09/25/2012
ELEVEN TIPS FOR TAXPAYERS WHO OWE MONEY TO THE IRS
Most taxpayers get a refund from the Internal Revenue Service when they file their tax returns. For those who don't get a refund, the IRS offers several options to pay their tax bill.
Here are eleven tips for taxpayers who owe money to the IRS.
1. Tax bill payments If you get a bill from the IRS this summer
that shows you owe late taxes, you are expected to promptly
pay the tax owed including any penalties and interest. If you are
unable to pay the bill in full amount due, it may be better for you
to get a loan to pay the bill in full rather than to make
installment payments to the IRS. That's because the interest
rate and penalties the IRS must charge by law are often higher
than what lending institutions may be offering.
2. Electronic Funds Transfer You can pay your tax bill by
electronic funds transfer, check, money order, cashier's check or
cash. To pay using electronic funds transfer, use the Electronic
Federal Tax Payment System by either calling 800-555-4477 or
using the online access at www.eftps.gov.
3. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS You can pay your bill with a credit
card. Again, the interest rate on a credit card may be lower
than the combination of interest and penalties the IRS must
charge. To pay by credit card contact one of the following
processing companies:
---WorldPay US, Inc. at 888-9PAY-TAX ( or www.payUSAtax.com),
---Official Payments Corporation at 888-UPAY-TAX (or
www.officialpayments.com/fed), or
---Link2Gov Corporation at 888-PAY -1040 (or www.pay1040.com)
4.ADDITIONAL TIME TO PAY Based on your circumstances, you
may be granted a short additional time to pay your tax in full. A
brief additional amount of time to pay can be requested through
the Online Payment Agreement application at IRS.gov or by
calling 800-829-1040. There generally is no set up fee for a
short-term agreement.
5. INSTALLMENT AGREEMENT You may request an installment
agreement if you cannot pay the total tax you owe in full. This
is an agreement between you and the IRS to pay the amount
due in monthly installment payments. You must first file all
required returns and be current with estimated tax payments.
6. APPLY USING FORM 9465 You can complete and mail an IRS
Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request, along with your
bill using the envelope you received from the IRS. The IRS
will inform you (usually within 30 days ) whether you request
is approved, denied, or if additional information is needed.
7. APPLY USING ONLINE PAYMENT AGREEMENT If you owe
$50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, you
can request an installment agreement using the Online
Payment Agreement application at IRS.gov. You may still
qualify for an installment agreement if you owe more than
$50,000, but you are required to complete a Form 433F,
Collection Information Statement, before the IRS will consider
an installment agreement.
8. USER FEES If an installment agreement is approved, a one-
time user fee will be charged. The user fee for a new agreement
is $105 or $52 for agreements where payments are deducted
directly from your bank account. For eligible individuals with
lower incomes, the fee can be reduced to $43.
9. OFFER IN COMPROMISE IRS is now offering more flexible
terms with its Offer-in-Compromise (OIC) Program. An OIC
is an agreement between an taxpayer and the IRS that settles
the taxpayer's tax debt for less than the full amount owed. An
OIC is generally accepted only if the IRS believes, after
assessing the taxpayer's financial situation, that the tax debt
can't be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment
agreement. CALL NCS 713-649-6333
10. CHECK WITHOLDING Taxpayers who have a balance due
may want to consider changing their Form W-4, Employee's
Withholding Allowance Certificate, with their emolyer.
11. FRESH START The IRS has a program to help struggling
taxpayers get a fresh start. Through the Fresh Start program,
individuals and small businesses may be able to pay the taxes
they owe without facing additional or unnecessary burden.
The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System® tax payment service is provided free by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After you've enrolled and received your credentials, you can pay any tax due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using this system.