707-584-1040 info@mayclincpa.com

5 Options if You Can’t Pay the IRS April 15th

by | Mar 12, 2015 | Taxes

Tax day comes every year on April 15th. For most Americans, it’s simply routine; however, for many others, paying taxes is simply impossible due to financial hardship or other circumstances. If you can’t pay the IRS, do not panic; you have options, starting with the five following steps.

  1. File your taxes on time.

Even though you can’t pay, you should still file your taxes by the deadline and pay as much as you have. This is because not filing at all will result in a penalty, and can be considered tax evasion, which is punishable by federal law. You won’t be able to pay your full taxes, but you’ll at least avoid the consequences of not filing at all.

  1. Get a loan.

Look to your bank to help you get a loan so that you can pay your taxes; you can pay off the loan once you have enough saved up. You should keep interest rates in mind, as banks can often charge high interest rates if you have a low credit score; however, from looking around, you should be able to find a loan that works for you. You can also use a credit card to pay your taxes; you’ll have to make credit card payments on time or pay a penalty, but if you are confident that you can meet the deadlines, this is a better action than not paying your taxes.

  1. Use the Online Payment Agreement Tool.

The Online Payment Agreement Tool sets up a payment plan with the IRS, by which you can work out exactly how you will be able to pay your taxes in installments instead of all at once. You don’t need to wait for the IRS to send you a bill in order to do this! You can also file Form 9465, which is the Installment Agreement Request, along with your taxes, which accomplishes the same purpose.

  1. Try the direct debit agreement.

The direct debit agreement means that you won’t have to mail a check each month in order to file your taxes; you also won’t miss important deadlines or pay penalty fees. This is similar to the Installment Agreement Request; however, you will be working directly off of your debit with regards to paying your taxes.

  1. Call the IRS.

The IRS consists of people – all of whom can talk to you and work out a payment plan in order for you to be able to pay your taxes. The best option is to contact the IRS and explain your situation so that you are not penalized for not paying your taxes, and instead can receive help.