
If Kansas business doesn't pay taxes, it can lead to severe consequences.
The state of Kansas can seize assets and property to cover unpaid tax debt.
This can include bank accounts, real estate, and even vehicles.
Business owners can also face personal liability for unpaid taxes, putting their own assets at risk.
The Kansas Department of Revenue can revoke a business's tax clearance certificate, making it difficult to operate.
Tax Debt Consequences
If your Kansas business doesn't pay taxes, you could face serious consequences. The Kansas DOR can seize your property through tax levies, which can include wage garnishments, bank account levies, or asset seizures.
These levies can be devastating to a business, causing financial strain and disrupting operations. The Kansas DOR contracts companies like Totally Auction, Equip-Bid, and Palmer Auction to auction off seized items.
Business owners who ignore tax debt can also face long-term damage to their credit score, making it harder to secure loans or credit in the future.
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Liens

A tax lien is a public record that secures the state's interest in your unpaid taxes, making it impossible to borrow money or sell your assets.
In Kansas, the Department of Revenue publishes a list of individual and business taxpayers with the highest unpaid tax debts, known as the Kansas tax warrant list. You can get your name removed from this list by paying the full amount of the tax debt in certified funds or setting up a payment arrangement that suspends the collection process.
Tax liens can have a significant impact on your business, including the possibility of property seizure by the IRS. If you neglect your tax bill, the federal government may choose to place a tax lien or levy against your business.
In Kansas, the state issues tax warrants for unpaid business taxes, which gets recorded with the courts and becomes a lien against the taxpayer's real property. This can happen if you don't pay state taxes within 60 days of the due date.
The IRS can also seize company equipment, cars, and business property itself if you fail to pay on time or pay in full. This means that the IRS is superior over your debtors in the event that you become insolvent.
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Levies
Levies can be a serious consequence of unpaid taxes. The IRS has the authority to suspend certain benefits from business owners, including Medicare provider and supplier payments, military retirement benefits, and select federal salaries.
A levy can also result in property seizure, which means the IRS can seize company equipment, cars, and even business property itself. This can happen if you fail to pay on time or pay in full.
The IRS is superior to your debtors in the event that you become insolvent, so if you try to sell your assets, the IRS will collect the funds before you can receive them. This is a serious consequence of neglecting your tax bill.
In some states, like Kansas, tax levies can include wage garnishments, bank account levies, or asset seizures. As of 2022, the Kansas DOR contracts companies to auction off items that have been seized from taxpayers.
The IRS may determine that levying the assets of your business is the best way to proceed if you don't pay your taxes. This can include seizing company equipment, cars, machinery, and other property.
Irs Notices
Receiving an IRS notice can be intimidating, but it's essential to take action to avoid further penalties and fees.
The IRS will send a notice in the mail with a due date for you to respond, typically 30 to 60 days. Ignoring these warnings can result in additional penalties or even a visit from an IRS agent.
To respond to an IRS notice, start by reading the letter in its entirety for details and specific instructions. Retain a copy of the letter or notice for future reference.
If you can, pay the IRS the amount due, or explore options for an online payment agreement or compromise if you're unable to pay in full. If you disagree with the notice, contact a tax professional for expert advice.
Here are some critical dos and don'ts to keep in mind when dealing with an IRS notice:
- Do read the letter in its entirety for details and specific instructions.
- Do retain a copy of the letter or notice for future reference.
- Do pay the IRS the amount due, or explore options for an online payment agreement or compromise.
- Do contact a tax professional for expert advice if you disagree with the notice.
And here are some things to avoid:
- Don't ignore or discard the notice.
- Don't miss an IRS deadline.
- Don't send IRS records they did not request.
- Don't hire a litigation or other attorney other than a qualified tax attorney.
Determine Federal Obligations
Your business structure determines what federal taxes you must pay and how you pay them.
There are five general types of business taxes: income tax, self-employment tax, estimated tax, employer tax, and excise tax.
Each category of business tax might have special rules, qualifications, or IRS forms you need to file. Check with the IRS to see which business taxes apply to you.
If your business has employees, you might be required to withhold taxes from their paychecks.
Federal employment taxes include income, Social Security and Medicare, unemployment, and self-employment taxes. Check with the IRS to see which taxes you need to withhold.
Here are the five general types of business taxes:
- Income tax
- Self-employment tax
- Estimated tax
- Employer tax
- Excise tax
These taxes require payment throughout the year, so it's essential to know your tax obligations before the end of your tax year.
Collection Processes
If you don't pay your tax liabilities in Kansas, the state will send your account to collections.
The state can impose tax liens on your business, which can affect your credit score and make it harder to get loans or credit in the future.
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You can be subject to garnishments, which means the state can take a portion of your business's income or bank accounts to pay off the tax debt.
Tax seizures can also occur, where the state takes possession of your business's assets, such as equipment or property, to sell and use the proceeds to pay off the tax debt.
This can be a serious and stressful situation for a business owner, and it's essential to address any tax issues promptly to avoid these consequences.
Managing Back Taxes
If you're behind on your taxes in Kansas, you may be able to make monthly payments to catch up. You can apply for a payment plan online, but you'll need your case number, Social Security or Employer Identification Number, and zip code.
You can also apply through fax or mail using Forms CM-15 Pay Plan Request for Individuals or CM-16 Pay Plan Request for Businesses. There's a $25 administration fee if you need more than 90 days to make payments.
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If you need more than six months to pay, a tax lien will be issued against you. Penalties and interest will continue to accrue on your account while making payments.
You must file and pay all tax returns while on the payment plan, or it will default. This means the state can demand full payment and start collection actions.
As a business owner, ignoring a notice from the IRS can lead to additional fees, penalties, or even a visit from an IRS agent. You'll typically receive a letter with a due date for responding to the notice, usually within 30 to 60 days.
You can hire a tax attorney to help you understand your options, such as installment plans and extensions. They can explain the process in more detail and help you manage your unpaid business taxes.
Avoid Penalties to Keep Your Business Safe
Paying your taxes on time is crucial to avoid penalties and keep your business safe.
A 1% per month penalty can be assessed on late tax payments, up to 24% of the balance, for most state taxes.
Paying withholding tax late can result in a 15% penalty if you file and pay late before February 1 of the following year.
You may incur an additional 1% of the liability every month if you file and pay after February 1, with a maximum penalty of up to 39%.
Interest on unpaid taxes accrues at an annual rate that adjusts, and as of 2022, the interest rate on Kansas back taxes is 3%.
Paying late by one business week or less can result in a 2% penalty, and even paying late by a few months can result in a 10-15% penalty, up to a maximum of 25%.
You may also be subject to an additional penalty of $135 and interest equal to the federal short-term rate plus an additional 3%.
It's best to pay at least a part of the deposit if you can't pay the entire amount to reduce the amount of penalties owed.
Responding to a notice from the IRS is essential, as ignoring it can lead to additional fees, penalties, or even a visit from an IRS agent.
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Government Actions

If a Kansas business doesn't pay taxes, the government will take action to collect the debt. The state can file a lien on the business's property, which can make it difficult to sell or refinance the property.
The government can also revoke the business's sales tax permit, making it impossible to collect sales tax from customers. This can be a major blow to a business that relies heavily on sales tax revenue.
The state can also send the business to collections, which can damage the business's credit score and make it harder to get loans or credit in the future.
Criminal Charges
Criminal Charges can have serious consequences for your business. If the IRS determines that your business attempted to evade payment through fraudulent means, including filing false tax returns or falsifying deductions, you may face criminal charges.
Willfully failing to pay taxes is considered a felony charge, punishable by a fine of $10,000, five years in prison, or both. This is a serious offense that can have long-lasting effects on your business and personal life.

The IRS has a handbook, The Tax Crimes Handbook, that explains the details, fines, and jail time associated with various tax crimes. This handbook is a valuable resource for understanding the severity of tax-related offenses.
Having a qualified attorney communicate with the auditing agency is always the best choice, as they have attorney-client privilege and cannot have their records summoned. This can help protect your business and prevent further complications.
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Federal Levies and Liens
The federal government has the power to take severe actions against individuals and businesses with unpaid taxes. Tax liens can be placed on your property, making it difficult to sell or borrow money.
The IRS has the right to suspend certain benefits, including Medicare provider payments and military retirement benefits, if you're a business owner with unpaid taxes. This is enforced through the Federal Payment Levy Program.
If you neglect your tax bill, the federal government may choose to place a tax lien or levy against your business, giving them priority over your debtors in case of insolvency. This can be devastating for businesses.
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The IRS can seize company equipment, cars, and even business property itself if you fail to pay your tax bill on time or in full. This is a serious consequence of unpaid taxes.
If you're facing a tax lien or levy, paying the full amount of the tax debt in certified funds, such as a cashier's check, can get your name removed from the warrant list. However, this debt is still subject to penalties and interest until it's paid in full.
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Time Limits and Obligations
The state of Kansas has a three-year statute of limitations to audit a tax return after it's been filed.
If the state discovers a fraudulent incident, they have two years to take action before the statute of limitations expires.
Tax liens can stay in place for up to 20 years after they're filed, allowing the state to act on the lien for that entire period.
Businesses with employees may be required to withhold taxes from their paychecks, including income, Social Security and Medicare, unemployment, and self-employment taxes.
The IRS requires businesses to determine their federal tax obligations based on their business structure.
Here are the five general types of business taxes you might need to pay:
- Income tax
- Self-employment tax
- Estimated tax
- Employer tax
- Excise tax
Overdue Business Bills
You'll get a letter from the IRS if you don't pay your business taxes on time. The notice will typically highlight the due date and give you 30 to 60 days to respond.
Ignoring the letter can lead to additional fees, penalties, or even a visit from an IRS agent. You could face serious consequences if you don't pay your business taxes.
Paying at least a part of the deposit can reduce the amount of penalties owed if you can't pay the entire amount. This is a good practice to follow to keep your business safe.
The IRS will send a notice in the mail if you don't respond to the initial letter. It's essential to respond and pay the overdue amount to avoid further action.
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