Tax Relief AnswersWhat the IRS actually offers when you owe
When you owe the IRS, these are your real options
If you owe federal tax you cannot pay at once, the IRS itself offers a payment plan you can set up online, a hardship status that pauses collection, penalty relief for first-time cases, and, for some people, a settlement for less than the full balance. Every one of those can be requested for free, directly from the IRS. Every figure on this site links to IRS.gov or the law.
Got a letter? Find it by the number in the top right corner
What is happening to you
Three facts most people do not know
- The IRS generally has 10 years from the date it assessed a tax to collect it. After that, the balance expires. See the 10-year collection limit.
- A CP504 notice is not the final notice before the IRS can take your wages. That is the LT11 or Letter 1058, which also starts your 30-day right to a hearing. See CP504 and LT11.
- The IRS often removes failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties for first-time cases when you ask and meet its conditions. See first-time penalty abatement.
Everything else
IRS programs
Guides
- IRS Tax Debt Glossary in English and Spanish
- Tax Lien vs Tax Levy
- How to Appeal IRS Collection
- IRS Scam Letters
- Can the IRS Take Your Passport? Seriously Delinquent Tax Debt and Notice CP508C
- IRS Penalties and Interest Rate
- Does the IRS Forgive Tax Debt? The One-Time Forgiveness Myth and What Is Real
- Offer in Compromise vs Payment Plan
- Currently Not Collectible vs Partial Payment Installment Agreement
- Short-Term vs Long-Term IRS Payment Plan
- Lien Release vs Withdrawal vs Discharge vs Subordination
- First-Time Abatement vs Reasonable Cause
- Enrolled Agent vs CPA vs Tax Attorney
- Tax Relief Company vs DIY vs Low Income Clinic vs Taxpayer Advocate
- Bankruptcy vs Offer in Compromise for IRS Tax Debt
- IRS Payment Plan Checklist
- Form 433-F Checklist
- Offer in Compromise Checklist
- IRS Levy Notice Checklist
- Federal Tax Lien Checklist
Tax relief companies
By state
- Tax Debt Help in Texas
- Tax Debt Help in California
- Tax Debt Help in New York
- Tax Debt Help in Florida
- Tax Debt Help in Illinois
- Tax Debt Help in Georgia
- Tax Debt Help in North Carolina
- Tax Debt Help in Ohio
- Tax Debt Help in Pennsylvania
- Tax Debt Help in Michigan
- Tax Debt Help in New Jersey
- Tax Debt Help in Virginia
- Tax Debt Help in Washington
- Tax Debt Help in Arizona
- Tax Debt Help in Tennessee