IRS Tax Help Center — Top Questions Answered
If you received an IRS notice or you are worried about a lien, levy, wage garnishment, or bank levy — start here. Every page below is written to tell you exactly what is happening, what the IRS does next, and the safest way to stop it. No IRS hold music. No guessing.
Have a notice code (CP14, CP503, CP504, LT11)? Go directly to the IRS Notice Decoder Library.
Phase 1 — Emergency: Stop Collections Right Now
- What do I do first before I call the IRS?
- How do I stop an IRS bank levy (and what is the 21-day holding period)?
- How do I stop an IRS wage garnishment (wage levy)?
- What is the difference between an IRS lien and an IRS levy?
- Can the IRS seize my house, car, or personal property?
Phase 2 — Federal Payments, Refunds, and Passport
- Can the IRS take my Social Security check or federal payments?
- Will the IRS take my tax refund this year (refund offset)?
- Can the IRS revoke my passport for unpaid tax debt?
- How do I remove a federal tax lien from my public record?
- How do I find out exactly what I owe the IRS and for which years?
Phase 3 — Settle, Pay, or Pause Collections
- Do I qualify for an IRS Offer in Compromise (OIC)?
- How does the IRS calculate what I can afford to pay (RCP)?
- Can I stop IRS collections because I cannot afford to pay (CNC Hardship)?
- What IRS payment plan options do I have (Installment Agreements)?
- My Offer in Compromise was rejected — what do I do next?
Phase 4 — Fix the Blockers (Compliance and Strategy)
- How many years of unfiled returns do I need to file to become compliant?
- The IRS filed a return for me (SFR) — what does that mean and how do I fix it?
- Does IRS tax debt expire? The 10-year statute of limitations (CSED) explained.
- Can I get my IRS penalties removed (Penalty Abatement / First-Time Abate)?
- I am self-employed with IRS tax debt — what are my options?
Not sure where to start?
- Instant Triage: Use IRS Decoder to identify your notice and see your enforcement timeline immediately.
- Expert Review: Text a photo of the top right corner of your IRS letter to (469) 252-8832. Allen will personally identify the notice and tell you exactly how much time you have before the IRS moves to seize assets.
- Book a Call: Schedule a free consultation here.
Allen Lenth, EA, MBA
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“Knowledge is power.” — Francis Bacon
“But without faith it is impossible to please him…” — Hebrews 11:6