If you are a taxpayer then the last thing you want to find in your mailbox is a letter from the IRS. This government agency has a well earned reputation, and the IRS uses fear and intimidation to get taxpayers to comply without question regardless of what the circumstances are. The IRS has found that bullying and aggressive intimidation tactics can be highly effective so the agency continues to use these methods and even push the legal boundaries in many cases.
The IRS maintains their reputation and tries to strike fear in the hearts of taxpayers with the goal of keeping taxpayers honest and preventing tax fraud. If the taxpayer believes that the IRS is all powerful then individuals and businesses are far less likely to try and fudge or fail to report income. The IRS wants taxpayers to to know that this agency has many powers and that they will use these powers against taxpayers without hesitation.
Intimidation is not the only tactic used by the IRS to ensure taxpayer honesty. IRS agents will hound any taxpayer who is unlucky enough to come to the attention of this agency. Most of the time the taxpayer gives in before they are ever visited by an IRS agent, the threatening letters and intimidating threats made over the phone are typically enough to scare a taxpayer into paying any amount claimed without question.
If you receive notice of a tax dispute from the IRS do not let this intimidate you. There are 3 things that you need to know as a taxpayer so that any IRS tax dispute is handled properly and you get the best possible outcome without all of the intimidation and bullying:
1) Having a qualified tax attorney on your side ill help you ensure that your rights are protected and defended. When you have a tax dispute with the IRS then it is crucial that you have a lawyer representing you who has experience dealing with the IRS. This professional will make sure that your legal rights are protected during the tax dispute and will prevent the IRS from trying to intimidate or bully you. The tax attorney will deal with the IRS for you, giving you much needed peace of mind and letting you get back to a normal life once more.
2) Every taxpayer has specific legal rights, and the IRS must acknowledge and respect your rights during any tax controversy. IRS agents will not tell you what your rights are, but a qualified tax attorney will. This government agency will not make your life easy, and they may try to violate your rights if you are not aware of the them. The lawyer that you choose to represent you with the IRS can explain all of your rights and make sure that they are well protected.
3) The IRS does have the power to seize your property, but only after they have followed certain procedures and you have been provided due process. Most taxpayers fear that the government agency will try to seize vehicles, homes, bank account balances, and other property. This is a real possibility if you have a tax dispute with the IRS, but only after due process has been followed. Taxpayers are given plenty of time to come to an agreement and resolve the tax dispute before the IRS before any seizure is ordered. An IRS notice should not cause you to panic, but you should take steps to resolve this issue as soon as possible.