As soon as we are able to use reason and logic in our thinking, we are taught that running away from our problems is never a good solution. The best advice teaches us to face our problems head on through resolution. This policy is especially important when you are facing your creditors, especially the IRS. In the current economic climate, creditors are busy knocking on doors trying to get customers to pay off delinquent balances. The IRS is one of the largest common creditors for millions of people, so this article will provide some solid advice on how to deal with the IRS for past due tax liabilities.

For every person who tells you to face your debt problems head on, there are 100 attorneys trying to convince you to fight the IRS to get a reduced liability. You must resist these vultures and stop trying to get out of your obligations and responsibilities. Regardless of how you got into a rut with the IRS, chances are you are solely responsible for the situation. Don’t follow any wrong self-motivated advice to run and hide behind trees and around corners. The good news is that the IRS is nowhere near the beast it’s supposed to be. That myth, image, and misperception is largely the responsibility of legal ambulance chasers who scare you out of dealing directly with the IRS and add exorbitant fees to your already intolerable debt.

I speak from vast experience. I have had to deal with the IRS for unpaid tax liabilities for several years of my business life. All done on my own. The IRS did not tax me differently than the next person in my situation. Naively and arrogantly, I dumped some of the debt I was accumulating until it caught up with me. I did all the wrong things at the beginning. I have retained attorneys, tax advisors, and one of the largest IRS debt settlement firms in the United States. You’ve seen their commercials all over your TV.

By the time all the lawyers and tax consultants were done, my tax debt was higher and I had added thousands of dollars to my debt in legal fees. Not to mention my probably tarnished reputation with the IRS for being another irresponsible citizen taking advantage of all convenience tax funds and trying to avoid paying my fair share of it. I finally said enough. It was time to take the proverbial bull by the horns and take control of the situation myself. I dismissed everyone, picked up the phone, and started with the 800 number listed on the IRS website. And so began the illumination of the errors of my previous ways.

My simple goal was to negotiate a payment plan I could live with because the ones the lawyers worked out for me were not feasible, given my financial situation, unless I sold most of my property and bought a tent. The first agent I spoke to, while courteous and well meaning, was not very helpful in lowering my payments. Although I was disappointed with the outcome of the conversation, I was pleasantly surprised by how eager the IRS was to talk to me and try to work things out. The call ended without much change to my payment plan. Then I learned my next valuable lesson in dealing with the IRS.

After contemplating the call for a few minutes, it occurred to me that the agent I received when I called was, of course, random. There must be thousands of these agents who handle all the calls that come in from taxpayers. And I was wondering if they had any flexibility in handling the calls. I didn’t think much of this and just picked up the phone and dialed the 800 number again. Of course I got a different agent and proceeded to explain the same thing I did to the previous agent.

She was even more polite and when I explained my financial situation, she did a few rounds with her calculator and came up with a monthly payment that was about half of my current plan. I almost fell off the meat. I still had to get her supervisor to approve the lower payment and she put me on hold for a few minutes. When she came back, and I quote, she said “well my supervisor is in a better mood than I am” and told me that the lower pay had been approved. I was the number.

So, you see, people are people, and rules are just guidelines. Even when it comes to the ugly beast of the IRS. They’re busy chasing taxpayers hiding behind trees and around corners. Can you imagine how many people call you to come up with a plan before they have to garnish wages or impose liens? Be one of them. You will feel better about yourself and you will reduce the stress of running away from your problems. And after you settle it with the IRS, start with your list of other creditors. They are likely to reduce your liability if you work out a plan with them, especially credit card companies.