Free at Last: Ten long years have passed since the IRS first discovered your Tax Debt. But now you're free! And the IRS cannot collect from you anymore! Right? Actually, no. The IRS might still be able to collect on your account even if it's been around for more than ten years.

It Starts: The IRS ten-year period starts when the IRS officially determines you owe the debt. But there are several ways the Statue of limitations can be extended.

Actions you take that will extend the statue of limitations include:

-Filing An Offer in Compromise.

-Being out of the United States

-Filing for Bankruptcy

-Being in litigation with the IRS

-Request a Collection Due Process Hearing

IRS Actions that will extend the statue of limitations include:

-Suing you in Federal Court. Don't worry, this usually will not happen unless you owe a substantial amount of money to the IRS.

-Having you sign a Waiver form. This may be required if you want to make an "Installment Agreement" with the IRS.

Getting Honest: I'll be honest with you. The IRS will still continue to call you, even after the Statue of Limitations have expired. And the taxpayer usually doesn't even know the IRS's time to collect has expired. So what can you do if you don't know how old your debt is? You can actually have access to your IRS computer file. Here's how to get it:

-Call the IRS and request your Master File Transcript. (MFTRA)

-Give your Social Security number

-Say you want files for all tax years

But don't be too discouraged if you can't understand the papers you receive. These forms will be full of IRS technical terms, and most people can't decipher them. You can always contact a qualified Tax Professional who can help you understand the IRS and their procedures better.

Now You Have The Smoking Gun...Use it!