Payment Options Available to Taxpayers Who Filed Their Taxes But Didn’t Pay

The IRS gives taxpayers an extension when it comes to filing their tax returns. However, this extension does not apply to any liabilities owed by taxpayers, so all payments were supposed to be submitted by mid April. Many taxpayers were unable to meet this deadline and so are now receiving tax bills because, although they filed on time, they did not pay in full. Fortunately, the IRS provides a number of options for taxpayers who owe money to the IRS. To find out more about these options and which ones best suit your needs, please contact an experienced unfiled taxes attorney who can advise you.

Paying Your Remaining Balance  

When taxpayers file a return, but fail to pay the entire balance that they owe to the IRS, they will receive a letter in the mail from the agency, usually within a month, notifying them of the remaining balance owed. There are a number of different options available to taxpayers at this point, including:

• Using Direct Pay to transfer a payment directly from a bank account;
• Paying by phone or online by using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System;
• Initiating a debit or credit card payment; or
• Paying by check or money order, either in person, or through the mail.

These options may not apply for taxpayers who are still unable to pay the full amount they owe to the IRS. Fortunately, even in these cases, the IRS offers a variety of payment options.

Payment Plans  

Taxpayers who are unable to fully pay off tax debt and have contacted the IRS may be able to take advantage of one of the many programs offered by the federal government, including:

• The online payment agreement plan, which allows individual taxpayers who owe less than $50,000 in income tax, penalties, and interest, or businesses that owe less than $25,000 in payroll taxes, but who have filed their returns, to begin paying according to a mutually agreed-upon schedule;
• The installment agreement option, which allows taxpayers to make direct deposits from bank or payroll accounts to help prevent defaulting on their debt;
• Delaying collection, which allows taxpayers to delay paying off their liability until their financial condition improves; and
• The offer in compromise plan, which allows taxpayers to settle their tax bill for substantially less than they actually owe.
• Non-Collectible status whereby NO payment is made to the IRS because under IRS Guidelines your reasonable living expenses exceed your income.
• Bankruptcy can under certain conditions discharge an income tax liability in full.

Unfortunately, even when a taxpayer comes to an arrangement with the IRS, the agency may still file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien on the taxpayer’s property. This essentially establishes that the IRS has priority when it comes to competing with other creditors. Once these liens are filed, they may appear on a taxpayer’s credit report, which can have a negative effect on his or her credit rating overall. For this reason, working to resolve tax liability as quickly as possible before filing a lien becomes necessary is critical for taxpayers.

Call Today with Your Tax-Related Questions and Concerns  

Please contact 386-490-9949 today if you have questions about your own unpaid taxes and our legal team will help you schedule a free one-on-one case evaluation with experienced Florida tax attorney Ronald Cutler, P.A.

Resource:

irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp14-notice