Jeffrey Schneider, EA, CTRS, NTPI Fellow Mastermind Member Spotlight
When it comes to tax resolution, there’s always something to learn. Just ask Jeff Schneider, one of the true experts in the industry. Jeff shares one of the things he’s learned from Michael: “A strategy fromMichael’s program that we found successful is his threatening letters: ‘You have 10 days to give us the information, or else we’re closing the case and the fee is nonrefundable.’ I get calls from that all the time.” Jeff has focused his entire career on tax. Going back to the late 1970s, he worked for Fortune 500 companies, handling corporate audits for everything ranging from federal and state income tax to sales tax. He became an enrolled agent in 2005 so he could do collections and appeals for private clients before the IRS. When asked what motivated him to add tax resolution to his practice, Jeff’s answer is simple: money. “It’s a lot more money,” he says. “You do a lot of work, but you feel like you’re helping the client and you make a heck of a lot more per hour.” challenges Jeff faced when he started doing IRS representation for individual clients in South Florida. “Getting people in South Florida to think I’mworth the money was a challenge,” Jeff says. “When you want to charge them $8,000 for the transcript analysis, the levy release, and the offer in compromise, and they owe $150,000, they say, ‘Oh, what do you mean you’re going to charge me $8,000?’ And so sometimes I ask them, ‘What do you think it should be?’They respond with, ‘Oh, I don’t think more than $2,500.’ I say, ‘Okay. H&R Block is at this address.’” Jeff says he has been successful with these types of clients when he uses that comparison. “When you point out the reality of the situation and throw the fear in and show them the levy notices, but even then the client might think, ‘Oh the IRS will help me. Customer service will help me.’ I explain that the IRS’s customer is not you, it’s the U.S. government,” Jeff says. “Now they think I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread.” It’s no surprise that Jeff’s clients think so highly of him. His recent success stories include settling a pre- and post-marital income tax debt of $178,000 for $13,000 and a self-employment tax debt of $78,000 for $278. Charging fixed fees, like Michael recommends, based on the value the client is getting was also one of the biggest
Jeff owns and operates SFS Tax & Accounting Services based in Stuart, Florida. His wife of almost 19 years, Ali, is the director of business development and has been with the practice almost since the beginning, and their daughter, Marissa, recently joined as the office manager. When he isn’t working or pursuing hobbies
that include sports, music, and reading, Jeff writes books — two of them, so far, with a third not far behind. “NowWhat? I Got a Tax Notice From the IRS. Help!” and“NowWhat? The IRS Is Taking Everything I Own. Help!” are available on Amazon, and Jeff has outlined his third book in the series and hopes to have it out in May. In addition to writing books on tax representation, Jeff teaches webinars for Clear Law Institute, ASTPS, NAEA, FSCA and various state associations, and he was an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College for six years. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the College of Staten Island after attending Baruch College, both part of the City University of NewYork, and he holds a master’s degree from Long Island University. He operates SFS Tax Problem Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SFS Tax & Accounting Services, Inc. Recognizing his accomplishments in tax resolution work and teaching, Jeff has won Mentor of the Year and Educator of the Year from FSCA, National Educator of the Year from NAEA, and Tax Professional of the Year from ASTPS.
4 • www.rozstrategies.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online