Back Taxes Attorney | IRS & FTB Tax Resolution

Your Options

Real ways to resolve a balance you can't pay in full

Once your returns are filed and the account is current, several resolution paths open up. We choose the one that fits your finances and is most likely to be accepted.

Installment Agreement

Spread what you owe into affordable monthly payments the IRS and FTB will accept — so active collection stops and the balance gets handled over time.

Offer in Compromise

In the right circumstances, settle the debt for less than the full amount owed based on what you can realistically pay. We assess whether you genuinely qualify before you spend money pursuing it.

Currently Not Collectible

If paying now would leave you unable to cover basic living expenses, we can ask the IRS to pause collection entirely until your situation improves.

Penalty Abatement

Failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties often make up a large share of the balance. We pursue first-time and reasonable-cause abatement to strip penalties off the total.

The Cost of Waiting

What happens if you leave a balance unpaid

Interest and penalties keep compounding

Interest and failure-to-pay penalties accrue every month. A balance you could resolve today quietly grows larger the longer it sits.

A federal tax lien

Once a balance is assessed, the IRS can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien — a public claim against your property that can hurt credit and complicate selling or refinancing.

Levies and wage garnishment

The IRS and FTB can seize funds directly — garnishing wages, freezing bank accounts, and taking refunds — often with limited warning once collection escalates.

Passport and license consequences

Seriously delinquent federal tax debt can lead to passport denial or revocation, and California can suspend professional and driver's licenses for unpaid state balances.

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Meet Your Attorney

Adam Brewer, Tax Attorney

Founder of AB Tax Law APC, representing California taxpayers before the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board. His practice focuses on non-filers, back-tax resolution, audit defense, and collections — the situations most general practitioners avoid.

✓LLM in International Tax — Texas A&M
✓Licensed attorney — State Bar of California
✓Licensed attorney — State Bar of Hawaii
✓Direct representation before the IRS & state tax agencies

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Questions

Common questions about back taxes

Can I really settle for less than I owe?+

Sometimes — through an Offer in Compromise — but not always. It depends on your income, assets, and ability to pay. We evaluate honestly whether you qualify before recommending it, so you don't chase a settlement you won't get.

How much will my monthly payment be?+

It depends on the balance and what the IRS considers reasonable for your income and necessary expenses. In many cases we can negotiate a payment that reflects what you can actually afford.

Will the IRS file a lien against me?+

They can once a balance is assessed. Getting into a resolution agreement quickly is often what prevents a lien or gets one released, and we handle that as part of the plan.

Can you stop collection while we work things out?+

Usually. Opening a resolution channel and staying in communication with the IRS and FTB is what pauses levies and garnishments while your case is worked.

What if I can't pay anything right now?+

That's a recognized status. If paying would leave you unable to cover basic living costs, we can request Currently Not Collectible status so collection stops until your finances recover.

Does this cover the California FTB, not just the IRS?+

Yes. State balances are handled in parallel with the federal case — the FTB has its own payment plans, offer program, and collection powers that need to be addressed directly.

Owe more than you can pay? There's a way out.

Talk to a Tax Attorney