Taking the Next Step: How to Get IRS Tax Help

What should I bring to my first consultation?

For our initial consultation, bring whatever documentation you have. Don’t worry if it’s not organized—that’s part of what I help with.

Helpful documents include:

• Any notices or letters from the IRS
• Tax returns for the past 3-5 years (if you have them)
• Income records (W-2s, 1099s, pay stubs)
• Records of any payments you’ve made to the IRS
• Basic financial information (income, expenses, assets, debts)

But honestly, if all you have is an IRS letter and anxiety, that’s enough to get started. I’ll help you gather everything else we need.

How much does professional tax representation cost?

This varies widely based on the complexity of your situation. Simple matters—like setting up an installment agreement for a straightforward case—cost less than complex cases like representing you through a field audit or negotiating an Offer in Compromise.

I offer free initial consultations where we discuss your situation and I provide you with a clear quote for my services. I want you to understand exactly what representation will cost before you commit.

Here’s how I think about fees: My job is to save you money and stress. If I can reduce your tax liability by $50,000, negotiate affordable payment terms, or get liens and levies released, the value of my services far exceeds my fee. I’ve had clients tell me that the peace of mind alone was worth every penny.

I also offer payment plans for my services because I understand that if you’re dealing with IRS problems, cash is probably tight.

How long does it take to resolve IRS tax problems?

This is like asking how long it takes to get healthy—it depends on what’s wrong and how you treat it.

Simple installment agreements can be set up in days. Getting Currently Not Collectible status might take a few weeks. Offers in Compromise typically take 6-12 months or longer. Appeals can take several months. Unfiled returns—it depends how many years and how complicated, but usually we can get everything filed within 30-90 days.

What I can promise is this: from the moment you hire me, the stress starts decreasing. You’ll have a plan. You’ll have an expert handling the IRS. You’ll know exactly what’s happening and what comes next.

I tell clients that resolving IRS problems is a process, not an event. But every step forward is progress, and I’m with you through all of it.

What if I’m too afraid or embarrassed to deal with my tax problems?

I hear this constantly, and I want you to know: you’re not alone. Tax problems carry enormous shame for many people. You might feel like you’ve failed, like you’re the only one in this situation, like people will judge you.

Let me be clear: I’ve worked with doctors, lawyers, business owners, blue-collar workers, retirees—people from every walk of life. Good people who encountered bad circumstances. Divorce. Illness. Business failure. Bad advice. Economic downturns. Life happens.

I don’t judge. I don’t lecture. I solve problems.

The fear you feel? That’s the tax problem controlling your life. Every day you avoid dealing with it, that fear grows. The actual resolution process—once you start—is far less scary than the anticipation.

I had a Detroit teacher who hadn’t filed returns in eight years because her ex-husband had destroyed their financial records during an ugly divorce. She was literally having panic attacks about IRS problems. Within a week of hiring me, she told me the anxiety had decreased by half just knowing someone was handling it. Six months later, all returns were filed, she was in an affordable payment plan, and she said she felt like a new person.

Your tax problems will not go away on their own. They only get worse. But they can be resolved—I do it every day for people throughout the Great Lakes region.

Final Thoughts: Your Path Forward

Tax problems are solvable. Whether you’re in Detroit dealing with unfiled returns, in Chicago facing an employment tax crisis, in Cleveland navigating an audit, or anywhere in the Great Lakes region struggling with unpaid taxes, there are solutions.

The IRS is powerful, but they’re also bound by rules and procedures. When you have an experienced Enrolled Agent representing you—someone who knows those rules inside and out, who understands the local economy and business environment, and who fights exclusively for your interests—the playing field becomes more level.

I’ve spent my career helping Great Lakes taxpayers resolve their IRS problems. I’ve negotiated with Revenue Officers, presented cases to Appeals, structured payment plans, gotten liens released, stopped levies, won audits, and helped thousands of people get their financial lives back on track.

You don’t have to face the IRS alone. You don’t have to live with the constant stress and fear. There’s a path forward, and I can guide you through it.

The first step is always the hardest—picking up the phone or sending that email. But once you take that step, everything starts moving in the right direction.

If you’re in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, or anywhere in the Great Lakes Megalopolis and you’re facing IRS tax problems, I’m here to help. As an Enrolled Agent with decades of experience resolving every type of tax problem imaginable, I have the expertise and the commitment to fight for the best possible outcome for your situation.

Don’t let another day go by living with the stress of unresolved tax problems. Whether you haven’t filed in years, owe more than you can pay, are facing an audit, dealing with employment tax issues, or have liens and levies threatening your financial security—there are solutions available, and I know how to implement them.

Contact Mike Habib, EA today for a free, confidential consultation. Let’s discuss your situation, explore your options, and create a plan to resolve your IRS problems once and for all. You deserve peace of mind, and I’m here to help you achieve it.

The IRS problems that seem insurmountable today can be resolved tomorrow. Let’s get started.