From Denny: And, first, on the serious side this tax season, Beware the Scam Artists. There are those commercials assuring you how they can get you tax resolution if you owe back taxes. With all the job loss it's no wonder there are so many Americans struggling to pay their taxes.
Well, do yourself a huge favor and talk directly to the IRS. Under the Obama administration they are a far more friendly, kinder IRS. They will help set up lowered payments for you, even if you made a deal with them months or years earlier on other back taxes.
They will still negotiate with you while you try to find a job or recover from the chaotic economy. I know what I'm talking about because I hear it everywhere around me: People in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast are getting to be IRS policy experts these days since the BP Oil Spill Disaster a year ago.
Call the IRS on your own. Don't waste good money throwing it away to a tax resolution attorney or service. Often they don't get you as good a deal as when you negotiate directly with the IRS. After all, the whole point is you are struggling to pay, so why load yourself up with more debt you end up owing to a tax service? These guys can charge you thousands of dollars for that one cheap phone call you can do yourself.
Whatever you do, make sure you file your taxes even if you don't send in payment. The IRS is a lot more amenable when you have complied with the law and filed in a timely manner.
To date, there is over $330 billion owed to the IRS, most from the wealthy who just plain refuse to pay what they owe. Isn't it about time Obama started chasing down Big Business and the greedy before they go after out of work or under employed Formerly Known As Middle Class Americans?
