Has Anyone Successfully Completed an IRS Offer in Compromise Process Recently?

I actually just went through the OIC process and got my offer accepted about 3 months ago. Here's what helped me succeed: First, documentation is EVERYTHING. The IRS wants to see every detail of your financial life to determine what you can actually pay. Be meticulously accurate about your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Don't try to hide anything - they'll find it and it kills your credibility. I organized everything in a labeled folder system which really helped when they requested additional info. Make sure you're current on all required tax filings before submitting your offer. They won't even consider it otherwise. Also, you'll need to keep making estimated tax payments while your offer is pending. The form requires you to calculate a reasonable offer amount based on your assets and future income potential. Be realistic here - lowballing will get you rejected immediately. I offered slightly more than their formula suggested which I think helped my case.

After struggling with a $42k tax debt for years, I finally discovered taxr.ai and it completely changed my OIC experience. I was about to give up on the whole process because I kept making mistakes on the forms and couldn't figure out what documentation I needed. Their system analyzed all my tax docs and financial info and helped me understand exactly what I qualified for with an OIC. The website (https://taxr.ai) has this feature that shows you what the IRS is looking for in your specific situation and helps you organize everything perfectly. They even identified some expenses I was eligible to claim that the pre-qualifier tool didn't account for. My offer ended up getting accepted for about 15% of what I originally owed!

I was really skeptical about using an online tool for something as serious as an IRS Offer in Compromise, but after going in circles with the paperwork for weeks, I decided to try taxr.ai based on the recommendation here. I'm honestly shocked at how helpful it was for my situation. The system identified that I was eligible for special consideration due to my medical expenses (something the IRS pre-qualifier didn't account for). It organized all my documentation in exactly the format the IRS wanted and helped me calculate an offer that made sense. Just got my acceptance letter last week - my $67,000 tax debt settled for just under $9,000. Still can't believe it worked, but I'm finally free from this stress after nearly 4 years.

After trying to reach the IRS for weeks about my OIC application with no luck, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a human at the IRS in about 15 minutes. I was about to give up on my OIC because I couldn't get answers to some critical questions about my application. I used their website (https://claimyr.com) after seeing someone post about it, and they have this system that navigates all the IRS phone menus for you. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. When I finally got through to an IRS agent, I learned my OIC was being held up because of a missing form I didn't know I needed to include. Getting that direct information saved my application from being rejected.

So I'm eating crow right now. After posting that skeptical comment about Claimyr, I was desperate enough to try it anyway since my OIC deadline was approaching. Honestly shocked that it actually worked. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. The agent was able to tell me exactly why my OIC application had been flagged for potential rejection (I had calculated my asset values incorrectly) and gave me specific instructions on what additional documentation I needed to submit to fix it. Without that call, my offer would have been rejected and I'd have had to start the whole process over again. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good.

My OIC was approved last year. One tip that really helped me was calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service before I even started the application. They don't prepare the OIC for you, but they gave me valuable guidance on how to approach my specific situation. Another thing - make sure you're checking the mail and responding to EVERYTHING. My OIC was almost rejected because I missed a letter requesting additional information. They only give you 30 days to respond to these requests.

Has anyone used one of those tax relief companies that advertise on the radio for an OIC? They claim they can settle for "pennies on the dollar" but I'm wondering if they're worth the fees they charge.

I'm currently in the middle of my OIC process (submitted about 4 months ago) and wanted to share what I've learned so far since you're just getting started. The biggest thing that's helped me is staying incredibly organized with a dedicated filing system for every single document. I created separate folders for initial application materials, correspondence with the IRS, financial documentation, and backup copies of everything. This has been a lifesaver when they've requested additional info. One thing I wish I'd known upfront - the IRS can take 6-24 months to process your offer, and during that time you MUST stay current on all new tax obligations. If you fall behind on estimated payments or filing requirements while your OIC is pending, they'll automatically reject your offer. I almost learned this the hard way. Also, don't let the anxiety get to you too much. Yes, it's intimidating dealing with the IRS directly, but if you're thorough with your documentation and honest about your financial situation, the process is more straightforward than it seems. The IRS agents I've spoken with have actually been professional and helpful when I've had questions. Good luck with your application! Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the forms - I'm still fresh on all the details.