Criminal Defense Lawyers

IRS COLLECTIONS LAWYERS

IRS collections is a term taxpayers dread to hear. It means that you owe the IRS money and it’s time to pay up. For taxpayers who have plenty of money to live on, this might not be such a big deal. For those taxpayers who are going to need more time to pay their taxes, things become complicated in a hurry. Tax problems don’t go away overnight. For some people, they can drag on for months or even years before they’re resolved. Obtaining a good IRS collections lawyer will give you the ability to understand the collection actions taken against you and how to resolve them in a way that is both legal and less time consuming.

Both individuals and businesses have a very good reason to get a lawyer when they have outstanding tax debt that they are unable to pay right away. The IRS can take many actions actions against your property and wages if you fail to repay them for outstanding tax debt. What a good lawyer will do for you is make sure that the payment plan you work out or the collections actions taken against you will be taken where it will hurt your finances the least. No one wants to realize that they’ve had their wages garnished when they could ill afford to do so. A simple payment plan might have prevented the IRS from taking that action. So it’s important to contact a lawyer about any collections notifications you receive from the IRS so that you can take care of them in your own way, without hurting your finances in the meantime.

Good legal offices typically have experts on IRS tax law. They may even have former IRS agents who are familiar with the laws that govern collections. These experts will immediately know if the IRS is violating any of its agreements OR if there is a way to extend tax payments before collections actions are taken. High dollar delinquencies especially call for an experienced IRS tax lawyer that has handled these types of cases before.

The good news is that if you have outstanding debt owed to the IRS, your lawyers have a large amount of options to choose from before they resolve your case. They will discuss the specifics with you and go over all of your options for delaying payment. Perhaps the most attractive is installment payments which don’t take anything directly out of your paycheck but leave it up to you to pay the installment payments on time. This allows you to negotiate further down the road in case your financial situation changes. Secondly, your lawyers can make offers in compromise to the IRS which they often accept. This means you’ll end up settling your debt for a lump sum payment that won’t even require payments. This is preferable for those who can’t quite afford to pay the full amount but can get close.

Spodek Law Group, P.C. - NYC Criminal Attorneys

5.0

Based on 745 reviews

George Fernandez

14:16 30 Apr 24

Excellent 10 out of 10, Helped resolve my case. Jeremy explained everything and made everything easy to understand.

Raj

21:33 24 Apr 24

If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!

Yelva Saint-Preux

19:26 19 Apr 24

I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.

Katherine Sun

18:08 18 Apr 24

my lawyer is Alex Zhik. Efficient, patient and professional

Nun ya

17:48 18 Apr 24

Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.

Keisha Parris

20:45 15 Mar 24

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

16:26 15 Mar 24

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!

K Mar

01:37 25 Jan 24

I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.

Your lawyer will be well-versed in specific scenarios as well, such as when a husband or wife is in deep tax debt because of a spouse that ran up a criminal debt or negligently avoided paying taxes (ex-spouse only). Sometimes you can get your amount reduced or even forgiven completely if you’re lucky and if the lawyer you hire is particularly good at what he does. If you don’t use one or more of these techniques to resolve the debt, it’s likely that the IRS will directly take funds from you. This includes liens on homes, cars, and property, plus possible wage garnishment now and in the future. This is a prospect that no legal client wants to face and with a good lawyer on your side, you won’t have to face it at all.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed over tax collection efforts by the IRS. You’re not the first person to go through this and you certainly won’t be the last. With the aid of a good lawyer, you’re going to successfully resolve this conflict. While technically you can resolve some of these scenarios yourself, if you’re dealing with a larger debt than you can play, it’s wise to get a lawyer and let them handle your case before things get out of hand.

Should I Consult an Attorney If I Am Accused of Tax Fraud

Tax fraud is a serious charge that can carry substantial penalties. If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is accusing you of tax fraud, the smartest thing you can do for yourself is consult with a skilled attorney. An attorney can look over the charges against you, help you put together a defense to either get the charges dismissed or lessened, and represent you during the case.

For more on how tax fraud works, potential penalties and why you need an attorney, read on for a full guide.

What Constitutes Tax Fraud?

Mistakes on a tax return can be separated into two basic categories, which are tax fraud and negligence.

When the IRS accuses you of tax fraud, it’s charging you with intentionally taking illegal action to avoid paying taxes that you either did owe or thought you owed at the time.

Negligence, on the other hand, means that you made one or more mistakes on your taxes, but they were unintentional and you weren’t trying to lower your tax obligation. They’re what most people would call an honest mistake.

Here are some examples of actions that could be considered tax fraud:
• Reporting your income as lower than it actually was or neglecting to report income from certain clients.
• Making up false deductions.
• Deducting more than you should.

These are just a few of the many ways a person could commit tax fraud. One thing you may have noticed about the above actions is that depending on the circumstances and the evidence available, they could be considered tax fraud or negligence.

You could have intentionally underreported your income, or it could have been an unintentional math error. The same is true with deductions. And you could have made up a false deduction, or you could have thought you qualified for a deduction without verifying it.

The line between tax fraud and negligence isn’t always easy to determine, and that’s one reason an attorney is so important. Your attorney can argue that any mistakes made were simple negligence and not willful tax fraud. That can make a huge difference in the penalties you face.

Penalties of Tax Fraud and Negligence

You’re looking at a much larger penalty if you end up convicted of tax fraud than if you’re found guilty of negligence.

With negligence, you’ll need to pay whatever taxes you failed to pay because of your mistakes in your tax return, plus a civil penalty for 20 percent of the amount that you underpaid your taxes.

Although that can be expensive, it pales in comparison to the penalty for tax fraud. Again, you need to pay whatever taxes you failed to pay the first time around, plus a civil penalty that is typically for 75 percent of the amount that you underpaid your taxes. This isn’t always the case, though, and the penalty can be up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.

The IRS usually focuses on civil penalties, because there’s a lower burden of proof required for these and building a case won’t require as much in the way of resources. However, there can also be criminal penalties involved. If your tax fraud becomes a criminal case, the maximum penalty is five years in prison.

Start Setting Up Your Defense Immediately

Many tax return inaccuracies slip through the cracks because of limited IRS resources, but when the IRS does charge someone with tax fraud, it puts a considerable amount of resources towards that case. Trying to defend yourself in this situation is often a big mistake. Remember that the difference between tax fraud and negligence can be tens of thousands or more in civil penalties, along with a prison term.

For accusations of tax fraud, you need to be proactive in preparing your defense, and that all starts when you consult with an experienced attorney. Your attorney can look for evidence that shows you didn’t commit tax fraud, and help you prove to the IRS that any mistakes or inaccuracies were the result of simple negligence. If there weren’t any mistakes in your tax return, your attorney can help you demonstrate that and, with any luck, get the charges dropped.