Internal Revenue Code authorizes the IRS, to accept less than full amount of tax liability owed in any IRS civil or criminal case arising under the tax laws prior to the case's referral to the Department of Justice. For an IRS Offer in Compromise to be accepted, the taxpayer must establish to the satisfaction of the IRS that the taxpayer either: has no means of paying the tax, or does not actually owe the tax.

The IRS has the power to collect back taxes by levying on taxpayers' property as a result of a Tax Lien. When a person owes back taxes, the IRS gains a federal tax lien on all that person's assets after meeting certain statutory requirements. The IRS tax lien attaches to all rights, title and interest of the taxpayer. Once the IRS has a tax lien on all of a taxpayer's assets, the IRS may enforce that tax lien by administratively levying his or her assets.

IRS wage garnishment stays in effect until the tax is fully paid or until the IRS agrees to release garnishment. IRS frequently uses garnishment to collect taxes owed through your employer. Once the IRS garnishment is filed, the employer is required to collect a percentage of each paycheck. Wage garnishment requires that a large percentage of taxpayer's wages be turned over directly to the IRS.

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