IRS Collection For Business

Businesses typically file many different types of tax returns. The annual income tax return for a corporation is usually a Form 1120. Partnerships typically file Form 1065 tax returns. If you have employees, you are also required to file quarterly federal Form 941 or Form 944 and annual Form 940 tax returns. Further, if you sell anything at retail, you are also required to file sales tax returns with the Illinois Department of Revenue or other taxing authorities. The burden the government places upon businesses is tremendous and is often difficult to handle.

If a business is not as profitable as planned or there is a sudden downturn in business, the business sometimes stops making its federal and state tax deposits on a regular basis. The hope is that the business will soon turn around and that the business will “catch up” with its tax liability in the near future. Unfortunately, the IRS takes a dim view of businesses that fail to make their federal tax deposits in full and on time. The IRS takes the position that the employer is using the employees’ money to operate its business and will take swift and strong action if the problem is not immediately remedied. The IRS will not only take enforced collection action against the business, but the IRS may also individually pursue the owners, the officers and the shareholders of the business under the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty.