax even if they don’t itemize! This break applies to vehicles purchased after February 2009 and before next
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The federal budget deficit for the current year will top $1.8-trillion according to the latest estimates produced by congressional economists
The Congressional Budget Office cited recent government bailouts, tax legislation and the continuing turmoil in financial markets as causes for the growth in the deficit . The latest figures, fueled by the $700 billion Wall Street bailout and diving tax revenues stemming from the worsening recession, would shatter the previous record
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At least 13 companies who received some of the $300 billion in TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funds owe hundreds of million of dollars in delinquent federal taxes but still received federal bailout money.
As a condition of receiving TARP funds, these companies signed statements indicating they owned no back federal taxes.
According to House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis, D-Ga, the Treasury Department relied on company statements, rather
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