Most business owners don’t lose sleep because they hate numbers. They lose sleep because they are terrified of what those numbers might reveal if the IRS ever comes knocking. Behind the unfiled returns, unopened IRS letters, and messy books is a constant, exhausting fear: “What if I’m in trouble and I don’t even know it yet?”​

In this episode of the Tax Answers Advisor, Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Representation Consultant Marcelino Dodge sits down with CPA Laura Zarate of Athena CPAs to talk about a different way forward: building clean systems and proactive tax strategies so you can stop looking over your shoulder and finally look ahead. Together they show how “boring” consistent accounting, intentional decisions, and year‑round planning can turn chaos into clarity and fear into confidence.​

You’ll hear how reactive habits—ignoring IRS notices, mixing business and personal money, relying on shoebox receipts, waiting until April to think about taxes—quietly build penalties, interest, and anxiety, even when no one is sending you letters yet. You’ll also discover what a truly clean system looks like, why documentation matters so much in an audit, and how separating your business and personal finances protects not just your deductions but your entire entity.​

Marcelino and Laura walk through real‑life scenarios: missed S corporation elections, owners who never took reasonable payroll, people who bought expensive vehicles “for the write‑off” and ended up with a cash problem instead of a tax solution. They unpack how simple timing and structure decisions—like how you sell a business, when you take income, and how you compensate yourself—can save thousands when you plan ahead instead of cleaning up after the fact.​

Most importantly, this conversation speaks to the business owner who feels ashamed, behind, or afraid to reach out because “it’s already such a mess.” You’ll hear why it is absolutely possible to clean up the past and build better systems for the future at the same time, and how showing real change can make the IRS or state far more willing to work with you.​

The problem this show solves

This show exists for the business owner who:

1. Has unfiled tax returns, IRS or state letters, or a tax bill they don’t understand.​
2. Is trying to DIY their books and taxes while running a company, and feels constantly unsure if anything is actually right.​
3. Has grown from “side hustle” money to real revenue but never adjusted their entity, payroll, or planning.​
4. Lies awake wondering, “What if I get audited? What if I can’t fix this?”​

Through this podcast, Marcelino helps you:

1. Move from fear, avoidance, and reaction into proactive planning, clear systems, and predictable tax outcomes.​
2. Replace shame with informed action by explaining what went wrong, what can still be fixed, and what to do next.​
3. Keep more of what you earn legally, while getting compliant and protecting your business and family.​

If today’s episode hits a nerve—if you see your own situation in these stories—it’s a signal, not a sentence. You don’t have to fight the IRS or face your books alone.​

Take the next step

When you’re ready to stop letting the IRS dictate your future, visit taxreliefcall.com to schedule a confidential conversation with Marcelino. As an Enrolled Agent...

Do you wake up at 3:00 AM, paralyzed by the fear of an unopened IRS letter? You are not alone.

In this powerful episode of The Tax Answers Advisor, host Marcelino Dodge (Enrolled Agent) sits down with Business Architect Valerie Cobb to discuss the heartbreaking reality of the "I Wish I Knew" syndrome—the moment business owners realize a blind spot has cost them their legacy.

From the hidden dangers of unpaid payroll taxes that can kill a business sale to the new threats of cyber fraud and digital badging, this conversation is about survival. But beyond prevention, we address the cure. If you are already drowning in unfiled returns or facing aggressive IRS collection actions, there is a lifeline.

🛑 Stop Living in Fear. Restore Your Peace of Mind.

The IRS has the power to garnish your wages, seize your bank accounts, and place liens on your property. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away—it only compounds the penalties.

We can help you:

1. Stop the Bleeding: Halt penalties and interest from spiraling out of control.
2. Protect Your Assets: Prevent or stop wage garnishments and bank levies.
3. Get Your Life Back: Negotiate Offer in Compromise (OIC) settlements and manageable payment plans.

📞 Call Now for Immediate Relief: (719) 359-8789

🌐 Book Your Free Consultation: www.taxreliefcall.com

1. The Cash Flow Trap: Why unplanned tax liabilities are the #1 killer of profitable businesses. ​
2. Selling Your Business? Why a "clean tax history" is the first thing investors check (and why payroll tax debt kills deals).
3. Cyber Risks: Valerie Cobb explains "Digital Badging" and how to protect your organization from AI fraud. taxreliefcall​
4. The Solution: How Panther Tax Resolution stands between you and the IRS to break the cycle of tax stress. taxreliefcall​

Can I settle my tax debt for less than I owe?

Yes. Through an Offer in Compromise (OIC), many taxpayers can settle their debt for a fraction of the amount owed if they meet specific IRS criteria. Panther Tax Resolution specializes in negotiating these settlements to help you regain financial stability. taxreliefcall​

What happens if I haven't filed tax returns in years?

Failure to file can lead to severe legal action and estimated assessments by the IRS that are often higher than what you actually owe. Our team helps you gather documents, prepare overdue returns, and ensure compliance so you can sleep at night again. taxreliefcall​

How do I stop an IRS wage garnishment?

You need expert representation...

Does the thought of opening your mailbox send you into a panic? Do you feel paralyzed by unfiled tax returns or mounting IRS debt? You are not alone. In this unique crossover episode of The Tax Answers Advisor, host Marcelino Dodge sits down with family therapy expert Lydia Schneider to explore the deep emotional impact of financial stress.

We discuss why "Tax Trauma" is real and how the shame of IRS issues can mimic the symptoms of PTSD. Marcelino and Lydia break down how therapy techniques—like building safety, reframing anxiety, and even EMDR—can help you get "unstuck" and finally take the first steps toward resolution. Whether you are dealing with a defiant child or a defiant tax debt, the path to healing starts with finding a safe guide.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. The Hidden Link: Why tax problems often manifest as physical anxiety, sleeplessness, and emotional isolation.
2. What is "Tax Trauma"? Understanding why you feel unsafe and how to regain a sense of control over your life (and your finances).
3. Lessons from Child Therapy: How the concepts of "returning responsibility" and "empowerment" can help adults finally face their tax issues.
4. Breaking the Cycle of Shame: Why hiding the problem from your spouse or family only makes the anxiety worse—and how to start the conversation.
5. EMDR Explained: A look at how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can help clear mental blocks and "stuck" trauma.

Key Quotes:

1. "Whether it’s a child struggling with anxiety or a taxpayer feeling exposed and vulnerable... the solution starts with finding a safe path forward." – Marcelino Dodge
2. "Financial stress is the highest stress for my adults. They don’t feel safe in the world, and they don’t feel safe in themselves." – Lydia Schneider
3. "I empower them to feel in control of their life... You have everything in you that’s already there." – Lydia Schneider

Resources Mentioned:

1. Book: The Anxious Generation (Recommended by Lydia)
2. Therapy Concept: Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) & EMDR
3. Guest Info: Lydia Schneider, Family Therapy Expert

Connect with Marcelino Dodge:

Are you ready to eliminate the worry of liens, levies, and future IRS surprises? Don't face the government alone.

1. Website: TaxReliefCall.com
2. Company: Panther Tax Resolution / Cash Tracks Financial
3. Email: success@cashtracksfinancial.com

Subscribe & Review:

If you found value in this episode, please leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need to hear that there is life after tax debt.

If you’re an attorney, law firm owner, family lawyer, or legal professional trying to balance client work with financial responsibilities, this episode is a must-listen.

Host Marcelino Dodge, EA, CTRC, sits down with Merry Stewart of Quick Win Bookkeeping to reveal the bookkeeping, tax, and compliance mistakes attorneys make every single day — many of which can lead to IRS audits, bar investigations, retained earnings problems, and trust account violations.

In clear, non-technical language, they break down how proper accounting systems can:

• Protect your law license
• Prevent IRS surprises
• Reduce client disputes over retainers and fees
• Build stronger cases with clean financial records
• Empower better decision-making and cash flow planning

This conversation offers real insight you won’t hear from typical bookkeeping or tax professionals, because it comes directly from two specialists working with attorneys nationwide.

Merry Stewart — QuickWin Bookkeeping

📌 Nationwide virtual services for attorneys

🌐 Website: quickwinbookkeeping.com

📧 Email: info@quickwinbookkeeping.com

Marcelino Dodge, EA, CTRC

Tax Resolution Specialist | IRS Representation | Offer in Compromise

🌐 Schedule a confidential consultation: taxreliefcall.com

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Tax Answers Advisor

👍 Like this episode

💬 Comment: What legal bookkeeping questions do you have?

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Attorneys: Don’t wait for the IRS or the bar to write the next chapter of your practice. Get proactive guidance today.

In this emotional and inspiring episode of The Tax Answers Advisor, we explore how two seemingly different professions — a Licensed Esthetician and a Tax Resolution Specialist — actually work toward the same mission:

➡️ Restoring confidence

➡️ Reducing stress

➡️ Helping people feel whole again

Together, we dig into how caring for your skin and caring for your finances are both essential forms of self-care. You’ll hear how:

• Both fields help clients move from fear, shame, or embarrassment into hope and empowerment
• Trusted professionals create safe spaces where clients can share their struggles
• Transformation — whether physical or financial — often starts with the courage to ask for help
• Confidence grows when people feel supported, understood, and given a path forward

Listeners will discover how emotional well-being, financial clarity, and healthy habits create a foundation for peace of mind “inside and out.”

This uplifting episode is designed for anyone seeking relief — and for professionals wanting to build stronger, more supportive collaborations.

If you’re ready to feel confident again — financially, personally, or both — don’t wait.

You deserve peace of mind, clarity, and a fresh start.

Visit www.taxreliefcall.com or call (719) 359-8789 today to schedule your confidential consultation.

Your transformation begins with one simple step.

Reach out now — your confidence and freedom are waiting.

In this inspiring episode of The Tax Answers Advisor, host Marcelino Dodge, EA welcomes Vernon Burgess, holistic massage practitioner and founder of Solor LLC in Colorado Springs. Together, they explore the deep connection between financial stress and physical tension, showing how true relief comes when you heal both.

Discover how addressing your tax debt, IRS notices, and unfiled returns can bring the same calm and balance as a rejuvenating massage session. Marcelino shares stories from real taxpayers who found peace after years of tax worry, while Vernon reveals how sound healing, energy work, and movement therapy can restore the body’s harmony.

If sleepless nights and IRS letters are weighing you down, this conversation will remind you—you’re not alone, and relief is real.

✨ Find your calm. Reclaim your freedom.

👉 Visit www.taxreliefcall.com or call (719) 359-8789 to start your journey toward lasting financial healing today.

#taxrelief #taxdebt #unfiledtaxreturns #enrolledagent

If you’ve ever opened an IRS or California Franchise Tax Board letter and felt your stomach drop, you’re not alone.

In this powerful episode of The Tax Answers Advisor, host Marcelino Dodge, EA, is joined by Leighanne LaFrenz Nickel, CPA, to reveal “America’s Dirty Little Secret” — the emotional and financial burden of unresolved tax debt.

Together, they explore:

• The key differences between the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board.
• Why state tax agencies can be more aggressive than the IRS.
• Common mistakes taxpayers make — and how to avoid penalties, garnishments, and audits.
• The emotional journey from tax shame and anxiety to calm and confidence.

This episode offers not just practical strategies for resolving tax debt, but also encouragement to rebuild your peace of mind. Whether you’re dealing with back taxes, unfiled returns, or mounting penalties, this conversation will help you see that there’s always a way forward.

Ready to let go of the fear and get your peace of mind back? Visit www.taxreliefcall.com for compassionate, expert help. Your path to financial healing starts here.

Feeling overwhelmed by IRS tax debt, unfiled returns, or surprise tax bills? In this unique episode of The Tax Answer Advisor, Marcelino Dodge, EA and CTRC, sits down with Courtney Cullen of Hippy Hands Massage LLC to explore how tax relief and massage therapy work hand-in-hand to reduce financial stress and help you sleep better at night.

Discover why both tax resolution and massage therapy require expert guidance, patience, and ongoing self-care. Marcelino breaks down the step-by-step process for resolving overdue taxes, eliminating IRS anxiety, and protecting your financial future, while Courtney shares how addressing physical stress and chronic pain can support a healthier mindset for facing tax challenges.

Key highlights:

• How to “peel back the layers” of both muscle knots and financial knots
• The emotional effects of unresolved tax issues—and why shame, anxiety, or even embarrassment are common, but solvable
• The importance of working with licensed, experienced professionals (in both tax and massage industries!)
• Practical self-care tips to ease stress, anxiety, and chronic pain
• Why ongoing support and clear communication are essential to getting—and staying—on track with your body and your taxes

If IRS penalties or painful muscle tension are keeping you up at night, this down-to-earth conversation offers actionable steps and the encouragement you need to reclaim your peace of mind. Whether you're years behind on returns or struggling with a tax problem caused by someone else, you're not alone—and you don't have to face it without support.

Take the next step today:

Book your introductory session at taxreliefcall.com or reach out to Courtney for expert massage therapy and holistic self-care.

Find Courtney Cohen:

Hippy Hands Massage LLC – Available on Gloss Genius, Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor.

Listen now to start your journey toward financial relief and true relaxation!