How IRS Help Inc. Resolves New York Tax Problems

Key Takeaways

• IRS Help Inc., founded by Jennifer O'Neill, EA, MBA, has been resolving IRS and New York State tax problems from West Seneca, NY since 1982.
• The firm handles both federal and state tax resolution, including installment agreements, offers in compromise, lien removal, levy release, and audit defense.
• BBB-accredited with over 40 years of continuous operation, IRS Help Inc. provides local, in-person representation across New York State.

When you owe back taxes to the IRS, the NY Department of Taxation and Finance, or both, you need a representative who has done this work for decades, not months. IRS Help Inc. has operated out of West Seneca, New York since 1982. Founded by Jennifer O'Neill, an Enrolled Agent with an MBA, the firm specializes exclusively in tax resolution for individuals and businesses across New York State. Over four decades of practice means Jennifer has seen every type of tax problem the IRS and New York can create, and resolved thousands of them.

How Long Has IRS Help Inc. Been in Business?

IRS Help Inc. has been in continuous operation since 1982, making it one of the longest-running tax resolution firms in New York State. That is over 40 years of representing taxpayers before the IRS and the NY Department of Taxation and Finance. Longevity matters in tax resolution because it means the firm has survived recessions, tax law changes, IRS policy shifts, and every wave of "tax relief" companies that appeared on late-night TV and then disappeared.

Many national tax relief firms launched in the early 2000s during the first big wave of tax debt marketing. Most of those firms no longer exist. IRS Help Inc. was already two decades into operations at that point. Jennifer O'Neill's firm has outlasted multiple generations of competitors because it delivers results, not empty promises.

The firm's BBB accreditation adds another layer of verification. The Better Business Bureau evaluates complaint history, transparency, and business practices. Maintaining accreditation for decades is a signal that the firm consistently meets its commitments to clients. For background on the broader landscape, see our New York tax relief overview.

What Services Does IRS Help Inc. Offer?

IRS Help Inc. provides comprehensive tax resolution services covering both federal IRS issues and New York State tax problems. This dual capability sets the firm apart from national companies that only handle the federal side.

IRS Resolution Services:

• Installment Agreements: Negotiating monthly payment plans with the IRS, including streamlined agreements for balances under $50,000 and non-streamlined agreements for larger debts requiring financial disclosure
• Offer in Compromise: Preparing and submitting settlement offers to resolve IRS debt for less than the full balance, including financial analysis to determine qualification and optimal offer amount
• Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status: Securing temporary relief from IRS collection when you genuinely cannot afford to pay
• Penalty Abatement: Reducing or eliminating IRS penalties through first-time abatement or reasonable cause arguments
• Tax Lien Resolution: Pursuing lien withdrawal, discharge, or subordination to protect your property and credit
• Bank Levy and Wage Garnishment Release: Acting quickly to release IRS levies on your bank accounts or paycheck
• Audit Defense: Representing you during IRS audits, from correspondence audits to in-person examinations. See our IRS audit defense in New York guide for details.
• Unfiled Tax Return Preparation: Filing back returns to bring you into compliance, a prerequisite for most resolution programs

New York State Resolution Services:

• NY Installment Payment Agreements: Negotiating monthly payments with the Department of Taxation and Finance
• NY Tax Warrant Resolution: Addressing tax warrants filed with county clerks, which function as state tax liens
• NY Offer in Compromise: Submitting settlement offers under New York State's own program (separate from the federal OIC)
• NY Wage Garnishment and Bank Freeze Release: Stopping state collection actions against your income and accounts
• Voluntary Disclosure: Helping taxpayers who have never filed NY returns come into compliance without criminal prosecution risk

The Enrolled Agent Advantage

Jennifer O'Neill holds the Enrolled Agent (EA) designation, which is a federal credential issued by the IRS itself. Enrolled Agents are the only tax professionals whose license comes directly from the federal government. CPAs are state-licensed. Tax attorneys hold state bar licenses. EAs are tested and authorized by the IRS to represent taxpayers in all 50 states.

The EA exam (the Special Enrollment Examination) covers individual taxation, business taxation, and representation, practice, and procedures. Passing all three parts demonstrates comprehensive tax knowledge. Maintaining the credential requires 72 hours of continuing education every three years, ensuring EAs stay current on tax law changes.

What this means for you as a client: Jennifer has unlimited practice rights before the IRS. She can represent you in audits, collections, appeals, and any other IRS proceeding. She does not need a CPA or attorney to co-sign her work. Combined with her MBA, she brings both technical tax expertise and business acumen to every case. For more on IRS debt resolution approaches, visit our New York IRS debt relief page.

How IRS Help Inc. Approaches a New Case

The firm follows a structured process for every new client. This consistency is part of what has kept the firm operating for four decades.

Step 1: Initial Consultation and Transcript Review. Jennifer's team pulls your IRS account transcripts (using Form 4506-T authorization) and reviews your NY State tax records. Transcripts show exactly what the IRS has on file: assessed balances, penalties, interest, collection status, and statute dates. This is the foundation for any strategy.

Step 2: Financial Analysis. The team reviews your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities using IRS-approved allowable expense standards. This analysis determines which resolution option you qualify for. An offer in compromise requires a different financial profile than an installment agreement, and an experienced EA knows the thresholds.

Step 3: Strategy Recommendation. Based on the transcript review and financial analysis, Jennifer recommends a specific resolution path for both your IRS and NY State balances. This is where experience makes the biggest difference. A less experienced firm might pursue an offer in compromise when an installment agreement would resolve the issue faster. Or they might miss the fact that your collection statute is expiring soon, making CNC status the better play.

Step 4: Filing and Representation. The firm prepares all necessary forms, submits applications to the IRS and NY State, and handles all communication with both agencies. You do not call the IRS. You do not open letters from the state and panic. Jennifer's team handles it.

Step 5: Resolution and Compliance. Once your case is resolved, the firm ensures you understand your ongoing filing and payment obligations. Many resolution agreements (especially installment agreements and OICs) include compliance requirements. Missing a future filing deadline can void your agreement and restart collection.

Why Local Representation Matters in New York

National tax relief companies run call centers, often in states far from New York. The person handling your case may never set foot in New York and may not understand NY State tax law at all. Many of these firms subcontract the actual work to local EAs or CPAs, adding a markup to the fee without adding value.

IRS Help Inc. operates from a physical office in West Seneca, NY. Jennifer O'Neill knows New York's tax landscape because she has practiced in it for over 40 years. She knows how the NY Department of Taxation and Finance operates, how their collection division handles cases, and what arguments work in negotiations with state agents.

Local representation also matters if you need to attend an IRS office visit. The IRS has Taxpayer Assistance Centers in New York (including offices in Buffalo, Albany, Brooklyn, and Manhattan). If your case requires an in-person appointment, a local representative can attend with you or on your behalf. A national firm calling from Arizona cannot do this.

For clients across New York State, IRS Help Inc. provides representation remotely (most IRS and state matters are handled by phone, fax, and mail) with the option for in-person meetings at the West Seneca office. The toll-free number, 1-800-477-4357, serves taxpayers statewide.

What Makes IRS Help Inc. Different from National Firms

The tax resolution industry includes many large, heavily advertised national companies. You have seen the TV commercials promising to settle your tax debt for "pennies on the dollar." Here is how IRS Help Inc. differs from those firms.

Direct representation, not hand-offs. At a national firm, you speak with a salesperson first, then get handed to a "case manager" (often not a licensed tax professional), who may hand your file to a contract EA in your state. At IRS Help Inc., Jennifer O'Neill and her team handle your case directly from start to finish.

Realistic expectations from day one. National firms often tell prospective clients they will "settle for a fraction" to close the sale. IRS Help Inc. evaluates your actual financial situation before making any promises. If you don't qualify for an offer in compromise, Jennifer will tell you that upfront and recommend the option that actually fits.

Both IRS and NY State under one roof. Most national firms only handle federal IRS cases. Your NY State balance gets ignored. IRS Help Inc. addresses both simultaneously, which prevents the common problem of resolving one side while the other continues collecting. Learn more about offers in compromise in New York as one example of a resolution tool the firm deploys.

No high-pressure sales tactics. The firm does not use urgency scripts, limited-time offers, or fear-based marketing. The consultation is straightforward: here is what you owe, here are your options, here is what it costs.

Proven track record. Forty-plus years and BBB accreditation speak for themselves. The firm has resolved cases through multiple tax law changes, IRS reorganizations, and economic cycles.

Cases IRS Help Inc. Commonly Handles

While every tax situation is unique, certain patterns appear frequently in the firm's caseload.

Self-employed taxpayers with estimated tax shortfalls. Freelancers, contractors, and small business owners who didn't make quarterly estimated payments and now owe multiple years of back taxes plus penalties.

W-2 employees with withholding problems. Taxpayers who claimed too many allowances or had life changes (marriage, divorce, second job) that created unexpected balances.

Businesses with payroll tax debt. Employers who fell behind on payroll tax deposits face some of the most aggressive IRS collection, including the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty assessed against responsible individuals.

Taxpayers with unfiled returns. Individuals who stopped filing, whether for one year or ten, and now face substitute returns, collection notices, or both.

NY State tax warrant situations. Taxpayers who discovered a state tax warrant when trying to sell property, refinance, or apply for a professional license.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IRS Help Inc. a legitimate company?

Yes. IRS Help Inc. has operated continuously since 1982 from West Seneca, New York. The firm is BBB-accredited and led by Jennifer O'Neill, a federally licensed Enrolled Agent with an MBA. You can verify the firm's BBB status through the Better Business Bureau website and Jennifer's EA credentials through the IRS Return Preparer Office.

Can IRS Help Inc. help if I live outside the Buffalo area?

Yes. While the firm's physical office is in West Seneca (near Buffalo), IRS Help Inc. represents taxpayers across all of New York State. Most IRS and NY State matters are handled by phone, fax, and secure mail. The firm's toll-free number, 1-800-477-4357, serves clients statewide.

How much does IRS Help Inc. charge?

Fees depend on the complexity of your case, the number of tax years involved, and the resolution strategy pursued. IRS Help Inc. provides a fee estimate after reviewing your tax transcripts and financial situation during the initial consultation. The firm does not charge a fee before understanding your case.

What should I bring to my first consultation with IRS Help Inc.?

Bring any IRS or NY State notices you have received, copies of filed tax returns (if available), and a general picture of your income, expenses, and assets. The firm will also pull your official IRS transcripts, which often contain information not shown on the notices you received.

Can Jennifer O'Neill represent me in IRS appeals?

Yes. As an Enrolled Agent, Jennifer has full representation rights before the IRS, including the IRS Office of Appeals. If your case involves a disputed assessment, an audit result you disagree with, or a rejected offer in compromise, she can represent you through the appeals process.

Does IRS Help Inc. handle business tax problems?

Yes. The firm resolves business tax issues including payroll tax debt, trust fund recovery penalties, business income tax, and sales tax matters at the NY State level. Business owners who also have personal tax debt can have both resolved under one engagement.

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Last updated: March 18, 2026. Information verified against IRS.gov and the NY Department of Taxation and Finance website. For your specific situation, consult a licensed tax professional. Jennifer O'Neill at IRS Help Inc. can help: New York tax relief specialist or call 1-800-477-4357.