IRS Payment Options – Do you owe back taxes?The IRS gives you several options for paying your taxes. If you owe back taxes, this is a must-read article.
There are many IRS Payment Options. To pay your tax liability in full right away, use one of these two methods:
1. Pay by Check or Money Order
If you are filing a paper return, you can make a payment by check or money order. Use IRS Form 1040-V (Payment Voucher) to submit your payment. Form 1040-V can be mailed to the IRS in the same envelope as your tax return — just don’t staple the forms together. See Page 2 of Form 1040-V for the correct mailing address.
2. Pay by Direct Debit
Perhaps the easiest way to pay your Federal taxes is by using “Direct Pay” on the IRS.gov website. This method allows you to pay your tax bill directly from your checking or savings accounts. You will need to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to use the “Direct Pay” system. When making a payment, you will be asked the reason for your payment — make sure to select “Tax Return” so your payment is applied to the amount owed from your tax return.
In some cases, you might not have enough money in your account to fully pay your tax bill by the due date. The IRS gives you several options here (although you should always pay as much as you can by the deadline in order to minimize penalties and interest):
3. Pay by Credit Card
If you don’t have enough funds in the bank, but you do have available credit on a credit card, you may use your credit card to pay your taxes. Visit the IRS website for a list of Payment Processors. Keep in mind that there is a processing fee for using your credit card (the fees are listed and vary by service provider). Most of the time, the interest/fees associated with paying your taxes by credit card are less than the interest and penalties imposed by the IRS for paying late, making this a viable option for many people who don’t have the cash.
4. Set Up an Installment Plan
If you owe $50,000 or less as an individual ($25,000 or less for businesses), you can apply for an Online Payment Agreement on the IRS website. This means you would agree to pay your tax balance in installments over time. Note that interest will still accrue on your unpaid balance, however, you will not be considered in default. To apply, you’ll need to provide the IRS with information about your income and tax liability. In many cases, they will be able to give you a decision immediately online.
5. Offer to Settle
If it will cause “extraordinary hardship” to pay your taxes, you can make a settlement offer to the IRS. This is called anOffer in Compromise. Essentially, you offer to pay a portion of your taxes immediately and the IRS agrees to drop the rest. There’s a lot of paperwork to fill out in order for a settlement to be approved, and you’ll need to demonstrate that it’s impossible for you to fully pay the taxes that you owe. If you are able to pay your taxes through an installment plan, you will not be eligible for an Offer in Compromise.
What If You Don’t Pay?
If you do not pay your taxes by the due date, the IRS will begin the collection process. Interest compounds daily and monthly penalties will be assessed on your unpaid balance.
Neglecting to pay your taxes can result in a Federal tax lien from the IRS. A tax lien is a claim on your property for failing to pay taxes. A tax lien allows the IRS to garnish your wages and other assets. Furthermore, a lien will not be lifted until the taxes and penalties are paid in full.
Contact the IRS for more details on IRS Payment Options.
