On April 4th, 2024, the IRS shared that the Federal Communications Commission issued a cease and desist letter to Veriwave Telco as the company was making millions of calls (prerecorded message) regarding a National Tax Relief Program.

“… The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau today issued a cease-and-desist letter against Veriwave Telco. The letter ordered Veriwave Telco to cease and desist its origination of an apparently illegal robocall campaign pertaining to a “National Tax Relief Program… Between November 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024, the YouMail software app company estimates that approximately 15.8 million calls playing prerecorded messages pertaining to a “National Tax Relief Program” were placed. The Bureau found no evidence that this program actually exists.”

FCC cease post “National Tax Relief Program Robocalls” Link

Additionally, in the last few days, we (and our clients) have encountered more and more advertising on the “New Fresh Start Program”  which is again another fake promotion or scam to generate clients to tax resolution companies (we have seen also letter imitating tax authorities or pulling public records on potential liens and similar information). Note that the Fresh Start program started in 2011 (over a decade old program) and it was later expanded by the Offer in Compromise program to cover a larger taxpayer base.

Fresh Start Program initiated in 2011 and 2012 – Taxpayer Advocate IRS 

If you cannot pay in full your Federal tax liabilities, the IRS has several options (IRS issue number FS-2024-16) for you to choose from:

  • Payment plans –Taxpayers who owe but can’t pay in full don’t have to wait for a tax bill to set up a payment plan (or installment agreement) to pay off an outstanding balance over time. Please, consider that in many payment plans set up by taxpayers, the monthly payment does not cover the interest and penalties. Additionally, if additional tax liabilities (i.e. most current tax year tax debt), then, the original payment plan is voided as additional balances are added. Depending on the method use to set up the payment plan, there might be different fees.
  • Offer in compromise – An Offer in Compromise allows qualifying taxpayers to settle their tax liabilities for less than the total amount they owe. You have to provide several documents like your assets and liabilities, personal income and expenses, support documentation for bank accounts, car loans and others, and you have to meet certain requirements to qualify.
  • Temporarily Delaying Collection – Taxpayers can contact the IRS to request a temporary delay of the collection process. If the IRS determines a taxpayer is unable to pay, it may delay collection until the taxpayer’s financial condition improves. Penalties and interest continue to accrue until the taxpayer pays the full amount.