Tax problems
Start with the problem in front of you.
Every tax problem starts the same way: a review of what has been filed, what is owed and what the IRS or state has already done. Below is what each problem means and where we start.
Federal
IRS tax debt
A federal balance grows through penalties and interest, and the IRS has collection tools most creditors do not, including levies on wages and bank accounts and federal tax liens.
Signs this may be you
- You owe on a return you filed but could not pay in full.
- You are receiving balance-due notices that keep increasing.
- You are not sure which years, or how much, you actually owe.
Where we start
We pull your IRS account transcripts so the balance is broken out by year and by tax type. That shows what is penalty, what is interest and which collection deadlines apply.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement · Offer in Compromise · Currently Not Collectible
State
State tax debt
State agencies run on their own timelines, and their programs are not copies of the federal ones. Some states move to collection faster than the IRS does.
Signs this may be you
- You have notices from a state tax agency or franchise tax board.
- A state has filed a lien or garnished wages.
- You owe both the IRS and a state for the same years.
Where we start
We identify which state is involved, what it says you owe, and what collection steps it has already taken, then look at the options that state actually offers.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement · Offer in Compromise
Filing
Unfiled tax returns
Missing returns usually have to be addressed first, because most resolution options require you to be current on filing. If the IRS filed a substitute return for you, that assessed balance often overstates what you owe.
Signs this may be you
- You have one or more years you did not file.
- You received a notice proposing tax for a year you did not file.
- You are missing W-2s, 1099s or records for prior years.
Where we start
We request wage and income transcripts to see what the IRS has on file for each year, then work out which returns are needed to bring you into compliance.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement · Penalty relief
Collection
Wage garnishment
A wage levy takes part of each paycheck before you see it, and it continues until the balance is resolved or the levy is released. Timing matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Signs this may be you
- Your employer told you it received a levy or garnishment order.
- Your paycheck is smaller than it should be.
- You received a final notice of intent to levy.
Where we start
We confirm which agency issued the levy and what it is for, then look at whether a release is available and what has to be in place to request it.
Options that may apply: Levy release · Installment agreement · Currently Not Collectible
Collection
Bank levy
A bank levy freezes the funds in your account on the day it is served. For an IRS levy, the bank generally holds the money for 21 days before sending it, and that window is the practical opportunity to act.
Signs this may be you
- Your bank account was frozen or funds were removed.
- Your bank notified you of a levy.
- You received a final notice of intent to levy and have not responded.
Where we start
We confirm the levy, the holding window and the balance behind it, then look at whether the circumstances support a release request.
Options that may apply: Levy release · Installment agreement
Property
Tax liens
A lien is a legal claim against your property, not a seizure of it. It can still affect refinancing, the sale of a home or business assets, and access to credit.
Signs this may be you
- You received a Notice of Federal Tax Lien filing.
- A lien showed up during a refinance, sale or title search.
- You want to sell or refinance property while owing taxes.
Where we start
We look at the balance, any agreement in place and the property involved. Withdrawal, release, discharge and subordination are different remedies, and each has its own requirements.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement · Offer in Compromise
Notices
IRS notices
Notices are not interchangeable. Some are informational, some open a response window, and a few start a deadline on rights that do not come back. The notice number in the corner tells us which one you have.
Signs this may be you
- You have a letter you do not understand.
- The notice gives a response date that is close or has passed.
- You have several notices and are not sure which matters most.
Where we start
We read the notice number and date, match it to your account history, and tell you what it means and which deadlines are live.
Examination
Tax audits and examinations
An examination can be a request for a few documents or a broader review of a return. What you provide, and how it is organized, shapes the outcome. Appeal rights are tied to specific deadlines.
Signs this may be you
- You received an examination or document-request letter.
- The IRS proposed changes to a return you filed.
- You disagree with an examination result.
Where we start
We review what is being examined and for which years, what documentation exists, and which response and appeal deadlines apply.
Business
Payroll and employment taxes
Unpaid payroll taxes are treated more seriously because part of the money was withheld from employees. The IRS can assess the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty personally against owners, officers or others it deems responsible.
Signs this may be you
- Your business is behind on Form 941 deposits or filings.
- You received a letter about the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty.
- The IRS has contacted you personally about business payroll taxes.
Where we start
We separate the business balance from any personal exposure, confirm which quarters are unfiled or unpaid, and look at what has to be current before an agreement is possible.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement · Offer in Compromise
Business
Sales tax issues
Sales tax is handled state by state, and the rules on what is taxable, where you owe and who is personally liable vary widely. Sales tax you collected but did not send in is often treated as money held in trust.
Signs this may be you
- A state audit says you owe sales tax.
- You collected sales tax but fell behind sending it in.
- You are not sure which states you are required to collect in.
Where we start
We identify the states and periods involved, what the agency says is owed, and whether any personal liability has been assessed.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement
Penalties
Penalties
Penalties can make up a meaningful share of a balance. Relief is possible in some circumstances, such as first-time abatement or reasonable cause supported by documentation, but it is never automatic.
Signs this may be you
- Penalties are a large part of what you owe.
- You had a clean history before the year in question.
- Illness, disaster or another event kept you from filing or paying.
Where we start
We break out each penalty by type and year and look at whether your history or circumstances support a relief request.
Options that may apply: Penalty relief
Business
Business tax problems
A business balance rarely stays with the business. Owner draws, unfiled entity returns and payroll exposure can pull the owner in personally, so we look at the business and the owner together.
Signs this may be you
- Your business has unfiled returns or unpaid balances.
- You are personally receiving notices about business taxes.
- You are closing, selling or restructuring a business that owes taxes.
Where we start
We map every balance, business and personal, by agency, year and tax type, so the plan addresses the whole picture instead of one piece of it.
Options that may apply: Installment agreement · Offer in Compromise
Delta Tax Group is a private company. It is not the IRS or any government agency. Eligibility for any program is decided by the IRS or the state taxing authority, and results vary based on each person's facts.
The problem may feel complicated. Your next step does not have to be.
Tell us what is happening. We will help you understand the immediate concern, the information needed, and the resolution paths that may be available.
Request a confidential consultation Call (747) 666-1561
Confidential. Clear expectations about cost and timing. No pressure, and no guaranteed outcome — eligibility for any resolution program depends on the facts of your case and is determined by the taxing authority.