wage levy/ nonfiling/ idiot status

[magpiefound]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? new york

this is long and i apologize in advance. just want to get it all in.

tuesday i recieved a levy on wages in the mail regarding 97-99. i freaked. wed morning, i got on the phone with the 800 number on the letter. 2nd problem- i didn't file for 2000-2003 (i know- i'm an idiot. i filed this year because i knew it was time to deal with this.) they told me at the irs, that they couldn't release the levy until i filed for those years. i got home from work and started calling lawyers. only one called back, and he made me an appt for next week, but in the meantime, i had to get my taxes filed. he also told me- off the record- that i should call back and try to get the levy lifted. i called the irs again, to no avail. i called once more to ask a question, making sure i was using the right forms and got the nicest woman i have ever met on the phone. she walked me thorugh the files i needed to download and then put me on hold. she came back on and said she reviewed the notes from my earlier calls, and felt that no one had spent enough time toalking to me, explaining the situation and reviewing my status. she then went on to tell me in her opinion, the levy would cause a hardship on me. she filed the necessary work and lifted the levy immediately.

she then went on to inform me that the only returns the irs was looking for were 2002 and 2003. she repeatedly (without coming out and saying it directly) advised me that the only returns i needed to send in were 2002 and 2003, that they weren't looking for 2000 or 2001 and they WOULDN'T be in the future. first question- should i not file them? will it cause me more harm if i do it to clear my own conscious (ie- more$$)?

next question- she told me that, in fact, i qualified for "non-collectible" status-which i don't want to do b/c 1-she advised me that a lien would be filed against me and 2- i just want to rectify this situation and move on. since i COULD qualify for this status, would that work in my favor for getting this astronomical number reduced? and if so, should i be seeking help from a lawyer or a cpa? obviously i want to save any money where i can (fees and such) but at the same time, i desperately need that number to be reduced.

thank you so much for your advice. i'm sorry this is so long. i appreciate - GREATLY- any help you can give.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by magpiefound

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? new york

this is long and i apologize in advance. just want to get it all in.

tuesday i recieved a levy on wages in the mail regarding 97-99. i freaked. wed morning, i got on the phone with the 800 number on the letter. 2nd problem- i didn't file for 2000-2003 (i know- i'm an idiot. i filed this year because i knew it was time to deal with this.) they told me at the irs, that they couldn't release the levy until i filed for those years. i got home from work and started calling lawyers. only one called back, and he made me an appt for next week, but in the meantime, i had to get my taxes filed. he also told me- off the record- that i should call back and try to get the levy lifted. i called the irs again, to no avail. i called once more to ask a question, making sure i was using the right forms and got the nicest woman i have ever met on the phone. she walked me thorugh the files i needed to download and then put me on hold. she came back on and said she reviewed the notes from my earlier calls, and felt that no one had spent enough time toalking to me, explaining the situation and reviewing my status. she then went on to tell me in her opinion, the levy would cause a hardship on me. she filed the necessary work and lifted the levy immediately.

she then went on to inform me that the only returns the irs was looking for were 2002 and 2003. she repeatedly (without coming out and saying it directly) advised me that the only returns i needed to send in were 2002 and 2003, that they weren't looking for 2000 or 2001 and they WOULDN'T be in the future. first question- should i not file them? will it cause me more harm if i do it to clear my own conscious (ie- more$$)?

next question- she told me that, in fact, i qualified for "non-collectible" status-which i don't want to do b/c 1-she advised me that a lien would be filed against me and 2- i just want to rectify this situation and move on. since i COULD qualify for this status, would that work in my favor for getting this astronomical number reduced? and if so, should i be seeking help from a lawyer or a cpa? obviously i want to save any money where i can (fees and such) but at the same time, i desperately need that number to be reduced.

thank you so much for your advice. i'm sorry this is so long. i appreciate - GREATLY- any help you can give.

File 2002 and 2003 right away. If you can pay any taxes due, do so. If not, fill out a request for an installment plan. Use a preparer...don't do this yourself.

Then wait to see what kind of response that you get from the IRS. It will take a good 3-4 months. Once you get that response. Consult a tax attorney. Document carefully the info that you were given from the "very nice lady"...so that you will remember it well when you go to see the tax attorney.