Many people are suffering financial hardship because of the COVID-19 economic downturn.
Some of those people owed more money to the IRS when they filed their 2019 income tax return, but they didn’t have the funds to pay. Interest and penalties on unpaid tax balances keep adding to your tax debt, whether you have money or not.
So, what do you do if you owe the IRS? Here is what you need to know:
- Extended Payment Options – The IRS offers two ways for taxpayers to extend their tax payments over time:
- Short-term Payment Plan – If you can pay within 120 days, this option charges no fees and makes it easy to apply online. You’ll get an immediate notification of whether your application is approved. Interest and penalties continue to accrue until the tax is paid in full.
- Installment Agreement – Used when you need more than 120 days to pay, this option requires a set-up fee (e.g., $31-149 online and $107-225 via phone). Installment Agreements may require more information from you, depending on the balance due. Payments can be debited from your bank account, paid online, or by check. Credit card payments cost additional fees.
More details and a link to apply are at https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements#costs.
- Tax Debt Amount Matters – Payment plan applications are generally easier to get approved for lower tax liabilities due than for large balances. Applications for $10,000 or less are automatically approved as a guaranteed Installment Agreement. For applications of amounts from $10-25,000, the approval is not guaranteed, and full payment must be made within six years. Tax debt payment plan applications for $25,000 up to $50,000 require information about your income, assets, and monthly expenses. Over $50,000 means a more thorough asset review to determine if anything can be liquidated to pay the tax due.
- Offer in Compromise – A growing number of taxpayer households are suffering from long-term job loss, eviction, and medical issues with no insurance coverage. The IRS wants to collect all tax due but does not want to create an undue burden on taxpayers’ ability to provide for their basic needs. An Offer in Compromise allows you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount owed if paying your full tax liability would create a financial hardship based on your assets, income, and expenses. See if you qualify at https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise.
Taxpayers who cannot pay their taxes due to the IRS in full have options to catch up. Depending on the amount due and your ability to pay, the IRS has extended payment plans and other mechanisms to avoid placing additional undue burdens on taxpayers who have already suffered financial hardship.