IRS Tax Resolution & Tax Advisory Services
Last Updated: May 2026
Written by Brandon Lynch, EA | Founder & Managing Member, Lynx Tax Advisors | Former IRS Supervisory Revenue Officer
Reviewed for general accuracy and IRS collection procedure context. Learn more about our team.
Key Takeaway: IRS tax resolution is not one-size-fits-all. The appropriate solution depends on factors such as the amount owed, filing compliance, income, expenses, and overall ability to pay, and may include options such as payment plans, Currently Not Collectible status, or an Offer in Compromise.
Every tax case is different. The right resolution depends on how the IRS evaluates the case, including how enforcement actions may be triggered through automated systems. Factors such as the amount owed, filing compliance, income, expenses, assets, and collection status all influence how the IRS evaluates a case and what resolution options may be available.
IRS tax resolution is not a one-size-fits-all process. Depending on the situation, taxpayers may need a payment plan, qualify for Currently Not Collectible status, or pursue an Offer in Compromise. Enforcement actions such as levies and liens are also important factors in determining the appropriate strategy.
Led by former IRS Revenue Officers, we understand how collection cases are built, reviewed, and prioritized. That experience allows us to approach each case with a clear understanding of how the IRS evaluates resolution options.
Based in Visalia and Fresno, Lynx Tax Advisors serves clients throughout California and the United States.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your tax situation and the best next step forward.
Different IRS resolution options serve different purposes. A payment plan may help a taxpayer repay a balance over time, Currently Not Collectible status may temporarily pause most collection activity due to financial hardship, and an Offer in Compromise may allow certain eligible taxpayers to settle for less than the full amount owed. The right option depends on compliance, income, expenses, assets, deadlines, and enforcement status.
For general IRS guidance, taxpayers may review
IRS payment plan information,
Offer in Compromise information,
temporarily delaying collection,
Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process, and
Publication 1660, Collection Appeal Rights.
IRS Resolution Options Compared
Resolution Option
Best Used When
What It May Do
What It Does Not Do
IRS Payment Plan / Installment Agreement
The taxpayer can pay over time but cannot pay the full balance immediately.
Allows monthly payments while the account remains in an active resolution status.
Does not usually reduce the tax balance, penalties, or interest by itself.
Currently Not Collectible Status
The taxpayer cannot afford monthly payments after necessary living expenses are considered.
May temporarily pause most IRS collection activity due to financial hardship.
Does not erase the tax debt, and penalties and interest may continue.
Offer in Compromise
The taxpayer may qualify to settle based on ability to pay, income, expenses, and asset equity.
May allow settlement for less than the full amount owed if the IRS accepts the offer.
Is not guaranteed and requires detailed financial review and IRS approval.
Penalty Relief
The taxpayer has penalties and facts supporting administrative relief, reasonable cause, or another exception.
May reduce or remove certain penalties if the taxpayer qualifies.
Does not usually remove the underlying tax debt.
Lien or Levy Resolution
The taxpayer is facing a filed federal tax lien, bank levy, wage levy, or other enforced collection action.
May help address urgent collection pressure and move the case toward a workable resolution.
Does not automatically eliminate the tax debt or reverse every enforcement consequence.
When you receive IRS notices, owe back taxes, have unfiled returns, or are facing enforced collection action, it can be difficult to know what to do first. Lynx Tax Advisors helps clients understand their options, organize the required information, and pursue the most appropriate resolution based on their facts and financial condition.
Our services are designed for taxpayers who need more than generic advice. We help identify the issue, evaluate the IRS’s position, determine available resolution options, and guide the case toward a practical outcome.
Tax Problems We Help Resolve
IRS Tax Resolution
IRS tax resolution involves reviewing your tax debt, IRS notices, collection status, filing compliance, financial condition, and available resolution options. We help clients address tax balances, collection notices, compliance issues, and IRS enforcement risk.
This may include installment agreements, currently not collectible status, offers in compromise, lien or levy issues, penalty relief, and communication with the IRS on your behalf.
IRS Payment Plans
An IRS payment plan, also known as an installment agreement, may allow you to resolve tax debt over time while preventing or reducing collection action. The right agreement depends on how much is owed, your filing compliance, income, expenses, assets, and IRS collection standards.
We help evaluate payment plan options and work toward an arrangement that fits both IRS requirements and your financial reality.
Offer in Compromise
An Offer in Compromise may allow eligible taxpayers to settle tax debt for less than the full amount owed. However, not everyone qualifies, and submitting an offer without understanding the financial analysis can create delays, rejection risk, or unnecessary exposure.
We help review eligibility, analyze reasonable collection potential, prepare financial disclosures, and explain the risks and obligations involved before an offer is submitted.
Currently Not Collectible
Currently Not Collectible status may be available when a taxpayer cannot afford to make payments toward IRS debt after necessary living expenses are considered. This status does not erase the debt, but it may temporarily pause active collection while financial hardship exists.
We help clients determine whether hardship status may be appropriate and prepare the financial information the IRS typically requires.
Tax Liens
A federal tax lien can affect credit, property, financing, business operations, and real estate transactions. Lien issues may involve release, withdrawal, subordination, discharge, or other case-specific options.
We help clients understand what the lien means, whether action can be taken, and how the lien issue fits into the broader tax resolution strategy.
Tax Levies
A levy is one of the IRS’s strongest collection tools and may involve bank accounts, wages, accounts receivable, or other income and property. Levy action can create immediate financial pressure and should be addressed quickly.
We help clients respond to levy notices, evaluate release options, communicate with the IRS, and work toward a longer-term resolution when possible.
Unfiled Tax Returns
Unfiled tax returns can prevent resolution and may lead to substitute for return assessments, collection action, penalties, and increased IRS scrutiny. Getting back into filing compliance is often the first step before payment plans, hardship status, or other resolution options can be considered.
We help clients identify missing years, understand filing requirements, coordinate return preparation, and move toward compliance.
Penalty Relief
IRS penalties can significantly increase the amount owed. Depending on the facts, some taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief based on reasonable cause, first-time abatement, administrative relief, or other applicable grounds.
We help review penalty assessments, determine whether relief may be available, and prepare requests supported by the facts and documentation.
Tax Preparation
Accurate tax preparation is an important part of compliance and long-term resolution planning. For clients with tax debt, unfiled returns, or IRS collection issues, tax preparation must be handled carefully and consistently with the overall case strategy.
We provide tax preparation support for individuals and businesses, with attention to compliance, documentation, and future planning.
Why Experience Matters
IRS collection cases are not just about forms. They involve timing, documentation, financial analysis, compliance history, collection priorities, and judgment.
Lynx Tax Advisors is led by former IRS Revenue Officers with experience in IRS collections, enforcement, taxpayer advocacy, liens, levies, installment agreements, hardship determinations, and case resolution. That background helps us approach tax problems from the inside out.
Our goal is to help clients understand where they stand, what options are available, and what steps are needed to move forward.
Serving Clients Throughout California and the United States
Lynx Tax Advisors is based in Visalia and Fresno and serves clients throughout California and across the United States. Many IRS tax resolution matters can be handled remotely through secure communication, online scheduling, electronic document exchange, and client portal access.
Whether you are dealing with IRS notices, tax debt, unfiled returns, liens, levies, or ongoing compliance concerns, we can help you evaluate the next step.
Helpful IRS Resources
The IRS collection process can involve notices, payment options, liens, levies, appeals, and other case-specific procedures. For general IRS guidance, see Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process, and Publication 1660, Collection Appeal Rights.
Taxpayers may also review IRS payment plan information, Offer in Compromise guidance, and collection appeal rights directly through IRS.gov.
Ready to Discuss Your Tax Situation?
The best first step is to schedule a consultation. During the appointment, we can discuss your tax issue, review the general situation, explain possible next steps, and determine whether Lynx Tax Advisors may be able to assist.
This page is provided for general educational purposes and is based on experience with IRS collection procedures, taxpayer account resolution, and federal tax debt matters. It is not legal or tax advice and should not be relied on for any specific taxpayer situation.