Are those IRS services that claim they reduce your debt real?

I now am informed that I owe $20,000 in back taxes - all due to a mistake by the IRS. Is there any real way of negotiating with them via a third party or are they just making money off of me?

Public Comments

1. Generally, the places that advertise on TV are very good at separating you from your money. Contact a CPA or EA in your local area first and explain the situation.
2. J.K Harris is a legit company. They will work with you and the IRS to do what is called an Offer in Compromise to settle your debt with the IRS for a % of the amount owed. If it really is an IRS mistake, then the IRS needs to correct the mistake. Consult a tax attorney if you can't straighten out the situation with the IRS by yourself.
3. Exactly what kind of mistake do you think the IRS made?
4. Yes they are real! "Real" good at taking a bunch of your money! Numerous times I have had clients that got a quote from one of the TV types that was in the thousands and I and most tax professionals would normally do the same thing for a few hundred.
5. "A mistake by the IRS"?
6. I am an enrolled agent, a tax specialist licensed by the US Treasury Department to represent taxpayers (along with attorneys and CPAs) and specialize in clients who have substantial outstanding tax liabilities or long periods of failing to file returns for fees that are less than half the services that advertise on cable TV charge. If you would like some additional information outside this forum, you can send me email through my profile.