Unfiled returns. Back taxes. Liens and levies. All of it is fixable.
Stop guessing, protect what you've got, and get a clear plan you actually understand. Katherine Johnson is a CPA and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist with 30 years behind her.
Katherine M. Johnson
CPA, CTRS (Lic. #1996)
Not sure where to start? Start with what's happening right now.
Most people who call don't know the name of the program they need. That's fine — it isn't your job to know. Start with the part you do know.
“I got a letter from the IRS and I don't understand it”
“Money is being taken out of my paycheck”
“My bank account was frozen”
“I haven't filed in years”
“I owe more than I can pay”
“There's a lien on my property”
“I'm being audited”
“I'm being held responsible for my spouse's taxes”
“I hired a tax relief company and nothing happened”
The letters don't stop on their own
Almost everyone who calls has been carrying this a while. Sometimes years. The notices arrive, they go in a drawer, and the balance grows quietly in the background.
There's no judgment in that. It's the most common version of this story, and avoiding something frightening is a normal thing for a person to do.
What's worth knowing is what happens in the meantime. The IRS has real collection powers and it does use them — it can take money from a paycheck without going to court, freeze a bank account, or file a lien that follows you into every loan application and property sale.
Almost all of it can be interrupted. Nearly every one of those actions has a corresponding way to stop or unwind it. But how many of those routes are still open depends a great deal on how far the process has already gone. Someone who calls after a first notice has more options than someone who calls after a final one.
That's the honest reason not to wait. Not because something terrible happens tomorrow — but because waiting quietly narrows what's still possible.
“Most clients tell me 'I should have done this years ago.' The relief of opening your mail again without dread is worth every single step.”
Katherine M. Johnson
CPA, Certified Tax Resolution Specialist
A CPA works your case. Not a processing department.
Heavy Advertising & Unlicensed Sales reps
- ✕Phone answered by commissioned salesperson who quotes fake settlement figures
- ✕File passed off to a processing department where no licensed practitioner touches it
- ✕Upfront fees taken without reviewing IRS account transcripts first
Katherine M. Johnson, CPA, CTRS
Next Level Tax Resolution is built the other way around. Katherine has been a CPA since 1996 and holds the Certified Tax Resolution Specialist designation from ASTPS. Her team in Georgetown gathers your file — and Katherine reviews it, decides the approach, and deals with the IRS herself. Every case.
- No settlement quotes before examining official IRS transcripts
- Personal CPA representation before IRS Revenue Officers and agents
- Straight read of where you stand and what your realistic options are
How to Choose a Tax Resolution Firm
Twelve questions — and the answers that should worry you. This is the checklist I'd want my own family to have before signing anything.
What's inside this guide
The 12 questions you MUST ask any firm before you sign or pay
And what their answers should tell you.
Red flags that should make you walk away immediately
Claims, tactics, and pressure tactics used by firms you don't want.
What 'unlimited representation rights' actually means (and who has them)
CPAs, Enrolled Agents, attorneys — and why it matters for your case.
How to compare apples to apples when getting quotes
So you can make an informed decision instead of a panicked one.
The truth about 'IRS Fresh Start Program' advertising
Why it's not what most people think — and how to spot the difference.
A one-page comparison worksheet you can use on ANY firm
Including us. Use it as your evaluation framework.
"This is the list I'd give to anyone in my own family before they hired any tax resolution firm — including mine."
— Katherine M. Johnson, CPA, CTRS
Get the 12-Question Buyer's Guide
Email delivery only. No phone number required. No spam, no pushy follow-ups — just the guide.
Use this guide to evaluate any tax resolution firm — including Next Level Tax Resolution. If our answers don't measure up, we're not the right fit for you.
Already read the guide and ready to talk? or call (800) 236-3741.
What actually happens when you get in touch
No pressure, no complicated paperwork to prepare before your first call.
A conversation, not a sales pitch
Tell us what's going on. We'll ask what notices you've received, roughly what's owed, whether you're an individual or a business, and which years are involved. No documents needed. Nothing to prepare.
A look at your actual IRS account
Most of what matters isn't in the letters — it's in your IRS transcripts. With your authorization we pull them, and Katherine finds out what the IRS actually has on file: what's been assessed, what's been filed, what hasn't, and how much time is left on the collection clock. A surprising number of cases change shape at this step.
A plan you understand before anything starts
Katherine walks you through what she found and what your realistic options are — including the ones you might not like. You'll know the recommendation, the reasoning, and the cost before any work begins.
She handles the IRS
Once Katherine is representing you, the letters and the phone calls come to her. Most clients say this is the part that changes how they feel — not the resolution itself, but no longer being the one who has to open the mail.
Or browse all services to see what fits your situation.
What “resolved” actually means
People often assume there's one outcome — you pay it, or you don't. There's considerably more room than that. Depending on what your transcripts and finances show, resolution can look like any of these.
A balance settled for less than what's owed
Through an Offer in Compromise. The IRS decides based on what they calculate you can actually pay — not on how much you owe. It's why some people with large balances qualify and some with small ones don't.
Learn moreA payment plan sized to what you can genuinely afford
Rather than what a notice demands. There are several kinds, and the differences matter.
Learn moreCollection paused entirely
If paying anything would leave you unable to cover basic living costs, the IRS can place an account in hardship status (Currently Not Collectible) and stop collecting for a period.
Learn morePenalties reduced or removed
The IRS waives penalties more often than most people expect. There's a first-time relief provision that a great many taxpayers qualify for and never claim.
Learn moreA levy released, a lien withdrawn
Both are usually reversible — but it means putting something else in place, which is the work.
Learn moreYears of unfiled returns brought current
Often with a lower balance than the IRS's number, because a return the IRS files on your behalf (SFR) may not give you credit for the deductions and exemptions you're entitled to.
Learn moreWhich of these is realistic for you isn't something anyone can tell from a phone call. It comes out of your IRS transcripts and a full financial picture. But it's worth knowing the range, because most people arrive assuming their only option is to pay a number they can't pay.
Where people usually need help
Tax problems tend to arrive in a few recognizable shapes. These are the ones Katherine works on most.
Stopping IRS collection
Wage garnishment, bank levies and tax liens — the actions that have already started and need interrupting.
Resolving what's owed
Offers in Compromise, payment plans, hardship status and penalty relief. The question of what you actually end up paying.
Getting back on file
Unfiled returns — three years or fifteen — and the back-tax preparation that goes with them.
Audits and disputes
Audit representation, appeals, and relief from a spouse's tax debt.
State tax problems
State revenue departments run their own programs and often move faster than the IRS. Katherine works in all 50 states.
What do you need help with?
Not sure which category your situation falls into? That's completely normal. Tell us what's happening and we'll point you in the right direction.
Professional help. Genuine relief.
Real reviews from real people who were facing IRS trouble.
“I needed a CPA and based on her great reviews and being female owned I chose Katherine. Which was the best decision ever. Her staff and herself were absolutely Godsends. She advocated for me with the IRS and turned my horrible situation around and prevented me from financial devastation. There are not enough praises for her. She is proven, ethical, professional and will be your best advocate.”
Cheryl Barbour
IRS Audit Representation • Georgetown, KY
“I hadn't filed in 6 years and lived with terrible anxiety every time the mail came. Katherine took over the whole file, pulled my transcripts, and got my wage garnishment stopped within days. I can breathe again.”
David M.
“A national tax firm took $4,000 from me and did zero work. Katherine gave me a straight answer right away, settled my IRS debt for a fraction of what was claimed, and answered all my calls personally.”
Marcus T.
* Individual results vary. Every case depends on its own facts and IRS transcripts.
Thirty years of experience, one expert on your case.
With over 30 years of experience as a CPA, Katherine Johnson has dedicated her career to helping clients navigate the complexities of taxes. Passionate about alleviating financial stress, she specializes in assisting individuals and small businesses facing tax challenges, including unpaid taxes, audits, and penalties.
Katherine's extensive knowledge and personalized approach enable her to develop effective strategies tailored to each client's unique situation. Her commitment to excellence and clear communication ensures that clients feel supported throughout the resolution process.
She earned her BS in Accounting and Marketing/Finance from Georgetown College and holds the prestigious Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) designation from the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS).
Katherine M. Johnson
Professional Credentials
Certified Tax Resolution Specialist
ASTPS Certified Practitioner (July 2026)
Georgetown College
BS in Accounting and Marketing/Finance
Licensed CPA Since 1996
Kentucky State Board of Accountancy
1000+ Clients Served Annually
Georgetown Office & Remote Nationwide
Haven't filed in years?
It's the most common situation Katherine sees — and the one people are most reluctant to talk about. This free guide covers what actually happens when you come forward: how many years you're likely to need, how to get your income records when you have none, and why the balance the IRS shows is often higher than what you'd owe if the returns were filed properly.
Free. Email only — no phone number required.
The IRS Catch-Up Roadmap
By Katherine M. Johnson, CPA, CTRS
Included Inside:
• The 6-year rule explained
• SFR Substitute Returns fix
• Transcript retrieval steps
Questions people ask first
Start with a conversation
No documents to gather, no forms to fill in first. Tell us what's happening, and we'll tell you what your options are.