The Fresh Start Program: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The Fresh Start Program is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to low-income households. The program is designed to help families with children, seniors, and disabled individuals meet their basic needs. If you are struggling to make ends meet, you may qualify for the Fresh Start Program. Keep reading to learn more about the program and how to apply.

What Is the Fresh Start Program?

The Fresh Start Program is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to low-income households. The program is designed to help families with children, seniors, and disabled individuals meet their basic needs. Financial assistance can be used for food, housing, utilities, transportation, and other necessary expenses. 

Who Qualifies for the Fresh Start Program?

To qualify for the Fresh Start Program, you must meet certain income and asset guidelines. Your household income must be below the poverty line or a certain percentage of your state's median income. You must also have less than $2,000 in assets, not including your home or car. 

How Do I Apply for the Fresh Start Program? 

If you think you may qualify for the Fresh Start Program, you can apply by contacting your local social services office or visiting www.freshstartprogram.gov. You will need to provide documentation of your income and assets, as well as your expenses. Once you have submitted your application, a caseworker will review your information and determine if you are eligible for the program. 

The Fresh Start Program is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to low-income households. If you are struggling to make ends meet, you may qualify for the program.

Offer in Compromise may be right for you 

Blog Introduction: The IRS offers a way to settle your tax debt for less than what you owe through something called an Offer in Compromise (OIC). This might sound too good to be true, but for certain taxpayers who qualify, the OIC can provide much-needed relief. Here’s what you need to know about this program.

What is an Offer in Compromise?

An OIC is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount owed. The IRS will only accept an OIC if they believe that the amount offered is the most they can expect to collect from you. 

In order to qualify for an OIC, you must: 
- File all required tax returns 
- Have paid any income tax refunds due 
- Make all required estimated tax payments for the current year 
- Have made all required federal tax deposits for the current quarter if you are self-employed or have employees 

An OIC is not right for everyone. You must prove that you cannot pay your full tax liability, or that doing so creates a financial hardship. There are two ways to demonstrate this. The first is called the Doubt as to Collectability and the second is called Effective Tax Administration. 
Doubt as to Collectability means that the IRS does not believe that you can pay your full tax liability, based on your current financial situation. In order to prove this, you will need to provide detailed information about your assets and income. 

The second way to qualify for an OIC is by demonstrating Effective Tax Administration. To do this, you must prove that paying your full tax liability would create an undue hardship on you, or that it is not in the best interest of the government to collect the full amount owed. 

If you think that an Offer in Compromise might be right for you, there are some things to keep in mind before moving forward. First, know that the process takes time—it can take up to two years from start to finish. Second, there is no guarantee that your offer will be accepted—even if you meet all of the requirements, your offer may still be rejected. And finally, remember that an OIC should be considered as a last resort—if there are other options available to help you pay your tax debt, those should be explored first. 

The Offer in Compromise program provides taxpayers with a way to settle their tax debts for less than what they owe—but it’s not right for everyone. Before considering an OIC, taxpayers should explore all other options available to them and consult with a tax professional to see if this program makes sense for their unique circumstances.