How Good People Solve Bad IRS Problems - Nick Nemeth - Manual / Resource - Page 34
End Your IRS Problems
Your gut is your internal survival system, which
protects you from imminent danger. Listen to your
body -and if your “gut instinct” tells you to stop
talking to the IRS, then do it. Your gut ( and your
mother) are usually right.
At the very least, simply telling the IRS, you can’t
answer any more questions today because you intend
to get some legal help stops the process immediately
and gives you some time to figure out your next step.
2. Never Tell the IRS Something That You Know is Not
True.
Lying to an IRS employee may substantially undermine
your case and cause you more difficulties in the future.
If the IRS catches you in a lie during negotiations or
after, you may be charged with perjury. Yet another
criminal charge!
The fine print on most of the IRS forms you’ll be
signing says, “under the penalty of perjury.” If you
don’t know what that means, ask, and get help from
an attorney.
Unless you are absolutely positively sure about the
answer to any question posed by an IRS employee,
the most appropriate and accurate response should
be “I don’t know” or “I can’t recall.” (I don’t know
about you, but the older I get, the more challenging it
is to remember anything .. .let alone details about my
taxes!)
3. Never Tell the IRS You Knew What You Were Doing!
The tax code is so overly complex that most IRS
employees don’t understand it. Do not admit to
anything you don’t understand, which should include
just about any tax question.
Somewhere down the road, you may want to plead
ignorance and beg the IRS for forgiveness to help
eliminate some penalties. You must ensure that your
story ( whatever it is) is factual and strong.
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