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Alter Ego Liens and Levies: How to Protect Your Assets

October 10, 2025 | Tax Laws Tax Levy Tax Liens Tax Relief

What Is an Alter Ego Levy and How to Protect Your Assets? An alter ego levy is when the IRS seizes assets owned by your alter ego to cover your tax debt. If you've received notice of an alter ego lien or levy, you need to take action – this is not routine tax debt collection, and generally, the IRS only pursues this route when they believe you are hiding assets or they have the right to pierce the corporate veil due to co-mingling. To protect yo... CONTINUE READING

Can the IRS Take My Spouse’s Assets for My Tax Debt?

October 9, 2025 | Tax Debt

Can the IRS Take My Spouse’s Income for My Tax Debt? It depends – in some cases, the IRS can take your spouse's income for your tax debt, but they can't in other situations. Ultimately, it boils down to which type of return you filed, how much your spouse earns, and what you've done to resolve the debt. In all cases, it pays to be proactive. To get help protecting you and your spouse from your tax debt, contact us at Timothy S. Hart Law Firm today. Wh... CONTINUE READING

Can I Sell My House With an IRS Tax Lien?

October 9, 2025 | Tax Debt Tax Liens

Can You Sell a House With a Tax Lien on It? Yes, you can sell a home even if it has an IRS tax lien against it. However, there will be extra paperwork involved, and the IRS will have a right to the proceeds of the sale, up to the amount of your tax debt. There are a few different ways to navigate the sale, depending on the situation. This post outlines the basics, but to get legal gui... CONTINUE READING

What Are IRS Jeopardy Assessments—and Are You at Risk?

September 21, 2025 | Tax Debt Tax Help

IRS Jeopardy Assessments — When the IRS Acts Without Warning IRS tax assessment and enforcement actions typically follow strict protocols and procedures. The agency sends letters, gives taxpayers time to respond, and eventually moves on to liens, levies, and seizures. The entire process takes months, giving taxpayers plenty of time to question the amount owed, come up with payment arrangements, and otherwise avoid aggressive collection efforts. Jeopardy a... CONTINUE READING

Will the IRS Revoke My Passport for Not Paying Taxes?

September 21, 2025 | Passport Tax Debt

Can the IRS Revoke My Passport Over Back Taxes? You could lose your passport over unpaid taxes. Unpaid federal tax debt can lead to restrictions and revocation of your passport, making it impossible for you to travel to visit family or work. IRS passport revocation is indirectly possible, meaning that while the IRS cannot outright revoke your passport, it can take steps that trigger the U.S. State Department to place lim... CONTINUE READING

New York Tax Asset Seizure: The Assets You Could Lose

September 21, 2025 | Tax Debt

What Assets Can New York State Legally Seize for Back Taxes? If you owe taxes to the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, they may seize your assets. The DTF's asset seizure process is slightly different from the IRS's, but in both cases, they can take a significant portion of your assets. To protect your assets, you need to know what the DTF can legally seize and how to respond when you receive a levy (seizure) notice. Key takeaways:... CONTINUE READING

What If Your Business Gets Padlocked for Tax Debt?

August 17, 2025 | Tax Levy

What to Do If Your Business Is Padlocked for Unpaid Taxes If your business has fallen behind on taxes in New York, you could face more than just collection letters. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and, in some cases, the IRS, have the authority to physically shut down a business that fails to resolve its tax debts. This is called a padlock action, and it means agents can show up without wa... CONTINUE READING

FBAR Penalties: Can They Be Half Your Account Balance?

August 17, 2025 | FBAR Tax Penalties

Can the IRS Really Take Half the Money in My Foreign Bank Accounts? If you have money tucked away in a foreign bank account, you’ve probably heard the scary stories: the IRS can swoop in and take half of your balance if you haven’t filed the proper paperwork. It sounds extreme, but there’s some truth to it. U.S. taxpayers with foreign accounts are required to file an annual FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts), and the penalties for missing one can be steep.... CONTINUE READING

What Is IRS Notice LT36? Guide for Federal Employees

August 17, 2025 | Late Filed Returns Tax Debt

What Is IRS Notice LT36? Sent to Federal Employees and Retirees Since 2013, the number of federal employees with tax debt has risen to about 6% (5% or more of congressional employees and about 4% of White House staff). In the spring of 2025, the IRS sent letters to 525,000 federal employees and retirees with a dire implication: If you don’t reconcile... CONTINUE READING

NYS Payroll Tax: Rules, Deadlines, & Tips for Employers

July 23, 2025 | payroll tax Uncategorized

Behind on Payroll Taxes in New York? What You Need to Know Employees in New York must deal with federal, state, and sometimes, local payroll taxes. Failure to pay or file these taxes can lead to significant penalties and potentially put your business at risk. To get help now, contact us at the Law Offices of Timothy S. Hart today, or read on for more details. Key Takeaways: Employers in Ne... CONTINUE READING

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Alter Ego Liens and Levies: How to Protect Your Assets

What Is an Alter Ego Levy and How to Protect Your Assets? An alter ego levy is when the IRS seizes assets owned by your alter ego to cover your tax debt. If you've received notice of an alter ego lien or levy, you need to take action – this is not routine tax debt co...