IRS Tax Problems

How Can a Tax Professional Help Stop Wage Garnishment?

How Can a Tax Professional Help Stop Wage Garnishment?

Wage garnishment can be a nasty surprise to contend with if you are in debt and haven't been able to stay current on your obligations. If your wages are being garnished due to student loans or consumer debt like credit cards, an attorney or legal clinic can help you get your creditors to stop taking your wages.

However, a tax professional can help you if the IRS or state tax authority started the wage garnishment. This is because, unlike other types of debt, tax debt adheres to the tax code as opposed to debtor and consumer protection statutes.

The Tax Code Matters for Tax Debt, and Pros Know the Ins and Outs of the Tax Code

Given that licensed tax professionals specialize in all matters pertaining to the tax code and resolving issues with the IRS and state tax authorities, you can go to a tax professional if you are seeking help with wage garnishment related to unpaid tax bills. Tax professionals are familiar with the due process that the IRS must follow to collect unpaid taxes. The tax pros who practice near you will also be knowledgeable in dealing with your state's or locality's tax authorities if your wages are being garnished by these entities.

In addition to getting the IRS or state tax authority to put an end to garnishing your wages, tax professionals can help you with the underlying tax problems that caused the garnishment in the first place. It may seem counterintuitive to hire a tax professional if you have tax bills that you can't afford to pay, but a tax professional can even help you settle your federal taxes with an offer in compromise or work with the IRS on your behalf to form a payment plan. A tax pro will also take care of filing all the necessary paperwork for you.

Contacting the IRS can be stressful and time-consuming, not to mention ridden with incredibly long hold times, as the people who answer the main 800 numbers have been constrained by budget cuts. Many people find themselves facing tax debt simply because they put off calling the IRS, let alone visiting a local office to inquire about their options or even just requesting to make their accounts temporarily not collectible.

When you have a tax professional advocating for you, they take care of contacting the IRS (or state tax authorities) for you so you don't have to spend several hours a day trying to get in touch with someone at the IRS. You also get the benefit of the tax professional's knowledge and experience resolving tax matters, not to mention any contacts they have within the IRS and state tax authorities that can expedite the process of not only halting wage garnishment, but negotiating the best possible solution for your financial situation.

Lee Reams II, writes for TaxBuzz, a tax news and advice website. Reach him at [email protected] or on LinkedIn.

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Lee Reams II

Lee Reams II

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I am a tax and business news junkie who has spent the last 20 years developing and executing "best in class" word-of-mouth marketing campaigns for tax and accounting professionals. With TaxBuzz and CountingWorks we have taken that same commitment to quality content directly to the consumer. Keeping you up-to-date with the latest tax law changes, business growth tips and planning strategies to help you reach your best financial outcome.

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