The Taxpayer Times

"Clear tax guidance for everyday taxpayers"

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Tax questions rarely arise in isolation. They tend to surface unexpectedly, in the middle of real-life situations, and the answers are often harder to find than they should be. This blog aims to explain tax topics that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Many areas of tax law feel confusing not because they are inherently complex, but because they are not always explained in a clear, practical way. The purpose of The Taxpayer Times is to break those topics down so readers can understand what applies to them and feel informed rather than overwhelmed by the law.

Category: Tax Resolution

  • Can the IRS Take My House?

    Several years ago, I met with a taxpayer who owed a substantial amount of money to the IRS. Like many taxpayers facing collection problems, he was worried about what might happen next. During our conversation, he asked a question that I have heard many times over the years: “Can the IRS take my house?” The…

  • Do I Go to Jail for Owing the IRS Money?

    Several years ago, a taxpayer came to see me after the IRS filed a federal tax lien against him. One of the first questions he asked was: “Do I go to jail?” He was completely serious. There was no joking or exaggeration. I could see the fear in his eyes. Over the years, I have…

  • Didn’t File Your Tax Return? Here’s How to Fix It (Step-by-Step)

    You Didn’t File — Now What? If you didn’t file your tax return, the situation can feel unclear. Do you wait for the IRS? Do you need to pay before filing? Has it already gotten worse? Most people are not avoiding the issue – they’re unsure where to begin. This is where a clear process…

  • Didn’t File Your Tax Return? Here’s What Actually Happens

    “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” — Albert Einstein Even a genius found the income tax confusing. Now consider what ordinary taxpayers actually do when faced with it. The U.S. tax system operates on a voluntary basis. That means taxpayers are expected to file federal income tax returns each…

  • Bankruptcy and Tax Dischargeability

    A Tax Debt Perspective for Overwhelmed Taxpayers A Note on Scope This article is written strictly from a tax debt perspective. While many people facing financial hardship are also dealing with credit card balances, mortgage delinquencies, car loan defaults, or other consumer debt, those issues are not the focus here. The discussion that follows is…

  • How Federal Tax Liens are Removed and What Options Exist

    Introduction In the previous article, I discussed what a federal tax lien is, how it gets filed, and why taxpayers often feel caught off guard when they discover one. This article builds on that discussion by focusing on how liens may be addressed and what options exist after a lien has already been filed. Once…

  • Federal Tax Lien: What It Means and How It Gets Resolved

    When taxpayers receive IRS Letter 668(Y), their reaction is often immediate anxiety. The words “Notice of Federal Tax Lien” feel sudden and severe, especially when the letter arrives without any sense that this was about to happen. What makes this letter different from most IRS correspondence is the timing. By the time Letter 668(Y) reaches…