In military with debt- pay CA or IRS first?

So I haven't filed taxes since 2006. I expect to get money back for this year but will owe around 8k for the last two years, I think.

I also have about 30k in CC debt that has been sold of and the like, I haven't made a payment on any of them since fall 2008.

Right now I am stationed outside the US and don't really think I can be sued.

I have about 20k coming to me this march, and am willing to devote 10k to paying off debt.

Should I pay of IRS of CA first? Can they sue me once I return to the states? I have a couple of 9k credit cards, maybe they will sue me? I wonder what happens if they do ? I can invoke the SCRA which says that I can get lawsuits pushed back until convenient to the army BUT, statute of limitations does not take this period of time into effect.

IRS wont settle for less so I read but the longer I wait with the CA the less I will have to pay, but will I get sued?!

and wtf is this true?
"Although a credit card company can sue you, a collection agency cannot. Although it is illegal for collections agencies to engage in intimidation and threats, many of them do so anyway because the fee they incur for each reported infraction is often less than the amount of money they collect from their threats. If you receive threats from a collection agency, report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). (See Resources)"
http://www.ehow.com/about_4673680_ge...d-company.html

Pretty simple....IRS. You are military...government employee. They know where you work.

The Lady is right.
IRS interest and penalties are adding up and the federal government has the ability to collect in ways the private sector does not (without even having to sue).
You cannot be served while overseas, unless through publication (which can be dealt with later were it to occur). I encourage you to research the Soldiers & Sailors Relief Act.

Try not to read too much into the ehow quote (or ones similar).
I would not assume that your original creditors have not maintained the legal right to the debt just because they are currently placed with outside collection. The OC may not have sold the debt at this point. They may be cycling through tertiary assignment collectors.

Thank you for your commitment to this country and its citizens.


Mileage may vary

one of the things the irs can do is take your refund completely till that debt is paid off. so you may not have to make a choice they may do it for you. besides i would wanna deal with that first its scary to owe the government!

Pay Uncle Sam
The P&I will kill you.

This a a no brainer man. Pay uncle same first under favorable terms you can both live with. OR he makes you pay under terms that you won't like. The collection agency will just have to wait.

Pay the IRS. They will most likely snatch your refund. They took my "stimulus" check. I currently pay them so much every month. They have an installment plan you can use; go to www.irs.gov. When you have extra, you can pay more. There's a website you can access to make your payments.

The IRS can attach your wages, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, retirement benefits... Plus the interest and penalty meter is constantly ticking.