Home |IRS Tax Return | What steps should I take to rectify the situation where my father placed a business in my name in 2015, and I have accumulated over $80,000 in IRS debt that I did not generate, and I have never received a federal tax refund since graduating high school and entering the workforce?

What steps should I take to rectify the situation where my father placed a business in my name in 2015, and I have accumulated over $80,000 in IRS debt that I did not generate, and I have never received a federal tax refund since graduating high school and entering the workforce?

Robert James, 20+ years of experience in IRS matters
Answered on September 15,2023

You should probably get a lawyer to help you with this business being in your name thing. I don't know what your father had you sign, but you don't need to call the cops for that.

That's probably not enough to eliminate the issue with the IRS, and I'm not sure what to suggest. You should consult with a resolution specialist - there are many directories like these:

American Society of Tax Problem Solvers

This sounds like a combo legal and tax problem. It's not going to be easy if you don't want the cops involved.

One thing you can do right now is lower your paycheck withholding. If you don't get a tax refund, IRS can't grab it. This can be difficult if you have children, but try to get your refund amount to zero or even to where you owe a little bit, like $100.

You can use the Tax Withholding Estimator for this. Just make sure you check it again after the new year so you don't owe a lot on your next tax return:

Tax Withholding Estimator

Depending on what else is going on IRS may start garnishing your wages or seizing money in your bank account. That's because they assume the tax owed is correct unless you contest it.

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