If you are struggling under the burden of tax debt, you may feel you have no place to turn. Most individuals believe tax debt cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. This isn’t always the case. You should Let Massachusetts Bankruptcy Lawyer Help with Tax Debt. When you do so, you’ll find certain tax debts may be discharged and others may not. Knowing the difference between the two is key when you are overwhelmed, and the attorney works to explain how you can obtain some much needed relief. You’ll feel better once you have spoken to someone who has experience in this area and can steer you in the right direction.
When you Let Massachusetts Bankruptcy Lawyer Help with Tax Debt, you’ll learn about how you may be able to set up a payment plan. This payment plan may run up to five years if you choose to file for Chapter 13 and up to six years for those who select Chapter 7. The rules for what type of tax debt may be discharged also differ by the type of bankruptcy selected, which is why legal counsel becomes essential.
When you need to discharge tax debt, it is likely that you will be advised to file for chapter 7. Filing isn’t enough, however, You need to meet a number of conditions before the qualifying tax debt may be discharged. First, only federal income tax may be discharged with this type of bankruptcy, not payroll taxes, and the tax debt must be a minimum of three years old. You must have filed a tax return on the debt you wish to discharge, and you cannot have committed willful evasion or fraud. The 240 day rule, which states the IRS must have assessed the tax debt at least 240 days prior to the bankruptcy filing, is in play. There is an exception to this in that the IRS may not have assessed the debt yet. In this situation, you may discharge federal income tax.
Contact an experienced tax attorney today. Bankruptcy is designed to assist with financial difficulties. You don’t want to file only to learn you missed something and have to pay more than you needed to. This is one time you don’t want to save money and try to handle your bankruptcy case on your own.