Check out our June newsletter!
JUNE 2026 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 6
TOPH’S TAX RESOLUTION TIMES
513-513-8674 513TAX.COM
Full Heart, Fast Turns BEING A DAD IS NEVER A SMOOTH RIDE
I’ve been a dad for more than a decade now, and it has been an amazing journey. As a noted author once wrote, fatherhood has a way of holding up a mirror you can’t look away from. It changes you. As Father’s Day draws near, I’m struck by how I’ve had to stretch myself, change, and grow to keep up with our six kids. I am constantly facing new challenges, learning as I go, and trying to get better at being a parent. Spring has always been our busiest season as a family, and I’m extending myself more than ever this year. Mac, 11, Rex, 9, and Tess, 5, are all playing baseball. I’m head coach for Mac’s team and assistant coach for Rex’s. Tess and Rex are both running track. Rex is also playing soccer. And Roz, who is 8, is taking piano lessons, and she wants me to give her golf lessons, too.
I’m told the way I interact with Barbie is not quite right.
Stretching my attention to everyone is a challenge when I’m coaching two teams and running a growing business. Our youngest kids, Kip, 4, and Nelle, 1, are often in bed by the time I get home. Of course, feeling overextended is not unique to Ashley and me. It’s societal. Most of our friends with 2–3 kids are stressed, too. In her column this month on Page 3, Ashley shares her thoughts on a simpler mode of parenting. But for now, I’m paring down my schedule to make it all work: I’m setting aside my dream of playing in the U.S. Open. As readers of this newsletter know, I’m a former golf pro, and this is only the second time in 20-plus years that I won’t be competing in the regional qualifying round. I still believe I have what it takes to qualify. But this won’t be my year. Meanwhile, the rewards of fatherhood continue to surprise me. When I began coaching Rex’s third-grade basketball team last fall, my expectations were modest: to teach the basics to the rookies on the roster. Coaching that team to the championship among 110 teams in our region is a memory I will never forget. Being a dad can be humbling, too. Our daughter Roz has bravely undergone repeated surgeries to correct a rare congenital condition that prevented her skull and scalp from developing fully at birth. Fortunately, Roz’s development is normal in
every other way, and the effects are being corrected. But seeing Roz’s strength in the face of pain has been inspiring. Our whole family has closed ranks around her, giving her love and encouragement. That closeness we share as a family is something we cherish. When we aren’t rushing around, there are moments when we just enjoy each other. All eight of us had a great time together during a recent family vacation. While our kids have their moments when they’re breaking down or fighting, they all get along really well. And during family dinners together when we’re all engaged with each other and appreciating what we have … it makes it all worth it. Looking back on my first decade as a dad, I have to conclude: We’re just very lucky. As you recognize Father’s Day in your own family, I hope you’re able to savor some warm memories of your own.
As Father’s Day draws near, I’m struck by how I’ve had to stretch myself, change, and grow to keep up with our six kids.
Being present in the lives of my kids is very important to me. If I missed spending time with them at these ages, I would regret it forever. But some activities, like hitting baseballs at the park with my sons, come more easily to me than others. If Roz and Tess invite me to play Barbies, for example,
–Toph Sheldon
DON’T LIVE IN FEAR - TOPH IS HERE!
513TAX.COM • 1
THE FUTURE IS FRESHLY CUT Robot Lawn Mowers Are Changing Yard Work Forever Have you ever wished your lawn would just mow itself? It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but robot lawn mowers are quickly making one of the most tedious household chores as easy as pushing a button. These smart machines quietly cruise around your yard, handling the trimming while you sit back and relax. With an automower tending to your outdoor space, lawn care is finally getting a little more hands-off and a lot more futuristic. Tech Behind the Trim Robot mowers aren’t new, but they’ve evolved significantly since they first hit the market in the early 1990s. Today, these revolutionary machines are powered by advanced features, such as GPS navigation, built-in Wi-Fi, AI, and intricate obstacle-detection sensors. They are completely self-guided, using boundary wires and sensors to navigate your yard. Some models even have internal cameras to help them get around.
One of the many things I’ve learned in more than 10 years of negotiating with the IRS is this: The only thing that’s certain is uncertainty. BIG RIG, GIANT BREAK: A TRUCK DRIVER’S SURPRISING DEAL Toph’s Tax Triumphs
You just never know how cases will turn out.
When a client came to me about a year ago for help with a $120,000 IRS debt, I wasn’t optimistic about reaching a settlement. As a self- employed truck driver, this client was living paycheck to paycheck. He had filed tax returns every year since 2016, but hadn’t paid any of the taxes he owed. The obstacle to a settlement, however, was that my client had about $100,000 in equity in his home. The IRS is typically reluctant to settle a debt at a big discount when the taxpayer has valuable assets. I understand the agency’s rationale: What’s to stop the taxpayer from turning around, selling the asset, and walking away with a pile of cash, leaving the agency holding the bag? However, we decided to move ahead anyway with an offer in compromise. Even if the IRS rejected it, I believed we would still have a strong chance of negotiating a manageable payment plan that would allow my client to put the problem behind him. We opened the negotiations with a lowball offer of $500. Based on my past experience, I not only doubted that the IRS would accept, but I also doubted the agency would put any counteroffer on the table. I thought we might have to file an appeal to get even that far. And if the IRS did make a counteroffer, I expected them to demand at least $20,000–$50,000.
Effortless Edges Ahead These backyard bots can save you a lot of time and energy with yard work. They run on a schedule,
so you don’t have to worry about making time on your calendar for this chore. If you use smart home devices like Alexa, you can sync up your robotic mower for even easier use. The machine knows just the right height to cut your grass, ensuring it always looks its best without any
guesswork. Robot mowers are also a green technology, making them more environmentally friendly than most gas-powered traditional varieties. With small blades,
bumpers, and automatic shut-off features, robo lawn care is safe, eliminating the risk of hitting rocks or other obstacles.
Built for Your Backyard If you’re ready to leap into the future of lawn care, start your search by getting a solid understanding of your yard’s layout. Some models can spruce up small spaces, while others can cover a lot of ground. If your yard has a slope or uneven ground, you should look for options with traction control or all-wheel drive. Many automowers recharge themselves and will last up to 10 years with proper maintenance. With robotic lawn mowers, your grass will always stay neat without your weekend plans getting cut short. You never know … thanks to these smart devices, yard work may start to grow on you!
But in love, war, and negotiations with the IRS, you never know. You just never know.
To my surprise, the IRS accepted our offer! My client was allowed to keep his house, free and clear. And he had to pay the IRS less than 1% of his $120,000 debt. Our case must have been assigned to the right person at the right time to accept a grand compromise … and so be it. You might say we worked a miracle.
Not surprisingly, my client shed a few tears of joy when he got the news, and quickly posted a five-star review for our firm. This was one to celebrate!
–Toph Sheldon
2 • 513-513-8674
Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
ASHLEY’S CORNER Leaning Toward a Simpler Style of Parenting
We came home from a family vacation a while ago to an unusual twist in our schedule: a few days off with no school, no sports, and no activities planned. Out of habit, my thoughts shifted into Cruise Ship Director mode: The kids are going to be bored! We should be planning trips to the zoo or the trampoline park! But our kids had a surprise for me: We just stayed home, and they entertained themselves! They played outside. They made up games. They fought Nerf battles. They built a model train town in the basement, including a fort and a zoo for their stuffed animals. They spent hours in imaginary play with simple toys. They even decided as a group to clean their rooms!
As Toph describes in his Cover article this month, we have been really
busy all spring, and many of our past summers have been heavily scheduled too, with multiple kids in multiple camps. That led to choppy days, broken up by multiple camp drop-offs and pick-ups. The kids complained that they had too little time for playing with friends or spontaneous trips to our community pool.
This year, I sat out the usual race to sign the kids up for multiple camps as soon as registration opened. Instead, I am leaning into a more minimalist schedule with a more relaxed daily rhythm. I’m sure there will be challenges. I’ll have to silence my inner Cruise Ship Director and just let the kids play. I may live to regret it when they come to me complaining, “What are we doing today? I’m bored!” But for now, a simpler approach to summer feels like just what my six-kid circus needs. Hopefully, my plan will provide what they want, too: More time with friends, more time at the community pool, and more time to go wherever their imaginations take them.
Their happiness underscored the theme of a book I’m reading, “Simplicity Parenting” by Kim John Payne. The author says today’s kids have too many
complicated toys, too many activities, too many choices, and too little unscheduled time. He recommends replacing back- to-back activities with a more laid-back daily rhythm, so kids can connect naturally with others.
That makes sense to me. My kids are entertained by their imaginations. They can have fun playing with
rocks and sticks. That’s the kind of thing “simplicity parenting” is supposed to encourage.
Take a Break
BLT CHOPPED SALAD
Ingredients
Salad • 8 slices thick-cut bacon (about 9 oz) • 1/2 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil) • Hot water • 8 cups chopped kale, stems removed • 1/4 tsp kosher salt • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 1/2 cup sweet corn
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese • 1/4 cup finely chopped green or red onion Dressing • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Directions
1. Bake bacon at 400 F until crisp, then pat dry, cool, and chop. 2. Submerge sun-dried tomatoes in very hot water for a few minutes, then drain and pat dry. 3. Place kale in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt, and massage until darker and tender (about 2 minutes). 4. Add sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, corn, bacon, feta, and onion. 5. Combine all dressing ingredients, mix well, then drizzle over salad and toss. 6. Chill 15 minutes if desired, or serve right away.
Solution on Page 4
513TAX.COM • 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
Cincinnati Tax Resolution Powered by Toph Sheldon 9200 Montgomery Rd., Ste. 7B Cincinnati, OH 45242
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
513-513-8674 513TAX.COM
INSIDE
1
Running on Empty, Powered by Love
2
Cutting-Edge Lawns Toph Wins Jaw-Dropping Settlement for Trucker Letting Go: Ashley’s Shift to Simpler Parenting BLT Chopped Salad
3
4
Former Sitcom Star Faces IRS Showdown
No Laughing Matter: A Sitcom Star’s Battle With the IRS TOPH’S TAX NIGHTMARES
One thing taxpayers can always count on is that you can’t count on the IRS to behave in a predictable way. As Toph writes on Page 2 of this edition, you can never know what the agency might do. Take, for example, Charlie Sheen’s torturous seven-year battle over his tax debt of nearly $7 million for 2015, 2017, and 2018. Taxpayers with substantial assets often try to reach a settlement with the IRS but wind up on an installment plan instead. In Sheen’s case, however, neither strategy seemed to be working. Under an installment plan, the IRS declared he could afford an eye-popping $51,275 a month, even though he was deep in debt and out of work at the time. And when Sheen offered to settle the debt for $1.24 million, the IRS claimed he could afford to pay 3–4 times more. One of the many sticking points in the battle was Sheen’s Beverly Hills home, which he listed for sale in 2018 for $10 million. The oceanfront estate finally sold for $6.6 million in 2020. His battle with the IRS was one of many setbacks for Sheen. Once the highest-paid actor in television, he co-starred in the hit TV series “Two and a Half Men” from 2003–2011 but was fired from the show in 2011 because
of his erratic behavior. From 2012–2014, he starred in another series, “Anger Management.” Married and divorced three times, Sheen was in and out of rehab, and in 2015, disclosed that he had been diagnosed with HIV.
A few years later, Sheen’s attorney wrested a $3.1-million deal from the IRS to settle
his debt. But in another surprise, the IRS’s Los Angeles area director abruptly rejected the deal, without explanation or any opportunity to appeal. The actor sued, alleging violation of mandated procedures. After another flurry of court filings, Sheen in 2022 finally won IRS approval to settle his entire debt for $3.3 million. His dealings with the IRS still aren’t over, however. The agency has the right to collect more cash if Sheen’s income increases at any time through 2027.
Until then, he’ll remain in the agency’s crosshairs.
4 • 513-513-8674
DON’T LIVE IN FEAR - TOPH IS HERE!
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator