Certainly it is unpleasant to receive a bill from the IRS or a state tax agency. It’s even worse if bank account or other property seizures are being threatened. Threats of seizure typically result when taxpayers do not respond to the billings. With property seizures, tax agencies usually just want to “get your attention.” The lesson, then, is to be responsive to tax correspondence, even when the situation seems hopeless. The worst thing one can do is react to any fear and intimidation by doing nothing. In my experience, taxpayers who are willing to communicate in an effort to work out any problems are almost always treated well. The best option for any tax agency is to solve account problems without their becoming a burden on agency resources. That also happens to be the best option for the taxpayer.

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