Dealing with unpaid taxes can feel overwhelming, and we know reaching out for help is not always easy. If you’re coming to us for support, you can expect a structured process that begins with a conversation and document gathering, moves into compliance and financial analysis, and then advances into IRS strategy and negotiation. At Tax Network USA, we position ourselves as a full-service tax firm for individuals and small business owners who need clear next steps and experienced guidance.
Just as importantly, you are not alone. The IRS collected more than $120.2 billion in unpaid tax assessments in Fiscal Year 2024, according to official IRS collections data. A recent IRS tax gap projection also estimated that nearly $696 billion in taxes go unpaid each year. In plain terms, tax debt is far more common than many people realize, and getting informed help can make the process feel much more manageable.
When people come to us, they’re often carrying more than a tax balance. They may be carrying stress, uncertainty, missed notices, and the fear of making one more wrong move. Our goal with this guide is to make the experience easier to understand before you ever pick up the phone, so you know what we may ask for, what the IRS may require, and what a realistic path forward can look like.
At a Glance: What Working With Us Can Look Like
| Category | What to Expect |
| Best Fit | Individuals and small business owners facing significant back taxes, wage garnishments, or unfiled returns. |
| First Step | A preliminary consultation to review your tax liability and financial standing. |
| Common Resolution Paths | Installment agreements (payment plans), penalty abatement, or occasionally an Offer in Compromise (settlement). |
| Simple Timeline | A few months for standard payment plans; potentially up to two years for complex settlements. |
| OIC Reality Check | Acceptance is relatively rare (around 21% overall). It is heavily dependent on strict financial inability to pay. |
| What to Bring | Recent tax returns, IRS notices, pay stubs, bank statements, and a detailed list of living expenses. |
What Does the Tax Network USA Process Look Like?
Resolving tax debt is rarely an overnight fix, and we never want it to feel confusing. In most cases, our work follows a phased approach so you know what happens first, what comes next, and what we may need from you along the way.
We find that people feel much more at ease when the process is broken into simple steps. Our job is not just to prepare paperwork. It is also to help you understand where your case stands, what the IRS is likely to focus on, and what actions can move your file in the right direction.
Phase 1: Consultation and Investigation
We begin with an evaluation of your situation. During this phase, we may ask you to sign a power of attorney (Form 2848) so we can communicate with the IRS on your behalf. We review your IRS transcripts to understand what the government says you owe, which years may still be unfiled, and whether there are any immediate collection issues such as levies or liens that need attention.
Phase 2: Compliance and Strategy
The IRS will generally not negotiate a settlement or payment plan if returns are still missing. In this phase, we work with you to get compliant, which may include filing past-due returns and reviewing your current withholding or estimated tax payments. Once that foundation is in place, we analyze your finances, your assets, income, and allowable expenses, to identify the resolution path that appears most realistic and appropriate.
Phase 3: IRS Negotiation and Follow-Through
Once we agree on a strategy, we prepare and submit the formal proposal to the IRS. For taxpayers facing serious financial hardship, that may involve an Offer in Compromise (OIC), which seeks to resolve the debt for less than the full amount owed. For taxpayers who can pay over time but need structure and advocacy, we may recommend an installment agreement. From there, our role is to help guide the case forward and explain what the IRS requests along the way.
How Long Will This Take?
We always want to be honest about timing. The timeline depends heavily on the complexity of your case and the type of resolution you are seeking, and some paths move much faster than others.
If your case is fairly straightforward and you are already compliant, we may be able to move into a payment-plan strategy relatively quickly. If your case involves multiple years of unfiled returns, business debt, or an Offer in Compromise review, the process can take much longer and may require more back-and-forth with the IRS.
Simple payment plans often move much faster. The Taxpayer Advocate Service notes that certain installment agreements can be requested online or by phone, making the setup relatively straightforward, sometimes taking only a few weeks to finalize.
On the other hand, attempting to settle your debt takes significantly longer. If you submit an Offer in Compromise, the IRS conducts a deep dive into your finances. According to the Taxpayer Advocate Service’s guidance on the Offer in Compromise process, the IRS generally has up to 24 months to make a determination. While many cases are resolved sooner, you should prepare for a process that spans several months to well over a year.
What Will This Cost?
Because every case is different, we don’t present one-size-fits-all pricing to lure you in. The complexity of your tax debt, the number of years involved, and the type of resolution you need can all affect cost. That is why we believe you should request exact professional fees in writing before signing any agreement.
When budgeting, it helps to distinguish between our professional service fees and the fees charged by the government. OIC applications generally carry a $205 IRS application fee unless low-income certification applies, and installment agreement setup fees can vary by payment method and may be reduced or waived for some qualifying taxpayers.
On top of that, you may also pay us for investigation, document preparation, compliance work, and IRS negotiation. The FTC warns that some tax relief companies charge upfront fees in the thousands, so we encourage you to ask for a written scope of work, billing terms, refund policy, and confirmation of who will actually handle your case before you commit.
We also think it helps to ask how the work will be divided. In some situations, part of the fee may relate to getting returns filed and bringing you into compliance, while another part may relate to the actual resolution work with the IRS. The more clearly that is explained up front, the easier it is to understand what you are paying for.
What Are My Chances of Success?
We believe it is important to set realistic expectations around tax settlements. While television and radio advertisements often talk about settling tax debt for “pennies on the dollar,” the real standards are much stricter.
According to recent IRS Data Book figures for FY 2024, taxpayers proposed 33,591 Offers in Compromise, but the IRS accepted only 7,199 of them. That works out to an acceptance rate of roughly 21.4%. Historical data from a Taxpayer Advocate Service study also showed that individual OIC acceptance rates were around 44%, while business OIC cases came in much lower at about 24%.
To us, that means one thing very clearly: not every case is truly an OIC case. In many situations, the better fit may be an installment agreement, a compliance plan, or another form of relief that is more achievable and more stable. Part of our job is to help you understand that difference before time and money are spent chasing the wrong option.
The same study noted that nearly 40% of rejected or returned OICs involved offers from taxpayers that were actually higher than the amount the IRS eventually collected. That is one reason careful financial analysis matters. When we calculate a case properly and build the file with supporting documents, we are not just trying to improve the odds of approval – we are also trying to avoid unnecessary mistakes and overstatements.
The study also found that taxpayers with accepted OICs demonstrated significantly better future tax compliance, reinforcing the long-term value of doing the process correctly. Ultimately, while an Offer in Compromise can make sense for some taxpayers, a payment plan or penalty strategy is often the more realistic path for the average person who comes to us for help.
What Documents Will I Need?
Preparation can save time, reduce delays, and make our first real review of your case much more useful. When you begin working with us, we will typically ask you to gather documents like these early in the process:
If you don’t have everything right away, that’s okay. We can often help you identify what is missing and what matters most first. The main goal is to create a clear picture of your income, assets, tax history, and current IRS exposure.
- Personal Financial Documents: Recent pay stubs, bank statements (usually the last 3-6 months), mortgage statements, auto loan balances, and a detailed summary of your necessary monthly living expenses (rent, utilities, groceries, healthcare).
- Tax Records and IRS Notices: Copies of your most recently filed state and federal tax returns, as well as every piece of correspondence, notice, or warning letter you have received from the IRS.
- Business Records (if applicable): Profit and loss statements, balance sheets, business bank statements, payroll tax records, and proof of your business assets and liabilities.
Red Flags to Watch Before You Sign
We believe you should feel informed and comfortable before signing with any tax resolution company, including ours. If something feels rushed, vague, or overly aggressive, pause and ask more questions. These are a few red flags worth watching for before you move forward:
- Guaranteed Outcomes: No professional can guarantee that the IRS will accept a settlement or erase your debt. The IRS makes the final decision.
- Pressure to Sign Immediately: High-pressure sales tactics designed to force you into paying before you have time to review the contract are a major warning sign.
- Vague Fees: Avoid firms that will not put their fee structure, including total estimated costs, in writing.
- Poor Communication Expectations: If a firm cannot explain how often they will update you on your case or who your dedicated point of contact will be, you may end up feeling abandoned after paying.
- Lack of Clarity on Credentials: Ensure you are speaking with or will be represented by a licensed Enrolled Agent, CPA, or tax attorney, rather than just a salesperson.
How to Make Your First Call More Productive
We know making that first call can feel like the hardest part. A little preparation can make the conversation feel calmer, clearer, and far more productive, so it helps to have your documents ready and a short list of direct questions.
- Who will actually work on my case, and what are their credentials?
- What resolution options do you believe are realistic for me, and why?
- What has to happen before you can approach the IRS?
- What are the expected government fees versus your firm fees?
- How often should I expect updates, and who is my point of contact?
- Can I get the proposed scope of work and pricing in writing before I sign?
If you start with organized records, realistic expectations, and clear written questions, you will be in a much stronger position to decide whether we are the right fit for your case.
And if we are, our goal is simple: help you understand your options, help you get compliant, and help you move forward with a plan that feels clear, reasonable, and grounded in the reality of your situation.
Your Next Step Starts With a Conversation
Tax debt doesn’t resolve itself – but the right help can make the process far less overwhelming than it looks from the outside. Tax Network USA‘s team of licensed tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents is ready to review your situation, explain your options honestly, and build a path forward that’s realistic for your circumstances. There’s no obligation in that first conversation, just clarity. If you’ve been putting off dealing with a tax problem because you weren’t sure where to turn, this is where you start.
