If you owe the IRS more than you can pay, the IRS has a program that may let you settle the debt for less than the full balance. It is called an Offer in Compromise. Getting one accepted depends on preparing the financial disclosure correctly the first time.

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What an Offer in Compromise actually is

An Offer in Compromise (OIC) is a formal agreement with the IRS to settle your tax debt for less than the amount you owe. It is not a negotiation trick or a hardship letter. The IRS decides based on a detailed financial disclosure: your income, necessary living expenses, and the equity in what you own. That calculation produces a number the IRS calls reasonable collection potential, and your offer has to be built around it. Source: IRS, Offer in Compromise.

Who qualifies

You have filed all required tax returns and made all required estimated payments
You are not in an open bankruptcy proceeding
If you are an employer, you have made your payroll tax deposits for the current and prior two quarters

The IRS provides a free Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool. I use it as a starting point, then build the full Form 656 and Form 433-A (OIC) financial package around your actual numbers.

What it costs to apply

The IRS charges a $205 non-refundable application fee, plus an initial payment toward your offer (20 percent for a lump-sum offer, or the first monthly installment for a periodic offer). Low-income taxpayers can qualify to skip both the fee and the initial payment. My professional fee is quoted after the free case review, based on the complexity of your case, and confirmed in an engagement letter before any work begins.

Why work with a local CPA instead of a national tax relief company

You have heard the radio ads. The national tax relief mills charge large upfront fees, assign your file to a call center, and submit offers the IRS predictably rejects. When you work with me:

Your case is handled start to finish by one licensed professional: a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner based here in Las Vegas
The financial disclosure is prepared the way an examiner reads it, because forensic financial analysis is my second credential
You get direct answers by phone, not a case-number queue

An Offer in Compromise is not right for everyone. If the numbers show the IRS would reject your offer, I will tell you that at the case review stage and walk you through the alternatives that fit your facts: an installment agreement, currently not collectible status, or penalty abatement. No outcome can be guaranteed, and any professional who guarantees you a settlement is telling you something the IRS does not permit them to promise.

How the process works

Free case review. We go through your IRS notices, balances, and financial picture by phone.
Transcript pull and compliance check. I pull your IRS transcripts to confirm exactly what the IRS shows you owe and whether any returns are missing.
Financial package. I prepare Form 433-A (OIC) and Form 656 with full documentation.
Submission and negotiation. I deal with the IRS so you do not have to.
Resolution. If the offer is accepted, you complete the payment terms and the remaining balance is compromised.

Serving all of Las Vegas and Clark County

Sheepdog Tax Resolution is veteran-owned and operated by a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and serves clients across the Las Vegas Valley: Spring Valley, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Enterprise, and Paradise. Everything can be handled remotely if you prefer.