I had mixed emotions when I sat down to write this blog, a celebration of 25 years in the tax debt resolution industry. I’m excited to say I have been able to help thousands of clients over the last 25 years by solving their tax debt woes. It’s also hard to believe that I have spent 25 years doing one thing and one thing alone! Twenty-five years is longer than I have been married, much longer than my kids have been alive, and save for a precious few, it’s longer than I have been friends with most people in my life. I have learned a lot during the last twenty-five years and thought it would be great to share a few of those nuggets with all of you:

• No matter what you are facing, there is ALWAYS a solution! This holds true with everything in our lives: a financial condition, a hiccup in a relationship, a problem within your business; the list goes on and on. The worst thing you can do is not face it! It’s hard. It can be uncomfortable. However, the sooner you face it, the better you will feel.
• The one task you have been putting off is the one that deserves your immediate attention. We’ve all heard the quote, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today.” Another great quote to follow that up is, “Procrastination is the enemy of success.” We are naturally inclined to push something to the bottom of our “to-do” list when it’s not something we look forward to handling. When reflecting back on several days, we often find that one thing constantly gets carried forward and left at the bottom of each day’s list. Hold your own feet to the fire and escalate it!
• When communicating deadlines to a client, hope for the best but anticipate the worst. When I first started representing clients, I was a bit over-ambitious when it came to estimating how much time I would need to secure required financial records or submit missing returns. If I called a client and said, “The IRS is asking for X, Y, and Z by October 1st,” I quickly learned that most clients would inevitably submit everything to my office at 11:00 p.m. on October 1st or the following days. I learned to ask for everything to be submitted to my office a few days before I had to turn around and provide an answer to the tax agency. Pad your timeline in anticipation of dealing with the unexpected!
• Be transparent from start to finish. I have found that it is best practice to fully explain everything to my clients. It doesn’t matter if we are talking about Golden Lion Tax Solutions policies or procedures, what to anticipate from the IRS or state, the reality of their situation (both good and bad), an upcoming deadline, or the likelihood of a resolution idea they want us to pursue on their behalf. This transparency empowers our clients and keeps them informed every step of the way.
• Never overpromise and under-deliver. Over the years, I have had hundreds of clients come to me with tough situations: bank account levies, wage garnishments, aggressive IRS or state agents, etc. We always commit to doing everything we can to reverse the situation but never guarantee an end result. In reality, we always drastically improve their situation, but it never helps a client to promise the moon and the stars because when you do, something will go sideways.
• You get further with honey than with vinegar. When representing our clients, we are on the opposite side of the desk from the IRS or state tax agencies. Often, we are met with aggression over a client’s tax account and the debts accrued, which can be hard not to react in kind to. However, I have instilled in my team the notion that responding in kind only escalates the situation; it doesn’t diffuse it. Instead, we take the conversation back a few steps and help the person see that nothing personal is occurring; it’s just a situation where a client has ended up in a tough spot.
• Be ethical, and everything else works out. If you don’t start from a position of integrity, you invite a world of problems to your home and office. It’s not always easy. We are human, and it’s okay to admit that taking a shortcut seems attractive for a brief moment! However, you feel better and rest easier when you commit to always taking the path of integrity with everything: the tasks on your desk, your clients, your team, and your company.

A quarter of a century committed to one focus for your career brings a lot of clarity to a person. I hope the nuggets of truth I have learned along the way can help you, your clients, and your business.

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Trust. Protection. Wisdom.

Your future and your family deserve the right protection. Golden Lion Tax Solutions will be your advisor and confidant throughout the entire journey. We guarantee to offer you or your business best-case solutions for your tax debt. We are by your side every step of the way. Start now and get your life back.

For help with your tax debts, email contactus@goldenliontaxsolutions.com or call 833-LION-TAX (833-546-6829)

Disclaimer: There are requirements that must be satisfied in order to qualify for some of the tax solutions we discuss on our website. Not all of our services will be suitable for every client. Golden Lion Tax Solutions is here to help you find the most appropriate solution to fit your situation.