Payment options include full payment, short-term payment plan (paying in 180 days or less) or a long-term payment plan (installment agreement) (paying monthly).
Balance of $10,000 or below
If you owe less than $10,000 to the IRS, your installment plan will generally be automatically approved as a "guaranteed" installment agreement. Under this type of plan, as long as you pledge to pay off your balance within three years, there is no specific minimum payment required.
Payment by credit card or debit card via phone or Internet, Payment via check or money order, Payment with cash at a retail partner. For all accepted payment methods, see Payments.
Throughout the duration of your Installment Agreement, any outstanding debt will continue to accrue penalties and interest for unpaid taxes on a monthly basis. As a result, you may end up paying the IRS much more than you initially owed, as it can add up to 8–10% interest annually.
Once taxpayers complete the online application, they receive immediate notification of whether the IRS has approved their payment plan. The process only takes a few minutes, and there's no paperwork and no need to call, write or visit the IRS. Setup fees may apply for some types of plans.
Borrowing to cover your tax expenses can sometimes be a good option, but the IRS also offers payment plans that might cost you less in interest and fees—and won't risk harm to your credit.
The IRS will provide up to 120 days to taxpayers to pay their full tax balance. Fees or cost: There's no fee to request the extension. There is a penalty of 0.5% per month on the unpaid balance. Action required: Complete an online payment agreement, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040 or get an expert to handle it for you.
If you don't have the cash to pay Uncle Sam right away, the IRS has installment plans that can help. There's no getting around interest and penalties, but you'll avoid more severe consequences. The IRS's short-term payment plan gives taxpayers up to 180 days to settle their debt.
Missing or Incorrect Information on the Application
The most common reason that people find their Installment Agreement rejected is simply that they did not fill out the form correctly, or at all. To apply for an Installment Agreement, you have to fill out Form 433, which is the Collection Information Statement.
What to consider before paying the IRS with a credit card. If you have a tax liability that you can't pay in full, using a credit card may not be your best option. With average credit card interest rates being around 16%, paying with a credit card could mean additional interest on top of your tax bill.
One-time forgiveness, otherwise known as penalty abatement, is an IRS program that waives any penalties facing taxpayers who have made an error in filing an income tax return or paying on time. This program isn't for you if you're notoriously late on filing taxes or have multiple unresolved penalties.
Apply With the New Form 656
An offer in compromise allows you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe. It may be a legitimate option if you can't pay your full tax liability or doing so creates a financial hardship.
If you set up a monthly payment plan on your tax debt, the IRS will assess interest on your account. As of April 2023, the interest rate on payment plans is 7%.
You must stay current with all filing and payment requirements and fully pay through installments in six years (72 months) and within the collection statute – the time the IRS has to collect the amount you owe.
The IRS will look at your full financial situation to figure out your ability to pay. The IRS will calculate your monthly payment based on your income and allowable expenses. And you have to be able to pay your whole tax balance by the collection statute expiration date.
If you find that you cannot pay the full amount by the filing deadline, you should file your return and pay as much as you can by the due date. To see if you qualify for an installment payment plan, attach a Form 9465, “Installment Agreement Request,” to the front of your tax return.
To reiterate – you cannot have two installment agreements with the IRS. However, you can pay off more than one tax debt through your existing installment payment. When you owe the government money, the IRS marks a deficit on your tax account. Further debt accrued simply increases that balance due.
“The best strategy is breaking even, owing the IRS an amount you can easily pay, or getting a small refund,” Clare J. Fazackerley, CPA, CFP, told Finance Buzz. “You don't want to owe more than $1,000 because you'll have an underpayment penalty of 5% interest, which is more than you can make investing the money.
You must stay current with all filing and payment requirements, including projected penalties and interest on the tax debt, and fully pay the balance due in six years (72 months) and within the collection statute — the time the IRS has to collect the amount you owe.
An offer in compromise is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles a tax debt for less than the full amount owed. An offer in compromise is an option when a taxpayer can't pay their full tax liability. It is also an option when paying the entire tax bill would cause the taxpayer a financial hardship.
The Fresh Start Program was designed to help taxpayers stuck in debt to reduce the amount they owe, so they can get back on track with their tax payments and begin to plan for their financial future.
They can apply for a payment plan at IRS.gov/paymentplan. These plans can be either short- or long-term. Short-term payment plan – The payment period is 180 days or less, and the total amount owed is less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2023. For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 7% per year, compounded daily.