Austin Tax Relief — IRS Help for Austin Residents

The Austin IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center is at 300 East 8th Street in downtown Austin, inside the federal building. All visits require an appointment — call 844-545-5640 or use the IRS.gov scheduler. Austin is a major metro with a single TAC, so appointments can book out weeks in advance. We can handle your IRS resolution without you ever needing to visit the office.

Yes. RSUs are taxed as ordinary income at the time of vest (the date the shares are delivered to you), not when you sell them. The value of the shares on the vesting date is reported on your W-2 as income. Your employer typically withholds 22% for federal taxes, but if your marginal rate is 32%, 35%, or 37%, the withholding will be insufficient and you'll owe the difference at filing. Additionally, when you eventually sell, you must report the capital gain (or loss) based on the correct cost basis. If your 1099-B shows a zero or incorrect cost basis — which is common — you'll need to adjust it on Form 8949, otherwise the IRS assumes the entire proceeds are gain.

Venues and festivals issue Form 1099-NEC for payments over $600 per calendar year. Every 1099-NEC is filed with the IRS, and the agency's Automated Underreporter (AUR) program matches 1099s against your tax return. If you report less income than the sum of your 1099s, you will receive a CP2000 notice — typically 12–18 months after filing. You should also be aware that cash payments below the 1099 threshold are still taxable income that you are legally required to report. We can help musicians who have multiple years of unfiled returns or who are facing a CP2000 audit for unreported 1099 income.

The California Franchise Tax Board is one of the most aggressive state tax agencies in the country and frequently audits former residents. California uses a multi-factor residency test: where you are physically present, where your spouse and children live, where your primary home is, where you're registered to vote, where your vehicles are registered, where your professional licenses are held, and where your financial accounts and advisors are located. If you maintain any significant ties to California — a second home, a business, frequent travel back — the FTB may claim you as a resident and assess California income tax on your worldwide income. An IRS audit that reveals income details can trigger an FTB referral. Our focus is federal IRS resolution; for California state residency disputes, you may need additional state-specific representation.

No. The IRS is a federal agency and its collection authority applies uniformly in all 50 states. Texas having no state income tax means there is no state-level withholding to cushion federal underpayment and no state refund for the IRS to intercept — but it also means your entire paycheck is subject to IRS levy calculations (the IRS wage levy formula uses federal standard deduction and exemptions, unaffected by state taxes). On the positive side, Austin's no-state-tax environment and lower cost of living compared to coastal cities can make your IRS collection financial statement more favorable for an Offer in Compromise or partial-pay installment agreement.