I owe the IRS money. What are my options?

If you can afford to pay the amount you owe, it should be paid.

But many times that is not the case. If you cannot afford to pay, you have several options. Ignoring the IRS should not be one of them!

Installment Agreements

The first option is to enter into an installment agreement with the IRS. To do this you need to fill out Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. This form is fairly easy to complete, but we strongly recommend that if you owe a substantial amount of money you work with us to secure your agreement.​ 

Offer in Compromise

The second option, which is much harder to get approved, is an offer in compromise. The IRS will be reluctant to do this if they feel you have the resources to eventually pay.

You should not attempt an offer in compromise without professional help you can trust. The IRS has also issued a consumer alert, advising taxpayers to beware of promoters’ claims that tax debts can be settled for “pennies on the dollar” through the Offer in Compromise Program.