Talkin' Tax

Episode description

You’ve heard the ads: “Settle your IRS debt for pennies on the dollar with the Fresh Start Program!” In this episode, [HOST NAME] of [FIRM NAME] explains what the IRS Fresh Start Initiative really is: a set of 2011–2012 policy changes that made payment plans, lien relief, and Offers in Compromise easier to reach. Then come the spoiler alerts. It’s not a one-time forgiveness of everything you owe, and it’s not a “throw out a number and see if the IRS takes it” deal. If you owe the IRS, this is the episode to hear before you call that number on the billboard.

In this episode (estimated timestamps; update after editing)

• 00:00 Cold open: the “pennies on the dollar” ad
• 01:00 What Fresh Start actually is: three waves of IRS changes in 2011 and 2012
• 02:45 Spoiler alert #1: it’s NOT a one-time forgiveness of everything you owe
• 04:15 Spoiler alert #2: it’s NOT a “throw out a number” plan, and how the Offer in Compromise formula works
• 06:15 Rapid-fire spoiler alerts: not a form, not automatic, not a way around filing, not new
• 07:30 What Fresh Start CAN do: payment plans, liens, offers, and penalty relief
• 09:45 Wrap-up and the biggest spoiler alert of all

Key takeaways

• Fresh Start is a package of IRS rule changes, not a program you apply to.
• Most people who use Fresh Start tools pay their tax in full over time. Penalties and interest keep running until it’s paid.
• An Offer in Compromise is set by a formula: your asset equity plus 12 or 24 months of future remaining income.
• Offers carry a $205 application fee, an upfront payment, and five years of required compliance. Low-income applicants may be exempt from the fee and the payment.
• If you owe $50,000 or less and your returns are filed, you can usually set up a payment plan online without a full financial statement.
• Unfiled returns block nearly every option, so getting current comes first.
• Be wary of anyone who promises to erase your tax debt before reviewing your income, expenses, and assets.

Resources mentioned

• IRS: Payment plans (installment agreements): https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements
• IRS: Offer in Compromise: https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise
• IRS Form 656 Booklet (Offer in Compromise): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f656b.pdf
• IRS IR-2012-31, Expanded Fresh Start (Mar. 7, 2012): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-12-031.pdf
• IRS IR-2012-53, Offer in Compromise changes (May 21, 2012): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-12-053.pdf
• Companion blog post: [BLOG LINK]

Get help

Owe the IRS and not sure where you stand? Contact Bryson Law Firm, LLC (www.brysonlawfirm.com) for a review of your full financial picture.

Disclaimer

This episode is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Every situation is different, and IRS rules and figures change. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.

When you owe the IRS and can't pay in full, the IRS decides what you can afford — and it doesn't use your real budget to do it. In this episode of Talkin' Tax, Jessica Thibodeaux of Bryson Law Firm explains the IRS's allowable living expense standards, walks through the actual figures for Lafayette, Louisiana, and shows why the IRS doesn't have to count your full mortgage, private school tuition, credit card payments, and other expenses above its caps.

We start with how the IRS measures your ability to pay. The IRS uses the Collection Financial Standards whenever it reviews a Form 433-A or 433-F for a payment plan, an offer in compromise, or Currently Not Collectible status. We explain the three groups of standards — National Standards, out-of-pocket health care, and Local Standards — and why the Local Standards for housing and transportation work as hard caps.

Next, we walk through the numbers that apply to Lafayette Parish residents, including the housing and utilities cap that has to cover your mortgage, insurance, property taxes, and every utility bill.

We then cover the expenses the IRS doesn't have to count: mortgage payments above the parish cap, private school tuition, car notes above the standard, credit card payments, and most charitable giving. We also explain the six-year rule and the one-year rule, two exceptions that can let the IRS allow more.

Finally, we follow a hypothetical Lafayette family of four who come up $650 short every month on their real budget — but who, by the IRS's math, can afford to pay about $2,856 a month.

These are the IRS standards effective June 29, 2026, as discussed in the episode. For a family of four in Lafayette Parish, the housing and utilities cap is $2,355 a month, and the National Standard for food, clothing, and other items is $2,176 a month. Transportation follows the IRS's South region: up to $703 a month per vehicle for a loan or lease payment (zero if the car is paid off), plus up to $291 a month per vehicle for operating costs, or $220 a month for public transportation if you don't have a car. Out-of-pocket health care is allowed at $90 per person under 65 and $163 per person 65 or older, plus actual health insurance premiums.

Read the companion blog post on our website at [https://www.brysonlawfirm.com/news/1007-what-the-irs-says-you-can-afford-allowable-living-expenses.html]. The figures in this episode come from the IRS's Collection Financial Standards, including the Louisiana housing and utilities standards, the National Standards for food, clothing and other items, the transportation standards, and the out-of-pocket health care standards. The rules on allowable expenses appear in IRM 5.15.1, and the six-year and one-year rules in IRM 5.14.1.

If you owe the IRS, Bryson Law Firm, LLC can review your finances against the current standards and help you choose the right path, whether that's an installment agreement, an offer in compromise, or Currently Not Collectible status. Contact us at brysonlawfirm.com.

This episode and these show notes are for general information only and are not legal or tax advice. The figures discussed are the IRS Collection Financial Standards effective June 29, 2026, and are subject to change. Please consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.

What is the IRS Employee Retention Credit?

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about this, so we thought we’d make this episode to answer some of them for you. 

You might think you don’t qualify for this credit, but you could be pleasantly surprised! There are a lot of misconceptions out there that we want to clear up, so make sure you tune in to find out if any of those misconceptions are keeping you from compensation that you’re entitled to. 

In this episode, we’re clarifying what the Employee Retention Credit is, how you qualify, and our process at the Bryson Law Firm for filing a claim. We’re taking you through the process step-by-step so that you know exactly what to expect.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What the Employee Retention Credit is 
• Myths about the Employee Retention Credit that you need to watch out for 
• How the credit is calculated 
• How long it will take to complete the process and receive your credits

Tune in to find out everything you need to know about the Employee Retention Credit. 

Show notes are available at www.brysonlawfirm.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Employee Retention Credit Presentation PDF Guide

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrysonLawFirm and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-law-firm-l-l-c.

How does the IRS calculate your ability to pay?

Your ability to pay is something you need to understand when you’re trying to resolve your IRS tax liability. 

Your ability to pay is one of two factors the IRS uses to determine how to resolve your case and it’s calculated based on your income and expenses. That might sound simple enough, but creating an accurate representation of your income and expenses can be a lot more complicated than it seems. 

In this episode, we’re getting into the nitty gritty of calculating your ability to pay, including what to look out for and how to avoid paying more than you can afford. 

If you have a tax problem, this episode is going to help you.

Show notes are available at www.brysonlawfirm.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Calculating a Taxpayer's IRS "Ability to Pay" Presentation PDF Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bQ69b3REibd82KDprEC7REaF484dOgqJ/view?usp=share_link 

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrysonLawFirm and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-law-firm-l-l-c.

What can the IRS do when you have a tax problem?

The IRS can have both a lien and a levy against a taxpayer with outstanding taxes owed. 

We’re covering everything you need to know about liens and levies, including what they are and what the difference is between the two. We’re going over bank levies, wage garnishments, accounts receivable levies, and other accounts and property that the IRS can seize. We’re also sharing how to prevent collection activity and what to do if the IRS does initiate collection activity. 

If you’ve ever had a question about liens and levies, tune in to this episode to find an answer. 

Show notes are available at www.brysonlawfirm.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrysonLawFirm and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-law-firm-l-l-c.

Everyone is talking about the new Inflation Reduction Act, so what is it?

In this episode, we want to help you understand everything you need to know about the Inflation Reduction Act, how it affects you, and how to get ahead of it. 

We’re taking a look at how much money the IRS has to spend on this, why they’ve been given that money, and how they plan to spend it. 

We’re making this episode because we want you to know that if you have any questions or concerns about your tax compliance, now is the time to get some help making sure everything is in line. 

If you have questions about the Inflation Reduction Act and how it affects you, tune in. 

Show notes are available at www.brysonlawfirm.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrysonLawFirm and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-law-firm-l-l-c.

Are you a small business owner who was affected by the pandemic? Then listen up, because you might be missing out on relief measures available to you. 

This episode is all about COVID relief measures. We’re specifically covering the IRS Employee Retention Credit and why it has been underutilized. Don’t click away if you think you don’t qualify, because things have changed since it was first announced so you might qualify now! 

It’s unusual that this applies to small businesses because, as those of you who run small businesses know, we don’t usually get credits! 

We’re sharing some tips on how to qualify and apply for the Employee Retention Credit. We want to clear some things up and make it as easy as possible for you to apply if you qualify. 

Tune in now to find out if you’re leaving money on the table. 

Show notes are available at www.brysonlawfirm.com.

Resources Mentioned:

COVID Pandemic Relief Continues: The IRS Employee Retention Credit Presentation PDF Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15uGKf3BDDgLS9-R9UO7bqOuAmi2Nf1cT/view 

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrysonLawFirm and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-law-firm-l-l-c.

What is an IRS Offer in Compromise?

We’re here to clear up some misconceptions about Offers in Compromise and tell you what you really need to know. 

We might disagree on whether this is our favorite topic, but it’s important to understand Offers in Compromise as a tool for resolving cases.

You’ll find out what an Offer in Compromise is, why someone might file an offer, and everything that needs to be considered before filing. 

This process is not as simple as you might think, so be sure to tune in to find out everything you need to know and everything at stake before you file. 

Show notes are available at www.brysonlawfirm.com.

Resources Mentioned:

All About Offers Presentation PDF Guide 

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrysonLawFirm and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-law-firm-l-l-c.

When the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March of 2020, we were forced to adapt in so many ways. Our offices, like many across the world, were forced to begin working remotely to minimize physical contact with others. However, as time has moved forward, our team has remained a virtual and begun to offer top-tier services through virtual convenience.

On the latest installment of Talkin' Tax, we're exploring the benefits associated with our free, virtual consultation. We strive to ensure our interactions with clients still provide a local feel, but from the comfort of your own home.

This episode is packed with beneficial insights into the Bryson's virtual work with clients and why so many current clients have been loving the virtual model.

Timecodes:

0:06 - Introduction and overview on the topic of the day

2:30 - The challenges the Bryson Law Firm faced when Covid-19 struck

4:43 - Our free, virtual consultation

6:50 - The differences between their virtual and in-person consultations

9:52 - Striving to provide a local feel during the virtual consultations

13:57 - What you can expect during your first consultation with the Bryson Law Firm

17:27 - The Bryson team is able to operate more quickly

20:08 - Our virtual consultations are secure and protected conversations

23:10 - Closing remarks

Connect with Cary and Angie Bryson:

Facebook

Website

LinkedIn

In most cases, tax-related issues can be solved before things escalate. However, when the seriousness of a given case rises, in the eyes of the IRS, they assign a specific Revenue Officer to your situation to collect the tax payment they're owed.

On the latest episode of Talkin' Tax, we're diving into the process of working directly with IRS Revenue Officers when they are assigned to cases. We'll not only cover the various situations that would lead to an officer being assigned to a case, but also the different actions they can take to collect the taxes owed.

Things are very serious when a Revenue Officer is assigned to your tax-related issue, which is why it helps to have a team of professionals standing in your corner!

Timecodes:

0:25 - Introduction and overview on the topic of the day

1:35 - Welcoming on the Brysons and Brandon Juneau to the show

2:00 - When does the IRS decide to involve a Revenue Officer to a case

4:00 - Working hand-in-hand with a Revenue Officer to resolve a case

5:31 - What Revenue Officers do when assigned to a case

9:08 - You get one shot to make your case with them

12:03 - How a Revenue Officer differs from the IRS' Automated Collection Service

15:06 - Will Revenue Officers forget about my case?

19:40 - How the Bryson Law Firm deals with IRS Revenue Officers

24:25 - Closing remarks

Connect with Cary and Angie Bryson:

Facebook

Website

LinkedIn