Collection Client Guide FLEXCAST

Overview

When a client shows up with an IRS balance due, the real work starts after the notice. In this course, Mark Seid walks through the core collection ABCs and shows how to match each alternative to the client’s situation without missing the landmines. This course will teach you how to use a structured intake approach to identify eliminators quickly, validate assessments and deadlines, and evaluate options like penalty abatement, dischargeability in bankruptcy, offer-in-compromise calculations, streamlined vs. financial-statement installment agreements, hardship determinations, and innocent vs. injured spouse claims. The goal of this course is to give you a repeatable decision process you can apply immediately to move collection cases forward with confidence and clean documentation.

Highlights

IRS collection alternatives. Determining appropriate collection alternative.

Prerequisites

None.

Designed For

CPAs and tax professionals.

Objectives

Identify the primary IRS collection alternatives and the fact patterns that typically drive each recommendation. Apply an intake-form interview process to gather key financial, filing, and procedural facts needed to evaluate collection options. Determine when amended returns, refund/claim deadlines, and penalty abatement strategies are viable, including common disqualifiers. Evaluate bankruptcy as a tool for resolving individual income tax liabilities by applying the timing requirements and key exceptions. Estimate an offer-in-compromise amount under doubt as to collectibility by combining realizable asset equity with future income components. Distinguish among currently not collectible status, installment agreement types, and full-pay strategies based on ability to pay and enforcement risk. Verify and analyze collection statute expiration dates (CSED) and recognize events that suspend or extend the collection statute. Differentiate innocent spouse vs. injured spouse relief, including core eligibility requirements, timing considerations, and common pitfalls.

Preparation

None.

Notice

This is a FlexCast (no exam required) and may be viewed only Monday - Saturday, 5am - 5pm PT. You may take up to one year from the date of purchase to complete the course. Pause your FlexCast and resume at a convenient day during the hours above. Partial credit for 2+ credit courses: If you are unable to complete the course in one sitting, partial credit can be awarded (minimum of one credit). To earn the remaining credits, you must return later and start the course from the beginning. Use chat to ask questions of a subject matter expert during the program.