Check out our November/December newsletter!
Why Aren’t You Giving Your Clients Hope?
The Roz Report
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
888.670.0303 WWW.ROZSTRATEGIES.COM
As seen on...
The Doorway to Success Is Calling!
And We Can Help You Walk Through It
A few months ago, Roslyn and I hosted our sixth annual Tax Resolution Success Summit Virtual Conference. It was an amazing event! A whopping 700 people attended live, and we flew in speakers from all over the country to the studio in South Carolina. Our event company, Sage, did such a great job that I almost felt like the attendees were in the room with us! One of my favorite moments of the conference was the Inspiration Panel that featured six of my Mastermind members. They all shared their stories of taking their practice to the next level, and some shared how they transitioned from doing tax prep work to adding lucrative tax resolution services to their firms. Listening to them, I realized that three of the six had entered our program right after last year’s conference. Just twelve months ago, they were afraid to expand their practices, and now they were inspiring the next generation! Listening to those members speak about the people and businesses they help with IRS problems made me incredibly proud. It also reminded me that the biggest ingredient of success isn’t ability — it’s mindset! Those three members could have started growing their businesses like crazy years ago. But until the 2020 Tax
Michael talking to Phil Hebner and picking on an attendee to answer a question
Resolution Success Summit Virtual Conference, the fear of the unknown was holding them back. I like to think of tax preparation and tax resolution work as two doors sitting side by side. One is familiar — it’s the door you’ve been hanging onto for 10, 20, or 30 years. The other is new and scary, but it has incredible potential for growth. Those who spoke on the Inspiration Panel had a problem in the past: They were holding on to the first door so
tightly because they were afraid to let go and walk through the other door — a door to what they wanted to do. Even though they knew that their tax preparation clients would leave them at any moment if someone down the street charged $25 less, they were still afraid to let those clients go. Tax prep was their bread and butter — it was all that they knew. And even though resolution work could create a lot of wealth for them and their families,
Continued on Page 6 ...
888.670.0303 • 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
A Risk Worth Taking FOOD FOR THOUGHT (BY ROSLYN ROZBRUCH)
Years ago, I read an article in the newspaper about a couple who moved out of California for fear of dying in an earthquake, then they were killed in a tornado in the state they moved to. Everything in life is a risk. No matter how careful you want to be, or how much you try to avoid bad things happening, there’s a risk in every decision you make. Even sitting in your home isn’t going to keep you 100% safe because let’s face it, a home intruder, or, in the case of that couple who moved, a natural disaster can get you too. When it comes to risk, we all have different comfort levels of what we’re willing to accept. Sometimes it isn’t even how chancy something is — it’s more like how risky is the action I want to take feel to me? To be more specific, traveling for many has become riskier now than before the pandemic. Some people are afraid to travel for fear of getting COVID-19. Or maybe they’re okay to drive somewhere but not fly. For me, I don’t mind getting on an airplane, but I’m not ready to book a cruise just yet. This past September, I decided to visit my Uncle Norman in Hawaii. Michael, our daughter Erica, and her husband Ramsey joined me on the adventure. My uncle moved to Oahu over 20 years ago, and I like to visit him every couple of years. September 2020 was the year to do it. I booked the flights and rooms, and in the end, I had to cancel it all. It wasn’t so much that I was afraid to travel as it was that I didn’t want to pass on any cooties and be the family member to get Uncle Norman sick! Besides, it was moot, as Hawaii was pretty much shut down — even the hotels were closed for business. So, I waited.
Then vaccines came, people started getting them, the numbers of COVID-19 dropped, hotels opened, and I booked my trip to trip to Oahu once again to visit right after our Tax Resolution Success Summit in September 2021. But COVID-19 numbers started spiking in Hawaii, so the governor went on TV and said not to travel there. Uncle Norman called to say his friend’s family that came in for a funeral had their flight canceled, and it took them almost a week to get off the island. People started texting me, “Hawaii is shut down, what are you going to do?” I knew that wasn’t true because there’s an app you have to download with all the rules listed to visit any of the islands. It’s very specific. After the governor spoke, my app did not flash and say, “Sorry, stay home.” I understood the governor’s, my friends, and my uncle’s concerns, but I also decided we were still going because visiting my uncle was a risk worth taking. All four of us have been to Hawaii many times, and we weren’t planning on doing anything touristy other than spend a lot of time on the beach and go out to dinner with Uncle Norman. We all felt we could travel there and stay safe. Besides, if I was going to visit, it was going to be while my uncle was alive. Not that there’s anything wrong with his health — he’s like a combination of how Dick Clark was, never aging, and how Alan Arkin is, fit and funny (although Arkin is a little older than my uncle). The risk I didn’t want to take was that maybe a tsunami might wash him away, like the tornado did to that couple. And guess what? We had a great time, and it was nice to spend time with Uncle Norman.
Ramsey, Roslyn, Michael, Uncle Norman, and Erica at Royal Hawaiian Resort, Waikiki
So, here’s my thought for you. When it comes to making a decision and it’s something you want to do, but seems too risky in the moment, reassess it and see if you can do it another time. In my case, I knew it wasn’t a good idea to fly to Hawaii in 2020, but a year later, I felt better prepared and that it was worth taking a chance to go, even though others were skeptical. Sometimes the risk you don’t want to take now might be fine to do later. Sometimes it isn’t even how chancy something is — it’s more like how risky is the action I want to take feel to me?
Timing is everything, don’t be so quick to let your dreams go, whatever they are.
–Roslyn Rozbruch
2 • www.rozstrategies.com
888.670.0303 • 3
PRACTICE CORNER FROM THE
Using a CDP (Collection Due Process) Hearing Request to STOP Enforced Collection
IRS PROBLEM Let’s say you’ve just been retained by a new tax resolution client, and they just received a Final Notice of Intent to Levy via an L1011 letter, 1058 notice, or CP 90. This notice comes by certified mail to your client. What do you do to prevent the IRS from garnishing their wages and/or levying their bank accounts? Let’s also say that the CSED (Collection Statute Expiration Date) is about to expire in 24 months. SOLUTION If the account is with ACS (Automated Collection System), wait until the 31st day from the date of the Final Notice and submit an Equivalent Hearing (EH) by checking that box on form 12153 (CDP). By submitting an EH CDP, ACS will transfer the entire account (not just the periods listed on the Final Notice) and send these to appeals. That means that ACS will more than likely halt collections (although it’s not mandated), and it doesn’t stop the CSED from running. This gives you plenty of time to come up with your permanent resolution strategy, which may include a partial pay installment agreement (PPIA), currently not collectible status (CNC), or an offer in compromise (OIC), all while the CSED clock is ticking down! If the CSED(s) don’t expire for three or more years, timely file the CDP (within 30 days of the final notice date) with ACS. Collection will be halted by law, but CSED clock will stop, which is irrelevant when there is still a lot of time remaining before expiration and you get to preserve your client’s tax
court rights if you get an unfavorable determination in appeals. In both instances, you’ll have 4–6 months before the CDP hearing date. That doesn’t mean you must wait 4–6 months to resolve the case. If you’re doing an OIC, for example, and you’re ready to submit your 433A and 656 package, merely withdraw the CDP via form 12156 and submit an OIC to the centralized offer unit. If the case is with an RO (revenue officer), you’re a bit more limited to what you can do, especially if you’re beyond the 30 days from the Final Notice date. However, if you have a good working relationship with the RO, you and he/she may be able to come to a resolution without having to file a CDP. However, if you have an unreasonable RO, file a timely CDP. This will get the case out of his/her inventory and sent to appeals, thereby halting ALL enforced collection and deal with the case at the CDP hearing.
Here’s the bottom line: Don’t automatically file a CDP or an EH just because you’ve received an L1011 or 1058 or CP90. CSEDs rule! Based on the expiration of the CSED and where the case is (ACS vs. RO) will determine your strategy. Remember, we play chess while the IRS plays checkers! Another option is to file a CAP (Collection Appeal Protest) via form 9423 if a levy or lien is imminent or already has been filed. This also gets the case out of collections, albeit for a much shorter time, and sent to appeals for a determination. Generally, you file a CAP when there’s a rejection of an installment agreement, termination of a “pending” status of an installment agreement, federal tax lien filed (in cases where taxpayer has securities license or security clearance), or a levy filed.
–Michael Rozbruch
888.670.0303 • 3
Ben Golden, EA Platinum Mastermind Member Spotlight
Two years ago, owner Ben Golden’s practice, Golden Tax Relief LLC, was bringing in about $12,000 a month from tax resolution clients. Fast forward, Ben now employs 19 teammembers in seven states, and the company’s monthly gross is nearly $200,000. Ben shares his secret weapon and says, “Anywhere you look inside my company, you’ll see derivatives of Michael Rozbruch’s system. The way I run my business is primarily based off of the Tax Resolution Domination System and Toolkit (TRDST).” If that weren’t endorsement enough, Ben is quick to add that he purchased the TRDST and studied it before opening his tax resolution business five years ago. Growing up on a farm in Thomasville, Alabama, Ben learned the value of hard work and perseverance. After high school, he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Along the way, he married Amanda, who was in the Air Force, and her posting took them to San Francisco. While there, he earned a master’s degree in taxation and went to work for a regional accounting firm. Wanting to spend more time with his parents, Ben returned to Thomasville and purchased an accounting firm there. He purchased a second accounting firm in Florida, where he lived for 10 years. He eventually sold the Florida firm and closed the Alabama company so he could help his dad with his railroad construction company. Ben bought his father’s company, but accounting called him back. “I wanted to go back into the accounting world, but I didn’t want to do tax return preparation,” Ben explains. “That’s when I found Michael’s program.”
Tax resolution struck a chord for Ben because he experienced how relentless the IRS can be. “After I purchased my first accounting firm, one of my clients got into trouble, and he owed the IRS $171,000,” Ben recalls. “The IRS agent said, ‘Ben, you’re going to have to pay your client’s debt.’ She went on to tell me exactly how much money I had in my bank accounts, what my house was worth, how much was left on the mortgage, and how many vehicles I owned and their value. Then she said, ‘If you sold everything, you could pay the $171,000.’” agent made a mistake. “I called the IRS agent and said, ‘I need your manager’s number.’Then I called the manager’s number and said, ‘I need to talk to the territory manager.’The revenue officer had acted improperly,”Ben explains. “She stole my identity and researched me when she didn’t have the authority to do it. She was given 30 days off Ben spent a sleepless night going over the case and figured out the without pay, and she was told she could never work another one of my cases.” Ben also had his tax identity stolen when someone filed a fakeW-2 and tried to get a refund of $90,000. “It took me several years to fix that tax problem,” Ben says, “And I’m an expert! How is a layperson going to be able to do it?” Living in a small town, Ben knew he would need to run his practice and hire employees remotely. “Thomasville is very rural, so my ideal client is not around me,”Ben says. “I had to come up with a different approach, and I learned through Michael’s program that 85% of CPAs and enrolled agents do not want to deal with the IRS. So, I built my company on referrals from other CPAs.”
One such referral led Ben to a case where the state of Florida audited a company and said it owed $278,000 in sales tax. The client signed the audit, the state levied $50,000, and the taxpayer signed an agreement to pay $1,000 a month. Ben’s referral partner thought the client didn’t owe the sales tax but didn’t know how to help him, so Ben stepped in. “I pushed what I call the nuclear button,” Ben says. “I wrote a very specific letter to the CFO of the state of Florida. Long story short, the CFO contacted the State Department of Revenue and required the auditor to reopen the case. With our help, the $278,000 vanished, and the client was refunded the $50,000 that had been levied.” Ben enjoys spending his free time with Amanda, their children — Daniel (18) and Kaylie (16) — and their menagerie of pets: a cat, a bearded dragon lizard, and two miniature schnauzers. The Goldens also enjoy church activities, and Ben is a target shooting enthusiast. “God, guns, and country,” he says with a laugh.
4 • www.rozstrategies.com
A BIG shout out to the over 700 of you who attended our 6th Annual Tax Resolution Success Summit Virtual this past August! Once again, we went all-in, as the event was totally interactive and done “Zoom-Zilla” style. Michael and his speakers could see all the attendees at the same time, interact, and bring them“on stage” to ask their questions. Practitioners were able to connect with others in the virtual break-out rooms, where attendees did exercises and shared their breakthroughs. And last but not least , we shipped all attendees an event box filled with great swag and the 225-page Playbook!
Left: Michael withDr. Patty Ann Tublin Right: Hugo Fernandez and Isaac Park of Just Digital
We had your favorite speakers teaching new info, like Parham Khorsandi, Esq., and Hugo Fernandez of Just Digital. We also had new speakers, like relationship and money expert Dr. Patty Ann Tublin, who has helped hundreds of business partners and spouses improve their relationship around money. Thank you to all who attended! It was an amazing experience!
Left: Michael and Roslyn in the “Green Room” with Isaac photobombing in background Center: Michael with ParhamKhorsandi answering a question fromDeltrease Hart-Anderson Right: Michael, Brennan, andDaveDee getting ready to go on stage
STRATEGIZE * IMPLEMENT * MULTIPLY
888.670.0303 • 5
S H O U T Congrats to Louise Hartford of Eagle Tax Resolution (Joe Aguilar) , who negotiated with the IRS to have $506,764.20 in penalties waived and received a 20% success fee from the client! Now that’s what we’re talking about! Amazing! High-five to Stacey MyCue for getting her first two OICs accepted! One client owed $20,000 and she settled with the IRS for ONLY $114, and the other client owed $55,000 and she settled with the IRS for just $686! Good for you, R.C. Thornton, for charging what you deserve and getting retained and receiving a $15,000 fee! Kudos to Patrick Noone , whose client received an IRS correspondence audit wanting an additional $11,085 and getting the tax debt reduced to $657. Kudos to Sharon Lewis who took Michael’s mantra, “The money is in the follow-up” to heart and got retained by the client after they received the third mailing! Keep mailing those letters out! Way to go, Alan Barber, for having your client’s 2008 and 2009 IRS balances of $15,000 dropping off due to the passing of the CSED! Congratulations to Marc Boulanger and Christianie Carty for getting their first clients since joining Founder’s Mastermind!
... continued from Cover
and help them retire comfortably, they were afraid to go after what they wanted to do because it was new to them and risky. I understand that fear. I’ve been there. For a long time, I was afraid to let go of my tax resolution business and start Roz Strategies, even though I knew helping other tax professionals was something I really wanted to do. I felt like I had an albatross hanging around my neck. I knew there was something better through the next door, but I couldn’t bring myself to take my hand off the first one. Like my mastermind members, I needed a mindset switch! Roslyn’s encouragement helped me let go of my fear. It was Roslyn who said, “You literally cannot walk through a doorway into the next room if you don’t let go of the doorknob you’re hanging onto.” Now, my team and I are helping other tax professionals reach their goals and dreams with the Roz team’s guidance and resources, like our Tax Resolution Domination System & Toolkit and the unlimited technical case support provided through our membership. It was amazing to hear how our members let go of their fear and achieve the success they always wanted. It’s never too late for you to follow your dreams, whatever they are. But if you want to add to or take your tax resolution to the next level, and you’re ready to let go of that old door, we’re here to help you walk through the new one with you.
–Michael Rozbruch
High-five to Dawn Plagianes , who signed her
6 • www.rozstrategies.com
O U T S ! second client and passed the $10,000 in fees mark since joining Founder’s Mastermind. Way to go, Frances Tomes , on following the Roz Man’s script and closing 3 out of 3 clients! Congrats to Jesus Abikarram and Antonio Nava for speaking at the Hispanic Tax Alliance Conference in Orlando, the largest event for Hispanic tax professionals in Central Florida. Good for you, Andrew Glace, Michael Myers, and Dennis Siegfried for sending out your referral letters and brochures. Remember, as Sharon Lewis discovered, the money is in the follow-up, so keep mailing them out!
Do you have a story or picture to share with us about something you’ve implemented, a client you’ve helped with a tax problem, or anything else you’d like to share? If you do, email it to Info@RozStrategies.com, and we will give a Shout Out to you!
888.670.0303 • 7
W
888.670.0303 WWW.ROZSTRATEGIES.COM
PRSRT FIRST-CLASS MAIL US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
®
11271 Ventura Blvd. #612 Studio City, CA 91604 Inside This Issue pg 1 ∙
How to Let Go of Your Fear and Walk Toward Success
A Risk Worth Taking
pg 2 ∙
Using a CPD Hearing to Stop Enforced Collection Member Spotlight: Small Town Practice Doing Big Business
pg 3 ∙
pg 4 ∙
Tax Resolution Success Summit Recap
pg 5 ∙
Shout Outs!
pg 6 ∙
Big Tax Debt of a Real Housewife
pg 8 ∙
IRS Terror Tale of the Month Tax Debt Brings a ‘Real Housewives’ Star Back to Reality
Most people who watch“The Real Housewives” reality TV series flip it on to get a glimpse of how the other half lives. The show follows wealthy women enjoying lives of luxury: shopping, dancing, dining out, and spending thousands on plastic surgery. It’s a lifestyle that looks a lot like a dream—but this summer, things got a little too real for Orange County housewife Noella Bergener. The IRS and state of California came after her husband for more than $5.8 million in back taxes. Noella’s husband, James Bergener, is a personal injury attorney who owns the firm called Sweet James in Newport Beach, California. Sweet James billboards, radio andTV ads are posted everywhere in California.
County” star was “shocked and disgusted” to learn the truth about her husband James’massive tax debt. In a dramatic twist worthy of TV, a third party apparently spilled the news to her just a week before “Real Housewives” started filming. “My marriage has been a fight every day since. I am being very open about my journey and looking at every option to settle my husband’s debts,” she wrote in a comment. Radar Online reports that a federal tax lien was filed against James Bergener on July 3, 2021. It accused him of owing more than $1.8 million in unpaid 2018 taxes and more than $2.1 million in unpaid 2019 taxes. Four days later, the state of California upped the stakes,
adding on its own lien for over $1.8 million in state taxes covering the same two years. As far as we can tell, James Bergener has yet to pay his debts or strike a deal with the IRS. It looks like the truth is out: No matter how rich you are, how much Botox you get, or how many people watch your life on TV, you still can’t escape the IRS!
According to a report shared by Reality Blurb, “The Real Housewives of Orange
8 • www.rozstrategies.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator