See which IRS relief options you may qualify for.
Three taps, about 30 seconds. Free, no obligation.
★★★★★ TrustpilotBBB A+16+ years$800M+ resolvedThe IRS is not notified
Cases reviewed by David Cho, tax attorney, and Scott Mullerleile, Enrolled Agent, at Tax Law Advocates.
Question 1 of 3
Roughly how much is owed to the IRS?
Options worth reviewing
Several relief options may apply to you.
Offer in Compromise Currently Not Collectible Payment plan Penalty removal
Missing returns usually need filing first, and the firm can help with that.
or get a call back
You will be contacted by Tax Law Advocates, a law firm. This does not create an attorney-client relationship or contact the IRS.
Thank you. Your request is in.
Tax Law Advocates will call you shortly from (800) 213-7303. Keep any IRS letters nearby, opened or not. If you would rather talk now, call.
Call now insteadFree, no obligation. Asking does not notify the IRS. A general guide, not an eligibility determination.
★★★★★ TrustpilotBBB A+16+ years$800M+ resolvedThe IRS is not notified
Real cases. Real numbers.
Anonymized Tax Law Advocates results. Every case is different; results vary and are not guaranteed.
Offer in Compromise
$83,000
A retiree who never knew he owed. Debt fully eliminated via Offer in Compromise.
Currently Not Collectible
$300,000
Business tax debt placed in Currently Not Collectible status, set to expire.
Partial-pay installment agreement
$51,000
Set to be eliminated while protecting retirement assets.
Meet them before you call
Two short introductions from the people who review cases at Tax Law Advocates.
J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation, UCI Law. How a free review works.
12+ years in tax resolution. What the firm does once you go ahead.
Got an IRS letter? See what it means.
The notice number is printed in the top or bottom right corner. Tap yours.
You have not opened it
Start hereThat is very common. Most letters are easier to deal with than people fear, and dates matter.
What to do: Open it, find the notice number in a top or bottom corner, and tap it here. Or call and read it to the firm.
Read it to the firm for freeGeneral guide only. The exact dates and deadlines that apply to you are printed on your letter.
What waiting adds to the balance
The IRS charges a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5% of unpaid tax for each month it stays unpaid, up to 25%. Interest is added on top. Move the slider to see the penalty alone.
Failure-to-pay penalty added
$1,800
That is 6% of the unpaid tax. Interest is added on top of both tax and penalties, compounded daily. If your return was filed on time, an approved payment plan lowers the rate to 0.25% a month. After a notice of intent to levy, it can rise to 1%.
Stop it growing: call freeSimplified illustration of the standard 0.5% failure-to-pay penalty on a fixed balance. It excludes interest and any failure-to-file penalty, so actual totals are usually higher.
Hear it from clients
“Tax Law Advocates gave me peace of mind when I needed it most.”
“Tax Law Advocates helped me feel relieved and supported every step of the way.”
Got an IRS notice? Watch Bahar’s story before you panic.
“Jonnel Bolotano with Tax Law Advocates was amazing to work with. Even though I didn’t initially start my case with him, he stepped in, took charge, and stayed on top of everything from that point forward.”
“If I could give Tax Law Advocates more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. Jamie and Scott were my dream team, steady, sharp, and on top of every detail.”
“Jesse Moreno my tax lawyer did a wonderful job on my case. She was very patient kind and professional, and resolution that I received was better than I expected! Thank you Jesse for representing me!”
Client testimonials and reviews reflect individual experiences with Tax Law Advocates. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Could you settle for less? Check your options.
A few questions about what you owe, earn and own, the same things the IRS looks at. It takes about 2 minutes.
IRS Fresh Start Program Calculator
A few quick questions to see which IRS relief options may fit your situation.
Step 1 of 4
About 2 minutes
Your tax debt
Include penalties and interest. A rough number is fine.
Total IRS tax debt
Please enter how much you owe.
Have you filed all required federal tax returns?
Are you currently in an open bankruptcy?
Your monthly budget
The IRS compares what you earn with what you need to live on.
Household income after taxes
Per month, everyone in your household.
Essential monthly expenses
Rent or mortgage, utilities, car, food, health care, child care.
Please fill in both amounts (0 is fine).
What you own
Enter what you could get if you sold it, minus any loan. The IRS counts about 80% of that value.
Cash, savings and investments
Bank accounts, brokerage, retirement accounts.
Equity in home and vehicles
Market value minus what you still owe on them.
Your results are ready
Where should we send your results?
Enter your details to see your results. Tax Law Advocates may contact you to review your options.
Something went wrong sending your details. Please try again, or call (800) 213-7303.
You will be contacted by Tax Law Advocates, a law firm. This does not create an attorney-client relationship or contact the IRS.
Checking your answers
Matching your answers to IRS relief options.
Your results are ready
Options worth reviewing for your situation
File any missing returns
The IRS requires this first, and it often opens up the other options.
Revisit once your bankruptcy closes
Tax debt is handled differently while a bankruptcy is open.
Offer in Compromise
Settling for less than the full amount, if you qualify.
Currently Not Collectible
Pausing collection while you cannot afford to pay.
IRS payment plan
Paying over time in monthly installments.
Penalty relief
Removing penalties if you qualify, such as first-time abatement.
Good news, you may qualify
Based on your answers, these IRS programs are worth reviewing.
Tax Law Advocates will contact you shortly to go over these with you, free.
This tool gives general information based on your answers. It is not a guarantee, an eligibility determination, a tax or legal opinion, or an offer from the IRS. The IRS decides every case based on full financial details.
Is a free review worth your time?
An honest answer, so you do not waste a call.
Usually worth a call if
Possibly not needed if
How it works
A free 15-minute review
You talk through what you owe and any letters you have. Unopened letters are fine.
A clear plan and price
The firm tells you which options realistically apply and what the work would cost.
They deal with the IRS
Only if you go ahead. From then on, the IRS contacts the firm instead of you.
Who you would be talking to
Not a call centre script. Cases are handled by licensed tax professionals at Tax Law Advocates.
David Cho
Tax attorney. J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation, UCI Law.
Scott Mullerleile
Enrolled Agent. 12+ years in tax resolution.
The four Fresh Start options
Fresh Start is not one program. It is a set of IRS rules. Tap each to see who it suits.
Installment AgreementPay over time+
A monthly payment plan instead of paying all at once. If you owe $50,000 or less, you can usually get up to 72 months with little paperwork.
Best for: People who can afford a monthly payment · Typical time: Days to a few weeks
Penalty AbatementRemove penalties+
Removing or reducing penalties, not the tax itself, where you had reasonable cause or a clean recent record. Often the fastest real reduction.
Best for: Balances inflated by penalties · Typical time: A few weeks to a few months
Currently Not CollectiblePause collection+
The IRS agrees you cannot pay right now and stops collecting. Interest continues, but because the IRS has limited time to collect, the debt can expire unpaid.
Best for: Income that only covers basic living costs · Typical time: A few weeks to a few months
Offer in CompromiseSettle for less+
Settling for less than you owe when the IRS is unlikely to collect the full amount, based on income, expenses and assets. Real, but the exception rather than the norm.
Best for: People who could never realistically pay in full · Typical time: Often 6 to 12 months or more
Choosing tax help you can trust
These are real IRS procedures, and you can always contact the IRS yourself at no cost. If you choose professional help, be cautious of anyone who:
Promises "pennies on the dollar" before seeing your finances
Guarantees a result or a specific reduction
Asks for a large fee before explaining what they will do
Implies they are the IRS or a government program
Will not name who handles your case, or whether they are licensed
We name the firm, the people who handle your case, and their credentials, so you can verify them yourself.
Common questions
Is the IRS Fresh Start Program real?+
Yes. It is the name for a set of IRS collection-relief rules: payment plans, penalty abatement, Currently Not Collectible status and Offers in Compromise.
Does the call cost anything or commit me?+
No. The review is free and there is no obligation. If the firm can help, it will tell you the cost before you decide anything.
Will contacting you alert the IRS?+
No. Nothing is sent to the IRS unless you hire the firm and authorise it to act for you.
Can I really settle for less than I owe?+
Sometimes, through an Offer in Compromise, when what you offer is at least what the IRS could realistically collect. It is the exception, not the norm. Payment plans and penalty removal are more common.
How long does the IRS have to collect?+
Generally 10 years from when the tax was assessed (the Collection Statute Expiration Date). Interest and penalties keep growing in the meantime.
Is this website the IRS?+
No. This is an independent site and attorney advertisement, not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. Enquiries go to the law firm Tax Law Advocates.
What to have ready for the call
None of this is required. Whatever you have nearby helps the firm give you a clearer answer.
1Any IRS letters, even unopened ones
2A rough idea of what you owe and for which years
3Your monthly take-home pay and main bills
4Whether any tax returns are still unfiled
Interest grows every month. Knowing your options is free.
Free case review with Tax Law Advocates
No obligation · The IRS is not notified