Although dealing with the IRS is never fun, there are some actions you can take to help the process of working with an IRS employee go smoothly.

Be Friendly

If you’re aggressive or confrontational with an IRS agent, they will not be inclined to be cooperative when working with you on resolving your tax debt. Remember, the IRS is ultimately in control of your tax resolution. You cannot intimidate or bully them into doing what you want.

Be Patient

The IRS is meticulous and systematic when handling tax resolution cases. Although this can be annoying and exhausting to taxpayers, it’s all part of process. You’ll definitely need to practice patience when working with this government entity.

Update Contact Information

In the event that you move, be sure to add the IRS to your list of places to change your address. You don’t want to miss any important notices or deadlines as this could set you back in your tax resolution case. Notify the IRS of your new address by filling out their change-of-address form (IRS Form 8822).

Respond Timely

Be sure to always respond to notices or letters from the IRS by the stated deadline. While it’s important that you respond promptly, you also want to be sure that you understand what the letter means and what is being requested from you.

Verify the Contact Person

If an IRS employee calls you, always ask for their name and employee ID number prior to engaging in a conversation. There are many IRS imitators out there, so it is best to check and make sure that you are actually dealing with a real IRS employee. Don’t give any detailed information about yourself (SSN, bank information, etc.) until you establish the legitimacy of the call.

Stay Calm

Most people are fearful or nervous when working with the IRS, and that’s totally understandable. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong, it can still be intimidating to talk to them. However, nervousness may imply that you have something you’re hiding, which could give the IRS the wrong idea. That’s why it’s important to remain calm when speaking with an IRS employee.

We know that the tips above are much easier said than done. Most people have little to no experience dealing with tax problems, such as tax resolution and the IRS collection process, but the IRS are experts when it comes to dealing with taxpayers. We understand the unfair advantage that the IRS has over taxpayers; knowing every rule and tool to use against you, while you know very little about the nuances of the tax code. That’s why we’re here, to help taxpayers have a voice against the IRS (or Goliath as we like to call them). If you’re not comfortable dealing with the IRS on your own, give us a call. Our team of experienced, trusted tax professionals deal with the IRS on behalf of our clients every day, and we’d love to do the same for you.