IRS Wage Garnishment: How to Fight $180,000 Debt Due to Employer Error

Facing IRS and State Tax Debt

• 🚨 The speaker is facing a dire situation with the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue, with wage garnishment imminent.
• 💰 The IRS claims he owes over $180,000 in back income tax, while Colorado states he owes approximately $13,000.
• 🎯 This debt stems from his former employer's Shopify account being linked to his Social Security number, an error that has persisted for three years.

Employer's Lack of Action

• 🛠️ Despite repeated attempts to contact his former employer of 27 years, they have done nothing to resolve the issue.
• 😔 The speaker feels he has reached out multiple times to fix this, but his former employer has been unhelpful.

Financial and Legal Advice

• ⚖️ The advice given is to immediately hire a tax attorney to prevent wage garnishment and address the clerical error.
• 💸 The attorney should contact the Colorado Department of Revenue, threatening a lawsuit for $20 million if garnishment proceeds, as the debt is not the individual's.
• 💡 The speaker previously consulted a tax attorney six months ago but couldn't afford the $6,000 retainer, a decision now questioned as the state is poised to take a significant amount.

Taking Proactive Action

• 🚀 The core message is that inaction is not an option; the speaker must be proactive and aggressive in resolving this issue.
• 🎯 He is encouraged to find an attorney who is a "attack dog" and gets fired up about fighting such cases.
• 💡 The situation requires immediate action, ideally by the close of business, to prevent garnishment and sue the former employer if necessary.

Overcoming Bureaucracy and Error

• 🧠 The IRS and former employer are portrayed as incompetent or uncaring, highlighting the need for self-advocacy.
• 💡 The speaker is reminded that he has the power and options, and he needs to be the hero of his own story, not a victim.
• ✅ The advice emphasizes that this problem will not fix itself and requires a determined effort to achieve freedom from this burden.