If you owe a large tax debt to the U.S. government you will be contacted—and maybe even visited—by an IRS revenue officer. The sole job of this officer is to recoup as much of your debt as possible by whatever means necessary. The pressure for collection is such that IRS agents use various tricks to get from A (showing up at your door) to B (extracting your money) as quickly as they can—which is why you need to make it your priority to hire an experienced tax attorney who can defend your rights and help you come to a reasonable solution.

An IRS Revenue Officer Can't Lie to You—But He Doesn't Have to Tell the Whole Truth

What are some major ways in which IRS revenue agents attempt to circumvent tax lawyers and deal with taxpayers directly? Here are the three big ones:

• Asking to come into your home. Most people are naturally courteous, and feel awkward about refusing a request to step into their house or apartment. However, this is a big mistake, because once an IRS agent is on your premises, nothing can stop him from taking an informal inventory of your possessions, and even snooping through your financial records when you're not looking. You are allowed to deny entry to an IRS agent; an easy way is to invoke your right to have a lawyer present.
• Not informing you of your alternatives. A home-run for an IRS revenue officer is to visit you at home and leave with a signed legal document, or even (in rare instances) a check made out to the U.S. Treasury. An IRS agent may make it seem like you have no choice but to settle your tax bill then and there, when in fact there are various alternatives (like an Offer in Compromise), which an experienced tax professional can explain.
• Acting as both agent and intermediary. Perhaps the trickiest thing an IRS revenue officer can do is to inform you of your alternatives (like the Offer in Compromise mentioned above), but then attempt to negotiate the terms of your settlement directly. You can be sure the IRS won't give you the best possible deal on the first go-round; the agent knows that if you consult a lawyer, you may be able to bargain for a better outcome.

Visited by an IRS Revenue Officer? Contact Travis W. Watkins, PC Today

It's never a good idea to bargain with the IRS or one of its representatives without the aid of legal counsel. A tax attorney knows federal and state tax laws inside and out, and can advise you about various loopholes and recourses of which you otherwise might not be aware. If you are in trouble with the IRS and fear you may be contacted soon by an IRS revenue officer, contact the tax experts at Travis W. Watkins, PC today at (405) 703-5689!