A Few Words to Tax Professionals with Clients Who Owe Back Taxes

Every year your clients make bad decisions about tax problems, give them a little help this year.

This post comes from the constant, repeated experience.  If you do not want to handle a client’s IRS back tax issue, please point them towards the reviews on this blog.  If you have questions about this post, please reference:  BP62.  All irs back tax help comments are in blue.  

If you know your client needs to take action, read my post about whether or not they should hire someone (they should not automatically,) titled “Owe IRS back taxes? When, who, and how do I hire IRS back tax help?” before they do anything else.  

As usual, If you like the tone of these posts, contact me for consultation.  I can be reached at irsbacktaxhelp@gmail.com.  Before you email me, please click on and read “About irs back tax help.”

Tax Professionals tend to fall into three categories:

1. Very busy and very systematic.  Proactive with their clients and has a large number of clients.  They always suggest their clients who develop tax trouble to seek out a specialist, because the time required to handle back tax issues kills their profit margins and they know their limits. 
2. Do not want to work with the IRS Collection Division.  These representatives just do not want to touch tax problems.  They tell their clients to try to do anything to get the tax debt paid, and do not have much advice beyond that point. 
3. The jack of all trades.  They want to be everything for their clients, and they have the free time to try.  These representatives will learn as they go to try to solve IRS tax problems for their clients.  Sometimes that works.    

Whichever category you fall into, if you are sending your clients elsewhere, help them make the choice.  Using this third party research listed in the link above will allow you to take care of them without having to stake your own reputation on it.  Referrals and references are never enough.  No one will ever send your client a bad reference.  Have them go through this 3 step process:

STEP 1:  Before you talk to a tax resolution specialist:

In the first call, whether you contacted the tax resolution company or they contacted you, tell them you want some general information about the company and the name of the person who will be representing you before you talk to them and then you will return their call.  They should be happy to provide you with this information via email, fax, or snail mail, whatever you prefer.  If they refuse, or try to ignore your request, and become pushy, threatening, or obnoxious, that is a red flag.  Once you have the name of the person who will represent you, visit the state’s Supreme Court Attorney Search and make sure the attorney is in good standing.  If there are no issues, proceed to STEP 2. 

If your client has an IRS emergency caused by an IRS bank levy or seizure, and you know they have to do something now.  (Short read, I promise.)  

STEP 2:  Read Google & BBB Reviews for the Tax Resolution Specialist You are Researching

 Here’s what I would have your client do:

• Google the company name in quotations followed by the word complaints.  Example:  “Tax Financial Group” complaints.  Scan the first couple of pages for concerns.  This will usually bring up the bbb review as well. 
• I usually google the address as well.  I have come across multiple companies operating at the same address. 

• Read the entire BBB report.  Ignore the letter grade and focus on complaints.
  • When using the Better Business Bureau to research companies, it is probably best to use the BBB as a “de-selector” rather than a reason to hire someone.  The BBB solicits companies to become a member; so it is relatively easy to remain in good standing and keep an “A” letter grade.  The nature of the company is better seen by how many complaints they have accumulated over the last 3 years, which is the standard BBB reporting period.  A good rule of thumb is no more than one complaint per year, or three complaints total.  Size and age of a company are irrelevant.  It really boils down to how they treated their clients during the reporting period.  
  • There are plenty of companies who meet this standard, so don’t settle for less.  If you are having trouble finding companies with 3 complaints or less, I’m happy to help.  I can be reached at irsbacktaxhelp@gmail.com.

If no concerns arise from this research, move on to STEP 3. 

STEP 3:  Re-Contact them and then get a second opinion on how to handle your IRS tax debt

Overall, if you are thinking of hiring them, listen to them and then get a second opinion for your tax problems.  Of course, we would like to be that second opinion, but as long as you take the time to do a little homework as listed in the first link above, you’ll probably be fine.  Click “About irs back tax help” to learn about us. 

It appears they are very focused on marketing their services.  If you feel “high pressure” sales is not for you, I’m your man.  If you would like irs back tax help to be your first or second opinion, I can be reached at irsbacktaxhelp@gmail.com.  We don’t pressure people in an already stressful situation, and I do not telemarket anyone. 

Regards,

irs back tax help