I thought this was interesting. In the past few years they have been very aggressive about their collections. Now they are adopting a softer stance. I suppose something is better than nothing when you have a 1 trillion dollar deficit.

I have to wonder though if they are doing it for PR reasons because they know there is a huge ground-swell of people who just don't want to subsidize the bail-outs.


sacstarts.com...

Among the measures announced Tuesday:

•IRS employees now have "greater authority to suspend collection actions in cases where taxpayers simply cannot pay," said Shulman.

Taxpayers may be allowed to skip a payment or obtain a reduced monthly payment, without automatically suspending their current installment agreement for paying back taxes. Previously, if a payment was missed or late, those agreements would be voided, with the full amount due.

Given the steep drop in home values, the IRS has set up a unit to handle cases where a home's value has stymied efforts to reach an "offer in compromise." A so-called OIC agreement allows a taxpayer to settle a tax debt for less than what's owed.

"Anytime home equity is a roadblock to an OIC, we're going to take a second look," Shulman said.

Also, taxpayers who are already in an OIC but cannot make their payments for hardship reasons will be offered options to avoid default.

•Taxpayers whose wages or bank accounts are being garnished for delinquent back taxes can request a hardship release. The IRS says it will work with taxpayers to speed up so-called "levy releases."

In all cases, Shulman urged taxpayers to call the phone number listed on their IRS correspondence or the toll-free IRS number: (800) 829-1040.