Nicholas Preusch

The IRS Tax Resolution Masterclass: Mastering Client Representation, IRS Transcripts & Offer in Compromise

Date: November 11, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM CT | 10:00 AM PT | 240 Minutes

Speaker: Nicholas Preusch

A practical, four-hour CE workshop covering the IRS tools and tax-resolution strategies tax professionals use to represent clients, evaluate tax liabilities, and navigate collection alternatives.

Course Overview

Effective IRS representation starts with accurate authorization and a clear understanding of the taxpayer’s account. Resolving outstanding tax debt requires an equally strong command of financial analysis, IRS procedures, and available collection alternatives. In this hands-on workshop, tax professionals will build a connected workflow—from securing client authorization and accessing IRS records to evaluating payment options and preparing an Offer in Compromise (OIC).

The first part of the course examines IRS Forms 2848 and 8821, the IRS Tax Pro Account, Account Transcripts, Wage and Income Transcripts, and installment agreements. Participants will explore how to access and interpret taxpayer information and use it to assess filing and payment issues. The second part focuses on Offer in Compromise strategy. Participants will examine eligibility, Reasonable Collection Potential (RCP), income and asset analysis, allowable expenses, documentation, submission procedures, and responses to IRS actions. The course also compares OIC with alternatives such as installment agreements, Currently Not Collectible status, and penalty relief.

Through practical examples and case-based discussion, attendees will gain a more structured approach to IRS client representation and tax-debt resolution.

Why this Course Matters

A missed authorization detail, an overlooked transcript entry, or an inaccurate financial calculation can delay a case or weaken a tax-resolution strategy. This course connects the records tax professionals review with the decisions they make—helping them approach client matters with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence.

Key Topics Covered 

Module 1 — IRS Representation, Authorizations & Tax Pro Account

  • Form 2848 vs. Form 8821: purpose, scope, and appropriate use
  • Preparing and submitting IRS authorization forms
  • Setting up and using the IRS Tax Pro Account, including available functions and limitations
  • Accessing IRS Account Transcripts and Wage and Income Transcripts
  • Interpreting transcript entries to identify balances, payments, filing issues, and account activity
  • Understanding IRS installment agreements and payment-plan options

Offer in Compromise: Analysis, Preparation & Resolution

  • OIC fundamentals, eligibility considerations, and case suitability
  • Reasonable Collection Potential (RCP): methodology and offer calculation
  • Evaluating income, assets, equity, allowable expenses, and financial circumstances
  • Addressing asset valuation, equity challenges, and potential phantom-income issues
  • Preparing financial disclosures and supporting documentation
  • Understanding submission requirements, IRS review stages, and case timelines
  • Responding to returned or rejected offers, denials, appeals, and reconsideration opportunities
  • Comparing OIC with installment agreements, Currently Not Collectible status, and penalty relief

Learning Objective 

  • Differentiate between Forms 2848 and 8821 and select the appropriate authorization for a client matter
  • Explain how to establish and use an IRS Tax Pro Account within its available functions
  • Access and interpret IRS Account and Wage and Income Transcripts to evaluate taxpayer account activity
  • Identify installment agreement options relevant to taxpayers with outstanding balances
  • Evaluate OIC case suitability using taxpayer income, assets, expenses, and financial circumstances
  • Calculate and assess Reasonable Collection Potential, including asset-equity and allowable-expense considerations
  • Identify documentation needed to support an OIC submission
  • Describe key OIC submission, review, and response procedures
  • Evaluate next steps when an offer is returned, rejected, or denied
  • Compare OIC with other IRS collection and resolution alternatives

Who Should Attend 

  • Enrolled Agents (EAs)
  • Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
  • Tax attorneys
  • Tax return preparers
  • Tax resolution professionals
  • Accounting and finance professionals
  • Financial planners involved in tax matters

SPEAKER

Nicholas has worked with the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Agent and an Attorney with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility. Nicholas has authored publications for the AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy, AICPA’s Tax Advisor, NATP’s Tax Pro Journal, and CCH’s Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure. He also co-authored a textbook, Tax Preparer Penalties and Circular 230 Enforcement, published by Thomson Reuters. Nicholas has been recognized as the Top 5 Under 35 CPAs in Virginia, and is a member of the AICPA’s Tax Executive Committee. Nicholas is an adjunct professor at the University of Mary Washington. He is a graduate of Carthage College, University of Connecticut (M.S. in Accounting), Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D.), and Georgetown University (LLM in Taxation)

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