JK Harris Helps California Resident Overcome Tax Problems

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – When Linda Lawrence saw an advertisement in her local paper that JK Harris might be able to help with her tax debt, she crossed her fingers and prayed hard that the nation’s largest tax resolution firm could provide her the relief she needed.

The Central California resident not only owed $900,000 to the IRS, but she also owed more than $100,000 to the California Franchise Tax Board. After meeting with a JK Harris Consultant, she put her trust in the South Carolina-based company to solve her tax problems.

Two years later, she got the news she was hoping for. The IRS had accepted her offer of $4,745, wiping out a debt of $912,000. All that remained, she thought, was the $111,877 she owed to the California FTB.

While JK Harris was working on the state debt, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer and given one year to live. She had hit rock bottom. Little did she know, however, things were going to take an unbelievable turn.

The first thing that happened was she was put on permanent disability by the Social Security Administration. Then JK Harris provided the necessary information to the state of California and her tax debt was wiped off the books. Then the best news of all was quite staggering.

"I’ve been undergoing chemotherapy for three years, and my doctors are calling me their ‘miracle’," Ms. Lawrence said. "The last scan I had was negative, which means that I’m doing real well."

Ms. Lawrence said it helped to know that she could devote her time to fighting for her life while JK Harris was battling her tax debts.

"JK Harris has been a blessing to me. I didn’t have the strength to deal with the IRS and state," she said. "They kept me well informed of progress being made and my Offer in Compromise gave me the relief in my mind to fight my health issues."

When the case specialist handling Ms. Lawrence’s file found out about the seriousness of her health issues, many JK Harris employees called to see if they could help in any way.

"A lot of JK Harris employees called to check up on me and see how I was doing," Ms. Lawrence said. "I couldn’t believe that they would take time out just to check up on me. My doctors think that because I didn’t have the stress of the tax issues hanging over me, it helped put me in the right frame of mind to battle the cancer."

Although Ms. Lawrence will be watched closely by her doctors for a long time to come, she is excited about her future. She has the support of friends and family members, who help her through tough times, and she has also found someone special to share her life as well.

"I can’t thank JK Harris enough," she said. "They handled everything patiently and professionally, and at the same time, I always knew that they cared about me."

Offer In Compromise
The IRS will accept an Offer in Compromise (OIC) when it is unlikely that the tax liability can be collected in full and the amount offered reasonably reflects collection potential. The ultimate goal is a compromise that is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the IRS. Acceptance of an adequate offer will also result in creating, for the taxpayer, an expectation of a fresh start toward complying with all future filing and payment requirements.

The OIC process is based on a debt-to-asset formula devised by the IRS.

The Process
The OIC process is complex and time-consuming and can take up to 24 months to resolve. JK Harris relies on the client to provide detailed financial information required by the IRS. The IRS will not consider an OIC if the client-submitted documents are more than three months old. In addition, the client must be in compliance (all taxes must be filed and quarterly estimated payments, if applicable, have to be current).

JK Harris & Company, LLC, based in North Charleston, S.C., is the nation’s largest tax resolution company with over 470 satellite offices in 45 states. It was founded in 1997 by John K. Harris and has served over 130,000 clients. JK Harris also provides services for consumer and commercial debt, student loan debt, investment fraud, financial planning, mortgage services, tax return preparation, and assisting individuals who require support for an IRS audit.



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