What to Do When You Can't Pay Your Federal Income Taxes on Time

You might be on the verge of panic if Tax Day is approaching, and you know you can't come up with the money to pay your federal income tax by that date. But you have options if you're not able to pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on time.

Understanding what those options are, and the penalties for paying or filing late, can help you decide which path to take to handle a looming tax bill.

Late Payment and Late Filing Penalties

The IRS assesses two separate penalties for filing your tax return late and for paying your taxes late.

The failure-to-file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each month or partial month that your return is late, up to a maximum of 25% of what you owe. If your return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty you'll have to pay is the lesser of $435 or 100% of the tax owed.

The failure-to-pay penalty is 0.5% of the tax owed for each month or partial month, up to a maximum of 25%, until the tax is paid in full. That rate increases to 1% if the tax remains unpaid 10 days after the IRS issues a final notice of intent to levy property.

The IRS can seize any state income tax refund that you have coming after it sends you the notice of intent to levy. You then would have the right to a hearing before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals. The IRS can seize your wages or other income, your bank accounts, business or personal assets, and/or Social Security benefits if you lose your appeal.

Interest Payments

You'll be charged interest on the amount of tax you owe until the tax debt is paid in full, in addition to penalties. The interest rate is set quarterly, and it's equal to the federal short-term rate plus 3%. The interest rate is 3% as of the first quarter of 2022. Interest compounds daily.

Installment Plan Payments

The failure-to-pay penalty rate on the owed amount is 0.25% for every month in which an installment agreement is in effect if you file your return on time and receive approval from the IRS to pay your tax in installments.

You can request an installment plan online, by telephone, or by mail. Attach a written request for a payment plan (Form 9465) to the front of your return when you file if you haven't yet filed your return.

Credit Card Payments

You can use a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover) to pay your tax bill if you don't have the cash on hand to pay it when you file. You must do so through one of three service providers approved by the IRS: PayUSAtax, Pay1040, or ACI Payments, Inc. You'll be charged a fee of 1.96% to 1.99% of the amount you're paying, with a minimum fee of $2.69, $2.58, or $2.50, respectively.

An Offer in Compromise

The IRS may accept less than the full amount you owe through an offer in compromise (OIC) if you owe so much that there's no way you'll ever be able to pay it. This is essentially a settlement agreement in which the IRS permits you to pay the most money it could expect you to be able to pay in a reasonable amount of time.

The IRS considers your unique situation when evaluating an OIC, including your ability to pay, your income, your monthly expenses, and your assets.

The Form 656-B Booklet explains how to request an offer in compromise. You'll have to complete Form 433-A, the Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals, as well, and possibly Form 656, the request for an OIC. The IRS states that Form 656 is "intended for tax professional use only," however.

You'll also have to submit a non-refundable application fee of $205, and a non-refundable initial payment unless you meet the IRS's Low Income Certification guidelines. Your fee and payment will be applied toward the amount you owe while your OIC is being evaluated. You can file an appeal within 30 days if it's not accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)