Sanford Tax Attorney

An IRS notice about back taxes can land in your mailbox with a deadline and a balance you didn’t expect. As a Sanford tax attorney, I address that notice, handle the IRS, and put a clear plan in front of you. The letter is the start of a process, not the end of your options.

The real risk is time, because the IRS can move on its own schedule while you wait. Once a Final Notice of Intent to Levy passes, the IRS can reach your paycheck or your bank account without ever setting foot in a courtroom.

Acting before that deadline is where a Sanford, FL tax attorney makes the biggest difference. Call me at (407) 749-0080 or fill out my online contact form for a confidential consultation.

Why Choose Lewis Roberts, PA for Tax Debt Relief in Sanford

I handle tax debt for people and small business owners across Sanford, Lake Mary, and the rest of Seminole County. You work with me directly, from the first phone call to the day your case closes.

Local Knowledge of Seminole County

As a local tax lawyer, I know where a federal tax lien appears in county records and how much it can hurt a home sale near Lake Monroe. That close-up view helps me act fast for you.

Focused on Tax Resolution

My practice centers on bankruptcy, student loans, and tax resolution, so I handle IRS back tax problems every day. That focused experience helps me spot issues early and build a clear plan without unnecessary delays.

Simple Answers, Every Time

Tax notices are written to confuse, not to help. I explain your choices in words you already use, so you can decide with a clear head. You’ll always know what I am doing and why.

One Attorney, Start to Finish

You won’t get passed around a call center. I read your file, I call the IRS, and I sign off on your resolution myself. One person owns your case: me. If you’re ready to talk, call (407) 749-0080 or send me a message through my online contact form, and I will map out your next move.

The IRS Tax Problems I Can Help You Solve

I help with almost any problem that grows out of back taxes you can’t pay, from a first notice to a levy already in place. If the IRS is asking for money you don’t have, or you have returns you never filed, you likely have a case I can take. The sooner you call, the more options stay open.

People often wait because they’re not sure their problem is serious enough, or because they feel behind and a little embarrassed. Neither one should keep you from calling, because I have seen every version of this, and I do not judge. What matters is fixing it before the IRS decides for you.

Common problems I take on:

Back Taxes You Can’t Pay: I work to set up a payment plan or a settlement that fits your real budget, not a number pulled from thin air.
Business and Payroll Tax Problems: I help business owners address unpaid employment taxes and potential personal liability for certain payroll tax debts.
A Federal Tax Lien: I work to release, withdraw, or subordinate a Notice of Federal Tax Lien so you can sell or refinance your home.
A Wage Garnishment or Bank Levy: I move to stop the IRS from taking your paycheck or draining your account.
Fast-Growing Penalties: I request Penalty Abatement to cut the extra charges that pile on top of the original tax.

What Can a Sanford Tax Attorney Do About IRS Back Taxes?

As your Sanford tax attorney, I can step between you and the IRS, seek to slow collection action, and set up a legal way to clear your back taxes. I do this by filing the right forms, requesting holds on collection, and building a resolution for the IRS to consider. Your job is to hand me the problem; my job is to work it.

Most people who call me share one of a few starting points. Maybe the IRS sent a bill after it filed a Substitute for Return in place of a return you never sent. Maybe you are self-employed, running an office along the I-4 corridor, and fell behind after a slow year.

Whatever the cause, I pull your IRS account transcript first, so we both see the real numbers before we plan a thing. From there, I match your facts to the right program.

That might be an Offer in Compromise that settles the debt for less than the full balance, or an Installment Agreement you can actually afford. It might be a Currently Not Collectible status that pauses payments when money is tight, and I request Penalty Abatement when a fair reason explains why you fell behind.

Why Did the IRS Say You Owe Back Taxes?

The IRS says you owe back taxes when its records show more tax than you paid, and that gap can open in very simple ways. A missed return, too little tax taken from a paycheck, or a single year of self-employment can each trigger a bill. Knowing the cause tells me which fix will actually work.

One common cause is a Substitute for Return. When you skip a filing, the IRS may file one for you and leave off every deduction, so the balance looks far bigger than the truth. I fix this by preparing and filing a correct return, which often lowers the number right away.

Another cause is plain math on a paycheck. If your job took out too little, or you earned 1099 income with no tax held back, the balance grows quietly until a notice arrives. And if the debt really belongs to a spouse or an ex-spouse, I look at Innocent Spouse Relief to lift it off your shoulders.

Which Tax Relief Option Fits Your Financial Situation?

The right tax relief option depends on what you can realistically afford after covering necessary living expenses. I review your income, assets, allowable expenses, and remaining collection period before recommending a strategy.

An Offer in Compromise can settle your balance for less than the full amount, but the IRS turns down most of the ones it receives. IRS figures for 2025 show taxpayers sent in 38,797 offers, and the agency accepted only 5,464.

An offer that doesn’t line up with the IRS’s collection math can be rejected, so I build yours around the same math the IRS uses before I file it.

No single program works for everyone. An Offer in Compromise could reduce the balance for one client, while an installment agreement gives another enough room to regain control.

I can evaluate and pursue options such as:

Offer in Compromise: I calculate the amount the IRS is likely to collect from your income and assets, then determine whether asking it to accept less than the full balance is realistic.
Installment Agreement: I negotiate a monthly payment based on your financial circumstances. When you cannot pay the full debt before the collection deadline, a Partial Payment Installment Agreement could provide another path.
Currently Not Collectible Status: I document why making payments would leave you unable to cover necessary living expenses. If the IRS approves the request, it generally pauses active collection while the hardship continues.
Penalty Abatement: I determine whether you qualify for First-Time Abatement or reasonable-cause relief and ask the IRS to remove eligible penalties from your account.

Can Bankruptcy Eliminate IRS Tax Debt?

Bankruptcy can discharge certain older income tax debts, but only when the debt and tax returns satisfy strict timing and filing rules. As your Sanford tax attorney, I examine each tax year separately because one balance might qualify while another does not.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy doesn’t place you into a repayment plan. It can discharge qualifying income tax debt, but newer priority taxes and certain other tax obligations generally survive the case.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy uses a court-approved repayment plan that usually lasts three to five years. It can give you time to address priority tax debt while protecting property under the rules of the bankruptcy case and plan.

Since I handle both bankruptcy and tax resolution, I don’t have to force your case into one system. I compare the available IRS remedies with your bankruptcy options and explain which approach gives you the most practical path forward.

Resolving Tax Audits

An IRS audit doesn’t automatically mean you did anything wrong. The IRS can flag a return because of missing information, unusual entries, or differences between your return and third-party records. I help you provide what is needed without handing over more than the audit requires.

What if the IRS Suspects Fraud?

Owing additional tax doesn’t automatically mean fraud. Fraud requires intentional wrongdoing. If the audit raises serious concerns, I will review the records, protect your rights, and challenge unsupported penalties or adjustments.

What if You Disagree With the IRS Auditor?

You do not have to accept every adjustment an IRS examiner proposes. I review the findings, prepare a written protest when appropriate, and present your position to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals before the dispute moves further.

How a Sanford, FL Tax Attorney Protects You From IRS Collection

As your Sanford tax attorney, I protect you by identifying where your case stands, preserving any appeal rights you still have, and working toward a resolution before the IRS reaches your wages or bank account. The earlier I see your notices, the more tools I usually have available.

The IRS can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, levy a bank account, or take part of your wages. These actions do not all follow the same timeline, and not every IRS notice carries the same appeal rights. I review the notice, the deadline, and the collection history before deciding how to respond.

How I Challenge an IRS Levy

I can challenge a threatened levy, request time to resolve the account, and pursue the collection alternative that fits your finances. When you receive a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing, I can file a timely request for a Collection Due Process hearing.

A timely hearing request generally stops the proposed levy while the IRS Independent Office of Appeals reviews the case. During that process, I can present an installment agreement, Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible request, or another appropriate resolution.

Liens and levies are different. A Notice of Federal Tax Lien publicly records the government’s claim against your property and can complicate a home sale or refinancing in Seminole County.

A levy is the collection action that actually takes property, such as money from your bank account or part of your wages.

I can push back at each stage:

Before a Lien Is Filed: I review the account and pursue a resolution that could reduce the risk of the IRS filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien.
After a Lien Is Filed: I determine whether you qualify for a lien release, withdrawal, subordination, or discharge of specific property. Each remedy serves a different purpose and has its own requirements.
When a Levy Threatens Your Wages: I check whether the deadline for a Collection Due Process hearing remains open and contact the IRS about stopping or releasing the levy while we address the underlying debt.
When the Collection Deadline Matters: I calculate the Collection Statute Expiration Date for each assessment. The IRS generally has 10 years from the assessment date to collect, but bankruptcy, appeals, and certain other events can extend that period.

FAQ for Sanford Tax Attorney

What If I Can’t Afford a Tax Attorney Right Now?

When the IRS takes a paycheck or files a lien, the financial consequences can be serious. Call me first, and we can talk through the numbers before you commit to moving forward with me as your tax attorney.

What Does a Sanford Tax Attorney Actually Do for Back Taxes?

A Sanford tax attorney speaks to the IRS for you, stops collection where the law allows, and pursues a program that can clear, lower, or help you manage your balance. I handle the calls, the forms, and the deadlines.

Can the IRS Really Take My Paycheck in Florida?

The IRS can garnish wages in Florida after it sends a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and the appeal window closes. Florida charges no state income tax, but the federal IRS collection still reaches your pay.

Will Hiring a Lawyer Make the IRS Come After Me Harder?

Hiring a lawyer doesn’t anger the IRS or invite extra scrutiny. The agency works with representatives every day, and a filed power of attorney simply routes contact through me. In most cases, the pressure eases because the IRS can see a real plan taking shape.

What if I Have Years of Unfiled Tax Returns?

You can fix years of unfiled returns, and doing so is the first step toward any IRS relief. I gather your records, prepare the missing returns, and file them so you can pursue a settlement or a plan.

Take the IRS Off Your To-Do List

Back taxes don’t fix themselves, but you don’t have to face the IRS alone. As your Sanford tax attorney, I answer the notices, deal with collection, and build the plan that fits your life. Call me at (407) 749-0080 or fill out my online contact form to discuss your taxes.

Attorney Lewis Roberts

The weight of debts that one cannot pay carries financial stress into every waking moment. It is time for this to end. Lewis Roberts, PA, offers solutions to relieve these worries. With over 20 years of experience in helping individuals overcome the burden of debt, bankruptcy attorney Lewis Roberts presents a range of options tailored to each unique situation. Clients can trust his advice on any matter related to debts, as he identifies appropriate options and explains the paths to debt relief clearly and carefully. This ensures that clients make the best decisions for their future. [ Attorney Bio ]