IRS Payment Plan

If you owe back taxes to the IRS and are having trouble coming up with the funds to pay off your federal tax debt, there are options to consider. The IRS tax payment plan is a way for taxpayers who need help filing back taxes with the federal government to pay back the amount they owe over a period of time without the threat of increased collection actions.

The IRS allows several types of IRS tax payment plans, including an automatic installment agreement plan. Other types of IRS Payment Agreement plans include partial-pay installment agreements, streamlined installment agreements, offer in compromise resolutions, and stair-step installment agreements. There are various benefits, problems and requirements for each of these types of IRS payment plans.

If you choose to ignore your tax bill and don’t take steps to set up a payment plan, the Internal Revenue Service will take action. There are numerous collection methods and consequences you can expect if you continue to let your tax debt go unpaid.

• Federal Tax Lien If the government places a tax lien on your property or assets, they’re laying claim to your personal property. A lien doesn’t involve actual seizure, but it’s the step immediately prior to the IRS taking action. A lien will generally be issued only if you owe more than $10,000 in back taxes.
• Federal Tax Levy If lien notices go ignored, the government will seize your property. This could mean wage garnishment, bank account seizure, or the selling of your possessions, like your home, cars, or other assets.

Always file your tax return, even if you cannot afford to pay your outstanding balance. The IRS will enforce a failure to file penalty that must be paid in addition to your back taxes. Currently the penalty is .5 percent per month, which can increase to a maximum of 25 percent of your tax bill. The IRS also offers the Fresh Start Initiative, which can waive the failure to file penalty waived for up to six months.

Many taxpayers find it easiest to pay their tax bill with a credit card. A taxpayer may pay with an American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or other debit card. The IRS accepts credit card payments through three companies: Link2Gov, WorldPay, and Official Payments. These payment processors charge a convenience fee of about 2 percent of your total bill balance.

While this can get the taxpayer out of hot water with the Internal Revenue Service, it may come with other consequences and costs; each credit card company will enforce its own fee schedule. If you do end up paying a fee, keep a record of it. The IRS allows taxpayers to claim this amount as a miscellaneous itemized expense.

Keep in mind that paying by credit card can also result in interest; however, many taxpayers find that credit card payments have lower interest rates and fewer penalties than IRS tax payment plans do.

If your tax debt is much too large for credit card payments, the IRS will take monthly payments. There are a variety of installment agreement payment plans. A tax expert can help you determine which repayment plan best suits your financial situation.

If you owe more than $50,000, or you can’t reasonably pay the outstanding balance owed in less than six years, it’s important to come up with a payment plan that the IRS will approve. The team of experts here at Community Tax can help you devise a solid IRS installment payment plan you’ll be able to realistically live with.

Your request will begin with a Collection Information statement found on Form 433-A. An IRS collector will analyze your information to determine what amount you can pay per instalment. These payment amounts are done at the discretion of the Internal Revenue Service.

When proposing a payment plan, offer to pay the amount of your income minus your necessary living expenses. This will be the cash you have left over after your life necessity costs. It’s unwise to propose a payment plan you can’t afford just to better your chances of approval. Once approved you won’t be able to renegotiate so make sure it’s a payment plan you can feasibly handle on your current wages.

When you propose the agreement, make the first payment concurrently. Continue to make these monthly payments by using payment slips and bar-coded envelopes provided in any notice you may have received, even if the IRS hasn’t yet approved your IRS tax payment plan. Collectors are more willing to work with taxpayers that make voluntary payments. You can make payments online, over the phone, through check or money order, and with a credit card, but it’s important to always pay without defaulting.

After your Installment Agreement proposal has been approved, you can pay through two other options.

• Direct Debit You can ask your bank to automatically debit your checking account every month and send the payment to the IRS for you. So long as the account is open and funded, your payment won’t be late or missed—better ensuring your installment agreement is never revoked.
• Direct Payroll Deduction You may also request a payroll deduction using Form 219, the Payroll Deduction Agreement. This asks your employer to send payments to the IRS every month using payment slips.

If you owe more than $50,000, you’ll need to submit Form 9465 and Form 433-F. You’ll need to list your lines of credit, accounts, real estate, and any other assets. You’ll also need to provide details on your employment, monthly income, and living expenses.

This application cannot be done online. If you have an outstanding balance that exceeds this amount, it’s vital to use the help of a tax expert to efficiently and quickly work out a deal with the internal revenue service before facing severe penalties.

There is an IRS tax payment plan for small businesses. If your company is struggling and you owe an outstanding balance to the IRS, this may be a good option to pursue. Any business that owes $25,000 or less in back taxes can request what’s called an In-Business Trust Fund Express installment agreement. While this type of IRS tax payment plan doesn’t require a financial statement, your business must currently have employees on its roster. This installment agreement gives businesses a 24-month period to fully pay the outstanding balance. If the amount owed is less than $25,000 but more than $10,000, the business must set up a Direct Debit installment agreement. Businesses may apply online or over the phone.

Before proposing a payment plan, understand that there are fees to start these agreements. Currently the fee can cost up to $120, but there may be changes taking place soon.

The IRS has proposed a revised schedule of user fees, set to take effect on January 1, 2017, applying to any taxpayer that enters into an installment agreement or payment plan after this date. The proposal would see an increase in installment agreement fees, up to $225. This rate would apply to anyone who entered into an installment agreement in person, by mail, over the phone, or by filing a Form 9465.

The following table from IRS.gov details the proposed schedule:

There are three reasons the IRS might reject a proposed installment payment plan:

• Unnecessary Living Expenses: If the IRS deems your living expenses extravagant, they will deny your payment plan proposal. Whether it be charitable contributions or large credit card payments, should the IRS balk at your living expenditures, they’ll likely refuse your offer.
• Your Collection Information Statement is Incorrect:/strong> If the information provided on your Form 433-A, or Collection Information Statement is untruthful or incomplete, the IRS may assume you’re hiding income or property.
• You’ve Defaulted on a Previous Installment Agreement: If you have already defaulted on a prior payment plan, the IRS may be hesitant to accept your new proposal.