What IRS Resolution Actually Looks Like

Every tax situation is different, and no honest firm can promise you a specific outcome before reviewing your case. What we can do is show you the range of results the IRS programs actually produce — and be straightforward about what drove each one.
The cases below are real client outcomes. Individual results vary based on each taxpayer’s circumstances, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

IRS Resolutions

Settlement
$324,388 Resolved for $100

Situation
A client came to us owing $324,388. Years of unfiled returns and accumulated penalties had turned a manageable problem into a six-figure crisis.

What we did
We brought the unfiled returns current, then completed a full financial analysis and determined the client was a strong Offer in Compromise candidate. We prepared the application with the supporting documentation the IRS requires.

Outcome

The IRS accepted an Offer in Compromise of $100.

Why it worked: An Offer in Compromise is decided on Reasonable Collection Potential — what the IRS calculates it could realistically collect before the statute expires — not on the size of the balance. When that figure is genuinely near zero, the settlement can be too.
Settlement
$32,400 Resolved for $4,500

Situation
A client with an escalating balance and no significant assets, already deep into the IRS collection sequence.

What we did
We established compliance, documented the client’s financial position, and submitted an Offer in Compromise supported by that analysis.

Outcome

The IRS accepted $4,500 — roughly 14 cents on the dollar.
Payment Plan
$47,000 Balance, No Levy, Part of It Forgiven

Situation
A self-employed graphic designer, age 38, owed $47,000 across two tax years — $38,000 in tax plus $9,000 in penalties and interest — after three years without estimated tax payments. She had ignored the CP14, CP501 and CP503 notices because she could not afford to pay. Then a CP504 arrived.

What we did
We filed the Power of Attorney, pulled her transcripts, and calculated her Reasonable Collection Potential. It showed she could not pay the full balance within the time remaining on the collection statute, which made her a candidate for a Partial Payment Installment Agreement.

Outcome

The IRS accepted an installment agreement at $550 per month. Her state tax refund was not levied, the case never escalated to an LT11, and she avoided wage garnishment, a bank levy and a tax lien. Approximately $8,400 is set to be forgiven when the collection statute expires.

What it cost: $3,500 in fees, against a $47,000 exposure.
Enforcement Stopped
Wage Garnishment Released

Situation
A working professional discovered the IRS was garnishing a significant portion of every paycheck, leaving them unable to cover basic living expenses.

What we did
We filed the paperwork to challenge the garnishment and negotiated an alternative resolution that accounted for the client’s actual living expenses.

Outcome

The garnishment was released, the full paycheck was restored, and a manageable payment plan was put in place for the underlying balance.
Compliance
Years of Unfiled Returns, Penalties Abated

Situation
A self-employed individual had not filed in several years and had been avoiding the problem while IRS notices accumulated.

What we did
Our enrolled agents reviewed the financial records, prepared every outstanding return, and pursued penalty abatement where reasonable cause applied.

Outcome

All returns were filed, a significant portion of the penalties were removed, and the client was placed on an affordable installment agreement for the remaining balance.

Key Factors Behind Your Outcome

What Actually Drives the Outcome

Across every case above, the same three factors determined the result — and none of them is how much you owe.

Your ability to pay

Every IRS resolution program is decided on your financial position, not the size of the balance. This is why a $324,000 balance can settle for less than a $30,000 one.
Time remaining on the collection statute

The IRS generally has ten years from assessment to collect (IRC §6502). A balance near the end of that window is treated very differently from a fresh assessment.
Compliance

The IRS will not approve any resolution while returns are unfiled. Getting current is almost always the first move, and it frequently reduces the balance on its own.

What We Will Not Tell You

We will not quote you a settlement figure before reviewing your transcripts, because anyone who does is guessing. We do not guarantee that any balance will be reduced by a specific amount or that any particular program will be approved. Some cases end in a payment plan rather than a settlement, and when that is the honest answer, we say so during the free consultation rather than after you have paid us.

Find Out What Your Case Supports

The consultation is free and carries no obligation. We will review your situation, explain which programs you may realistically qualify for, and give you a straight assessment. Call 1-877-800-8180.

Individual results vary based on each taxpayer’s unique circumstances. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Figures shown are illustrative of individual client experiences and are not a promise of your results.

1-877-800-8180 Contact Us

What IRS Resolution Actually Looks Like

IRS Resolutions

$324,388 Resolved for $100

$32,400 Resolved for $4,500

$47,000 Balance, No Levy, Part of It Forgiven

Wage Garnishment Released

Years of Unfiled Returns, Penalties Abated

What Actually Drives the Outcome

Your ability to pay

Time remaining on the collection statute

Compliance

What We Will Not Tell You

Find Out What Your Case Supports