The IRS is always improving its ability to identify and collect tax money from those who have failed to file returns and who owe back taxes. The IRS has a wide variety of civil and criminal penalties at their disposal to reclaim owed taxes. Failure to pay owed taxes can result in having those penalties imposed on you; in addition, the IRS can put liens on your property, levies on your bank accounts, and even seize your assets. The first step is for us to complete unfiled tax returns, or review already-filed tax returns to make sure they are correct. Then we can discuss collection alternatives. Be aware that the “pennies on the dollar” claims you see in the media are fraudulent and the IRS has issued a consumer alert advising taxpayers to beware of such claims.