An IRS or Arizona tax notice can feel overwhelming, especially with deadlines, penalties, liens, levies, or audit questions involved. FiscalForge LLC steps in as your CPA-led advocate: reviewing the notice, explaining your options, communicating with the agency, and helping you move toward a practical resolution.
Don’t ignore the notice. Deadlines, appeal rights, penalties, interest, and collection actions can escalate. The safest next step is to understand exactly what the agency is asking for before you respond.
Your matter CPA assigned
IRS notice received
Deadline flagged
CPA reviewing the file
Response plan built
Relief options evaluated
Next step: a 45-minute review of your notice, deadlines, and options.
CPA-Owned
Licensed in Arizona
IRS Notices
Audits
Back Taxes
Payroll Tax Issues
High-intent, low-panic
When should you call a CPA for tax representation?
Not every tax letter is an emergency, but many IRS and state notices come with deadlines, appeal windows, documentation requests, or collection consequences. A CPA can help you understand what the notice actually says before you respond, pay, or agree to anything.
You received an IRS or Arizona notice
A letter arrived from the IRS or the Arizona Department of Revenue and you're not sure what it's actually asking for.
You're being audited or examined
Your return was selected for review and the agency is requesting records, explanations, or documentation.
You owe back taxes and can't pay in full
There's a balance you can't clear right now, and you want to understand realistic options before it escalates.
You have unfiled returns
One or more years are missing, and unfiled returns keep the problem open and can block resolution options.
You got a lien, levy, or garnishment warning
Collection language has appeared and you want to respond correctly before enforcement action begins.
Your business has payroll tax debt
Payroll deposits fell behind, and payroll taxes carry serious business and personal exposure.
You disagree with an assessment
The IRS or state proposed changes or a balance you believe is wrong, and you may have appeal rights.
A spouse or former spouse caused the problem
The tax issue traces to someone else's income or errors, and you want your options evaluated.
You're unsure how to provide records
The agency is asking for documentation and you don't know what to send, or what not to send.
You want a second opinion before signing
Before you agree to a payment plan or IRS document, you want a CPA to review what you're committing to.
Tax representation means a qualified professional communicates, prepares responses, organizes documentation, and advocates for you in a tax matter. For FiscalForge clients, that’s a CPA-led process that starts with the facts: the notice, the tax years involved, the balances, missing filings, collection status, deadlines, and the resolution paths that may fit.
Notice review, what the letter actually says and requires
Tax transcript review where applicable
Deadline identification so nothing lapses
Document request planning, what to gather, what to send
Written responses to the agency
Audit support and correspondence handling
Collection alternatives evaluated against your facts
IRS and Arizona agency communication on your behalf
Appeals support where appropriate
A resolution strategy matched to your situation
You still make the final decisions. We make sure you understand the options, risks, deadlines, and next steps before you act.
Know your protections
You have rights when dealing with the IRS.
The IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights includes important protections, the right to be informed, the right to challenge the IRS and be heard, the right to appeal an IRS decision in an independent forum, the right to retain representation, the right to confidentiality, and the right to a fair and just tax system.
You don't have to answer complex audit questions alone.
You can authorize a representative to communicate with the agency for you.
You may have the right to appeal a decision in an independent forum.
You are entitled to clear explanations of what's being asked.
You should understand every deadline before you respond.
You shouldn't have to guess your way through a notice.
Whatever the notice says, the process is the same: understand it, evaluate the realistic options, and respond correctly. Here’s how we approach the most common matters.
IRS notices & letters
IRS letters look intimidating, but they're usually asking for something specific, more information, payment, a missing form, identity verification, a proposed adjustment, or audit documentation. We review the notice, identify the deadline, explain what's being asked, and prepare a clear response strategy.
Balance-due notices
Proposed changes (CP2000-type)
Underreported income
Missing-return notices
Examination letters
Collection warnings
Levy or lien notices
Penalty notices
IRS audits & examinations
An audit doesn't automatically mean you did something wrong, but your records and answers matter. We help organize documentation, respond to information requests, prepare explanations, and represent you through correspondence, office, or field audit issues where appropriate.
Correspondence audits
Documentation requests
Schedule C / self-employed issues
Rental-property questions
Charitable contributions
Business expenses
Mileage & logs
1099 / K-1 income matching
Substantiation problems
Back taxes & IRS collections
If you owe the IRS and can't pay in full, the goal is to get compliant, stop guessing, and evaluate realistic options. We review the tax years, balances, filings, income, expenses, assets, and collection status to determine what path may fit your facts.
Installment agreements
Offer in Compromise evaluation
Currently Not Collectible evaluation
Penalty relief
Lien & levy response
Wage garnishment concerns
Bank levy concerns
Passport certification concerns for seriously delinquent debt
Unfiled tax returns
Unfiled returns keep the problem open and can block many resolution options. We help gather records, reconstruct income and deductions where possible, prepare missing returns, and build a compliance plan before negotiating balances or payment terms.
Multiple years unfiled
Missing W-2s / 1099s
Self-employed records
Substitute-for-Return concerns
Getting current before requesting relief
Coordinating preparation with representation
Payroll tax problems
Payroll tax debt is one of the most serious problems a business can face, because withheld payroll taxes are considered trust-fund taxes. The IRS may investigate responsible persons and assess Trust Fund Recovery Penalties in some cases. We help owners understand exposure, organize payroll records, respond to notices, and pursue a practical resolution.
Missed payroll deposits
Form 941 / 940 issues
Trust Fund Recovery Penalty concerns
Responsible-person interviews
Business cash-flow problems
Getting current with deposits
Payroll cleanup coordination
Preventing recurrence
Penalty abatement
IRS penalties can grow quickly, but relief may be available in specific circumstances. We evaluate first-time abatement, reasonable-cause arguments, compliance history, documentation, and whether penalty relief should be part of the broader resolution plan.
Failure-to-file penalties
Failure-to-pay penalties
Deposit penalties
Reasonable-cause arguments
First-time abatement review
Documentation support
Offer in Compromise
An Offer in Compromise may allow some taxpayers to settle for less than the full amount owed, but it isn't a shortcut, and many taxpayers don't qualify. Generally, taxpayers who can pay in full through an installment agreement usually don't qualify. We evaluate income, expenses, assets, equity, compliance, and IRS collection standards before recommending whether an offer is realistic.
Eligibility review
Financial analysis
Collection-potential review
Required filings & compliance
Documentation package
Risks if an offer is rejected
Alternative strategies
Installment agreements
For many taxpayers, a payment plan is the most practical path. We help evaluate what type of installment agreement may fit, prepare financial information if required, and work toward a payment structure that aligns with your facts.
Streamlined agreements where applicable
Full-pay agreements
Partial-pay possibilities (evaluated carefully)
Business payment plans
Staying compliant to avoid default
Currently Not Collectible
Currently Not Collectible status may temporarily delay collection when a taxpayer can't pay basic living expenses and the tax debt at the same time. It does not erase the debt, and penalties and interest may continue to accrue. We help evaluate whether CNC is realistic and what documentation is needed.
Financial-hardship evaluation
Required documentation
What CNC does and doesn't do
Ongoing compliance
Re-evaluation over time
Innocent & injured spouse relief
Tax problems tied to a spouse or former spouse require careful analysis. We help evaluate whether innocent spouse relief, separation of liability, equitable relief, or injured spouse relief may apply based on your facts.
Innocent spouse relief evaluation
Separation of liability
Equitable relief
Injured spouse (refund allocation)
Documentation of the facts
Arizona Department of Revenue issues
Based in Mesa, we help Arizona taxpayers understand and respond to Arizona Department of Revenue matters. Arizona representation may require proper disclosure or power-of-attorney authorization (such as Arizona Form 285), and Arizona audit and appeal procedures have specific written-response requirements and deadlines depending on tax type and stage.
Arizona income-tax notices
Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) issues for businesses
Withholding-tax notices
Arizona audit responses
Written protest / appeal deadlines
Arizona Form 285 authorization
Multi-state coordination where supported
A clear path
A clear process when everything feels uncertain.
The first goal is clarity. We want you to know what the agency is asking for, what happens if nothing is done, what options may exist, and what we recommend doing next.
1
Review the notice, deadline & tax years
We start with what you actually received, the notice, the deadline, and the years involved, so nothing is missed.
2
Gather records, transcripts & account details
We assemble filings, transcripts where applicable, balances, and collection status to see the full picture.
3
Identify the real issue & available options
We pinpoint what the agency is asking for and which resolution paths realistically fit your facts.
4
Prepare the response, filing or request
We prepare the written response, missing filings, financial information, or resolution request needed.
5
Communicate & keep you informed
We keep you updated on next steps until the matter is resolved or moved to its next stage.
Come prepared
What to bring to your consultation
IRS or Arizona notices and letters
Any deadlines shown on the notice
Prior-year tax returns
W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, or business-income records
Payroll reports (if the issue involves payroll taxes)
Bank statements or bookkeeping records, if relevant
Records supporting deductions or credits in question
Login or authorization details, if already available
Notes from prior calls with the IRS or state agency
Any existing payment plan, levy, lien, or garnishment documents
If you don’t have everything, don’t wait. Bring what you have and we’ll help identify what’s missing.
Before you respond
Avoid these common mistakes.
Ignoring the notice because you're overwhelmed
Calling the IRS without first understanding the issue
Sending partial records with no context
Agreeing to a payment plan you can't maintain
Missing an appeal or response deadline
Assuming an Offer in Compromise is automatic
Filing missing returns without a broader plan
Letting payroll tax problems roll into new quarters
Waiting until a levy or garnishment has already hit
Tax problems are rarely isolated. A notice may connect to an old return, messy books, payroll deposits, missing records, or years of filings. We look at the whole picture instead of treating the notice like a one-off form.
CPA-owned representation
A licensed CPA leads your matter, not a call-center salesperson.
Arizona-licensed firm
Licensed in Arizona and focused on Arizona taxpayers and the ADOR process.
IRS advocacy first
We stand between you and the agency, and communicate on your behalf.
Plain-English explanations
You'll understand the notice, your options, and the risks, no jargon.
Individuals & small business
From a single 1040 notice to multi-year payroll cleanup, we handle both.
One roof for the whole picture
Tax prep, bookkeeping, and payroll in-house, because notices rarely stand alone.
Secure cloud process
Documents are handled on secure cloud platforms, not paper shuffled around.
Mesa-based, Arizona-focused
Local to the Greater Phoenix metro, with remote consultations available.
No jargon, no panic, no going in blind
Calm, methodical, and honest about what does and doesn't fit your facts.
Local authority
Tax representation for Mesa, Phoenix & Arizona taxpayers.
FiscalForge LLC is based in Mesa and serves individuals and small businesses across Arizona. We help clients respond to IRS and Arizona Department of Revenue issues with a practical, CPA-led process , whether the matter is a federal notice, an Arizona income-tax issue, a payroll tax concern, or a multi-year compliance problem.
Plain-English answers about IRS notices, audits, back taxes, relief options, and what a consultation looks like. Issue-specific questions are best answered with your notice in hand.
Tax representation means a qualified professional communicates with the tax agency, prepares responses, organizes documentation, and advocates for you in a tax matter. For FiscalForge clients, that's a CPA-led process built around your specific notice, tax years, balances, and deadlines.
Do I need a CPA if I received an IRS notice?
Not every notice is an emergency, but many come with deadlines, appeal windows, or collection consequences. A CPA can help you understand what the notice actually requires before you respond, pay, or agree to anything, which is often the difference between a small fix and a bigger problem.
Can FiscalForge communicate with the IRS for me?
With proper written authorization, an authorized representative can communicate with the IRS on your behalf. We'll explain what authorization is needed for your matter during your consultation.
What should I do first after receiving an IRS letter?
Don't ignore it, and don't call the agency before you understand it. Note any deadline, keep the letter, and have it reviewed so you know exactly what's being asked before you respond.
Can you help with Arizona Department of Revenue notices?
Yes. We're based in Mesa and help Arizona taxpayers respond to ADOR matters. Arizona representation may require authorization such as Arizona Form 285, and Arizona appeals have specific written deadlines depending on the tax type and stage.
What happens during a tax representation consultation?
In about 45 minutes we review your notice, deadlines, and tax years, talk through the likely issue, and outline the options that may fit your facts, so you leave knowing what you're facing and what to do next.
Can you help if I have years of unfiled tax returns?
Yes. Unfiled returns keep the problem open and can block relief options. We help gather records, reconstruct income and deductions where possible, prepare the missing returns, and build a compliance plan before negotiating balances.
Can you stop a wage garnishment or bank levy?
We help you respond to levy and garnishment situations and evaluate options, but no firm can promise a specific outcome. Acting quickly, before or as soon as enforcement begins, generally gives you more room to work with.
What is an Offer in Compromise?
It's an IRS program that may let some taxpayers settle for less than the full amount owed when full payment isn't realistic. It's legitimate but limited, and it isn't a shortcut, eligibility depends on income, expenses, assets, equity, and compliance.
Do I qualify for an Offer in Compromise?
It depends on your facts. Generally, taxpayers who can pay in full through an installment agreement usually don't qualify. We evaluate your financial picture against IRS collection standards before recommending whether an offer is realistic.
What is an IRS installment agreement?
It's a payment plan with the IRS that lets you pay a balance over time. There are different types, and we help evaluate which may fit, prepare any required financial information, and work toward a payment you can maintain.
What is Currently Not Collectible status?
CNC status may temporarily delay collection when you can't pay basic living expenses and the tax debt at the same time. It does not erase the debt, and penalties and interest may continue to accrue while it's in place.
Can IRS penalties be removed?
Sometimes. Relief may be available through first-time abatement or reasonable cause, depending on your compliance history and documentation. We evaluate whether penalty relief should be part of your overall plan.
What is innocent spouse relief?
It may relieve you of responsibility for tax, interest, and penalties tied to a spouse or former spouse's income or errors on a joint return. Whether it applies depends heavily on your specific facts, and there are related options like separation of liability and equitable relief.
What is injured spouse relief?
It's different from innocent spouse relief. It may help allocate a joint refund when your share was applied to your spouse's separate past-due debt. We help evaluate whether it fits your situation.
Can payroll tax debt become personal?
It can. Withheld payroll taxes are trust-fund taxes, and the IRS may investigate responsible persons and assess a Trust Fund Recovery Penalty in some cases, which can reach individuals personally, not just the business.
What is the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty?
It's a penalty the IRS may assess against individuals deemed responsible for a business's unpaid trust-fund (withheld payroll) taxes. Because it can attach personally, payroll tax problems deserve prompt, careful attention.
How long does tax resolution take?
It depends on the issue. A single notice may resolve in weeks; an audit, Offer in Compromise, or multi-year cleanup can take several months. We give you a realistic timeline once we've reviewed your facts.
What documents should I bring?
Bring any IRS or Arizona notices, prior-year returns, income records (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s), payroll reports if relevant, and any levy, lien, or payment-plan documents. If you don't have everything, bring what you have, we'll help identify what's missing.
How much does representation cost?
It depends on the complexity of your matter, a single notice is very different from a multi-year payroll case. We'll be clear about scope and fees before you commit to anything.
Do you guarantee results?
No. No ethical firm can guarantee a specific outcome with the IRS or a state agency. What we can do is bring a licensed CPA's judgment, prepare your case properly, and advocate for the best realistic resolution given your facts.
Can you help with bookkeeping problems behind the tax issue?
Yes. Many notices trace back to messy books or missing records. We can clean up the bookkeeping behind the tax issue so your resolution is accurate and the problem is less likely to recur.
Can you help with audits for self-employed taxpayers?
Yes. Schedule C and self-employed audits often turn on substantiation, income matching, expenses, mileage, and logs. We help organize records and respond to the agency's requests.
What if I already called the IRS?
That's okay, bring your notes from the call. We'll review what was said, where things stand, and what the right next step is so you don't accidentally commit to something that doesn't fit your situation.
How do I book a consultation?
Book a 45-minute consultation online, call 480-331-7805, or email contact@fiscalforge.net. Bring the notice, the tax years, and any deadlines, and you'll leave knowing where you stand.
Get a CPA between you and the IRS
Get a CPA between you and the IRS.
Bring the notice, the tax years, the balance, or the questions. In 45 minutes, you'll understand what you're facing and what to do next.
Information on this page is general and not a substitute for personalized tax advice. Your options depend on your facts, filings, balances, deadlines, and agency correspondence. FiscalForge LLC does not guarantee any particular outcome, and eligibility for programs such as an Offer in Compromise, penalty relief, innocent spouse relief, or Currently Not Collectible status depends on your specific circumstances.
