Dealing with the IRS on your own — during an audit, a collections action, or a tax debt dispute — is intimidating, high-stakes, and easy to get wrong. I'm Kevin Burdett, a tax professional based in Columbia, Maryland, with over 20 years of experience representing individuals and businesses before the IRS and Maryland tax authorities.
Deadlines Matter
Years Tax Experience
Both Authorities Covered
Direct Access to Kevin
When the IRS contacts you about an audit, a balance due, or a collections action, every response you give — and every document you provide — becomes part of the official record. Taxpayers who handle IRS matters on their own without experience frequently say too much, provide the wrong documentation, or miss deadlines that close off resolution options permanently.
I represent Maryland individuals and businesses before the IRS directly — handling all correspondence, phone calls, and negotiations personally. When I represent you, you don’t have to talk to the IRS. I do it on your behalf, with full knowledge of your situation and the most effective approach for your specific circumstances.
“Having experienced representation between you and the IRS isn’t just about paperwork — it’s about making sure every response protects your position and keeps your options open.”
Whether you’re facing an audit, a levy threat, a tax debt you can’t pay in full, or years of unfiled returns — I’ll assess your situation honestly, explain your options clearly, and represent you throughout the process.
From audit representation through collections resolution — here is a detailed breakdown of every IRS matter I handle on behalf of Maryland clients.
Receiving an IRS audit notice is stressful — but having experienced representation changes the dynamic significantly. I manage the audit process from start to finish: gathering documentation, communicating with the IRS examiner, and protecting your position throughout.
Services Include
If the IRS is threatening to levy your bank account, garnish your wages, or seize assets — there is still time to act, but that window is limited and shrinks with every day of delay. I intervene immediately, communicate with the IRS on your behalf, and pursue the resolution that stops or reverses collection action.
Services Include
If you owe the IRS more than you can pay in a lump sum, an installment agreement allows you to pay the balance over time. I negotiate with the IRS on your behalf to establish a payment arrangement that fits your actual financial situation — not a payment the IRS assumes you can make.
Services Include
If you disagree with an IRS audit result, an assessed penalty, or a collections decision — you have the right to appeal. I prepare and represent appeals before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, and I also pursue penalty abatement for taxpayers who have a legitimate basis for relief.
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There is no single solution that works for every tax debt situation. I assess your specific circumstances and recommend the approach that genuinely fits — not the one that sounds best in an advertisement.
Pay your tax debt over time in monthly installments. The IRS offers several types depending on the balance owed and your financial situation. Most appropriate when you can pay the full balance over time but not immediately.
Settle your tax debt for less than the full amount owed. The IRS accepts OICs only when the full balance genuinely cannot be collected based on your income, expenses, and assets. Qualification is more restrictive than most advertisements suggest — I assess eligibility honestly.
If your income does not exceed your allowable living expenses, the IRS may place your account in Currently Not Collectible status — temporarily halting collections while your financial situation is evaluated. Interest and penalties continue to accrue during this period.
Request removal of assessed penalties based on first-time abatement eligibility or reasonable cause. If you have a history of compliance and the failure was due to circumstances beyond your control, a penalty abatement can meaningfully reduce what you owe.
If you filed jointly and your spouse or former spouse understated income or claimed improper deductions without your knowledge, you may qualify to be relieved of joint liability for that tax debt. I assess eligibility and prepare the request.
Filing delinquent returns is often the first and most important step in resolving an IRS problem. I prepare and file prior year returns — which stops the IRS from filing Substitute for Returns on your behalf and establishes your actual, accurate tax liability.
Nearly every IRS action has a deadline attached to it — and missing those deadlines doesn’t freeze the process, it forfeits your rights. The window to appeal an audit result, request a Collections Due Process hearing, or respond to a Final Notice of Intent to Levy is limited and doesn’t pause while you decide what to do.
The sooner representation begins, the more options are available. I start working on your case immediately after the initial consultation — so no deadlines are lost while paperwork is being organized.
These are the most common IRS and Maryland tax situations that Maryland individuals and businesses bring to me for representation.
The IRS selected your return for examination — either by mail or in person — and you need experienced representation to protect your position and manage the process from start to finish.
You've received a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 or Letter 1058) and need immediate representation to stop or delay collection action while a resolution is negotiated.
There's a balance due that you can't pay in full — and you need to understand your resolution options, whether that's an installment agreement, an OIC, or a different approach that fits your actual financial situation.
The IRS issued a determination — from an audit or a proposed assessment — that you believe is incorrect, and you want to appeal it before the opportunity to do so expires.
One or more years of individual or business returns haven't been filed — and you want to get current voluntarily before the IRS files Substitute for Returns on your behalf.
You'd rather not communicate with the IRS directly and want an experienced professional to handle all contact, correspondence, and negotiation on your behalf throughout the process.
From the first call through final resolution — here’s exactly how I approach IRS representation engagements.
I review your IRS notices, understand the full scope of the issue, identify all applicable deadlines, and give you an honest assessment of your situation and options. No charge and no obligation — just a clear picture of where things stand.
I file IRS Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) immediately, authorizing me to communicate with the IRS on your behalf. Once this is in place, the IRS communicates directly with me — not with you — for the duration of the representation.
I pull your IRS account transcripts and all relevant records to get a complete picture of your tax history, what the IRS has on file, and any gaps or discrepancies that need to be addressed before a resolution strategy is finalized.
Based on your situation, I recommend the most appropriate resolution path — with a clear explanation of why it fits your circumstances and a fixed-price proposal for the work involved. You decide whether to proceed before any fees are incurred.
I handle all IRS communication, document submission, negotiation, and follow-up personally — keeping you informed throughout and notifying you immediately when a resolution is reached or when your input is needed.
Every representation engagement is handled personally by me. You communicate with me, I communicate with the IRS. There is no junior representative managing your case while a senior professional takes credit. You always know who is working on your situation.
I've been preparing individual and business tax returns and handling IRS matters for more than two decades. That experience means I understand IRS procedures, know where resolution opportunities exist, and recognize when an IRS position is incorrect and worth challenging.
I tell clients the truth about their situation — including when a proposed resolution like an Offer in Compromise is unlikely to be approved. An honest assessment upfront saves time, money, and frustration compared to pursuing a strategy that was never going to work.
I represent clients before both the IRS and the Maryland Comptroller's Office. Federal and state tax issues often arise together — having one professional who handles both avoids the coordination problems that come with splitting the representation.
I begin working immediately after the initial consultation — so IRS deadlines are identified and protected from the start. Nothing is lost to scheduling delays while the engagement gets organized.
I'm based in Columbia, Maryland and work with clients locally and remotely nationwide. IRS representation doesn't require in-person meetings — everything can be handled securely online while I deal with the IRS directly.
IRS representation means having a qualified tax professional communicate and negotiate with the IRS on your behalf. Once I file a Power of Attorney (Form 2848), the IRS communicates directly with me — not with you — for the duration of the engagement. You don't have to take IRS calls, attend meetings, or respond to correspondence directly.
Contact me immediately. An audit has a response deadline and what you say — and don't say — during the process can significantly affect the outcome. I can represent you from the start, gather the required documentation, manage all contact with the IRS examiner, and protect your position throughout.
Yes — but time is critical. If you've received a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 or Letter 1058), there is still a window to act before the levy executes. I can file the Power of Attorney immediately, request a Collections Due Process hearing to halt the levy, and pursue a resolution that addresses the underlying balance.
An Offer in Compromise allows qualifying taxpayers to settle their tax debt for less than the full amount owed. The IRS accepts OICs only when it determines the full balance genuinely cannot be collected based on your income, expenses, and asset equity. Qualification is significantly more restrictive than most advertisements imply — I assess eligibility honestly and tell you directly whether it's a realistic option for your situation.
In many cases, yes. The IRS offers first-time penalty abatement for taxpayers with a good compliance history, and reasonable cause abatement for taxpayers who can demonstrate that circumstances beyond their control led to the failure. I review your situation and prepare the abatement request if there's a legitimate basis for it.
Yes. I represent clients before the Maryland Comptroller's Office as well as the IRS. Federal and state tax issues often arise at the same time — having one professional handling both avoids coordination gaps and keeps the representation consistent.
Yes. Every IRS representation engagement is handled personally by me from start to finish. You communicate with me directly, I handle all IRS contact on your behalf, and I keep you informed at every stage. You'll always know who is working on your case and where things stand.
Whether you’re dealing with an audit, a levy threat, a tax debt you can’t pay, or years of unfiled returns — the sooner representation begins, the more options are available. The first consultation is free.
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