IRS Installment Agreements
The IRS offers payment plans. We make sure you get the right one.
You owe the IRS money you can't pay in full. That doesn't mean you're out of options. It means you need the right payment plan, negotiated by someone who knows how the IRS calculates what you can afford.
An installment agreement is the most common way to resolve an IRS tax debt. You pay a fixed monthly amount over time, and as long as you stay current, the IRS stops collection actions. No levies. No garnishments. No Revenue Officers showing up at your door.
But here's what the IRS won't tell you: the payment amount they suggest and the payment amount you actually owe are often two very different numbers. Agreeing to the wrong plan can cost you thousands more than necessary.
Why the Payment Amount Matters More Than You Think
The IRS calculates your monthly payment based on their standards for allowable living expenses — not yours. Their formula looks at national and local cost-of-living standards and compares them to your actual income. The gap between what you earn and what they think you need to survive is what they expect you to pay.
If you call the IRS and accept their first offer, you're almost certainly overpaying. They're not lying. They're using a formula. But that formula has variables, and every variable is negotiable if you know how to present your financials correctly.
Types of Installment Agreements
Not all payment plans are created equal. The type you qualify for — and the one that's strategically best — depends on your balance, income, and how we present your case.
Streamlined
If you owe $50,000 or less and can pay the balance within 72 months, you may qualify for a streamlined agreement. No financial disclosure required. The simplest path — but not always the best one.
Non-Streamlined
If you owe more than $50,000, or need more than 72 months, the IRS requires full financial disclosure through Form 433-F or 433-A. This is where strategic preparation matters. Every number on that form affects your payment.
Partial Pay
If you genuinely can't afford to pay the full balance within the collection statute, you make affordable monthly payments and when the statute expires, the remaining balance is written off. An underused strategy that can save tens of thousands.
How We Handle It
We prepare your financial disclosure strategically. We identify every allowable expense. We present your financials in a way that minimizes your monthly payment while keeping you in compliance. Then we negotiate directly with the IRS until the agreement is approved.
Once the plan is in place, we make sure you understand exactly what's required to stay in compliance so the agreement doesn't default.
A defaulted installment agreement puts you in a worse position than having no agreement at all.
The IRS Offers Payment Plans. We Make Sure You Get the Right One.
Call 909-570-1103 or go to TaxDebtTriage.com. We'll review what you owe, what you can realistically afford, and build a payment plan that resolves the debt without destroying your finances.
The IRS offers payment plans. We make sure you get the right one.
No obligation. Confidential. · 1255 W Colton Ave, Suite #535, Redlands, CA