It's never fun to get this type of letter from the IRS, but there are steps you can take to resolve the situation.

Directing the money to charity is not foolproof. Having the settlement agreement direct the money to a friend or relative does not avoid taxes to the plaintiff.

"Any time I had a question or received a letter from the IRS, I could call Clear Start Tax, and they were always there to help," Maria explained. "Even if my case manager wasn't available ...