Here’s What To Do If You Don't Have Enough Money To Pay Your Taxes

Before doing anything, create a budget, Ash Exantus, director of financial education and financial empowerment coach at BankMobile, tells Bustle. “Come up with an itemized budget of your income versus your expenses (necessities only), and determine a set amount that you will be able to pay,” he says. Then, he says to practice what you are going to say so you are prepared to explain why you need to request a payment plan (if that is what you decide).

Exantus says to make sure to contact the IRS before they get in touch with you and let them know what you can afford to pay. “You do not want them to contact you first, and then take action against you, since this puts you at risk of having your wages garnished or your bank accounts frozen,” he says. “By calling the IRS before they contact you, you will have the chance to get in front of them before the payment is due, and your request has a higher likelihood of being accepted.”

Greene-Lewis says that if you have done your taxes, but have not filed yet, try to make a smart money move. This may not be financially possible for everybody, but it may work for you. “For example, contribute to your IRA by the tax deadline, April 15, and you may be able to deduct what you contribute on your 2018 taxes,” she says. “You can contribute up to $5,500 ($6,500, age 50 and over) and, in turn, you may receive the Saver’s Credit up to $1,000 ($2,000, married filing jointly) just for contributing to your retirement.”

Just like other debts you may have, you can set up an installment agreement to pay what you owe. Latham says that if you owe less than $10,000, you can apply for a guaranteed installment agreement with the IRS. “You can apply for these online and approval is, well, guaranteed,” he says. “This is a good option for taxpayers who have a cash flow problem — they have the income to afford their taxes, but they need some time to catch up.”

If you owe more than $10,000, but less than $50,000, you can apply for a streamlined installment agreement. “These plans are not quite guaranteed, but the IRS will usually approve them,” Latham says.

Exantus also suggests creating an entirely new bank account when you are going to set up a payment plan with the IRS. “You should make the payments automatic; this way, you will never miss one,” he says. “Work with your employer to have funds deposited from your paycheck into this account, and set up the payments direct to the IRS.”

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the IRS charges interest on your tax debt. “Currently, the IRS rate is nine percent, and this does not include late-payment fees and late-filing penalties,” Latham says. “If you have assets to sell or you can borrow money from a bank or friend, you can save money by paying your taxes in one lump sum.” He says before committing to an installment agreement, check what other tax relief options are available.

Greene-Lewis says that while a credit card or bank loan may not be the best option since you don’t want to create additional debt, they may be a better option than an installment agreement if the interest rates are lower than the interest the IRS would charge. “You can apply for a bank loan, home equity loan, or take a cash advance on a credit card to pay your tax bill if the interest on the loan is lower than the interest on an installment agreement,” she says.

Exantus says that many people may not be aware of this, but if it’s your first time failing to meet your tax payments, you can write a letter to the IRS asking for a First Time Penalty Abatement, which may relieve you of additional penalty fees. “In your letter, explain why you owe the money and why you cannot afford to pay it back at this time,” Exantus says. “However, keep in mind that the request can only be made once and is not a long-term solution.”

If you do not pay the IRS, they may levy your bank accounts and put liens on your property. So, if you don’t want the IRS to freeze your accounts, then take the money from your bank account or claim your property, you have another option. Latham says that if you cannot afford to pay all your taxes and have some income and assets to protect, you can consider the IRS’ “Offer in Compromise” option — as long as your income and assets fall within the IRS’ eligibility criteria. This way, you can try to settle your tax debt for less than what you owe. But, Latham says that the application process is complicated. “Plus, the approval rate is around 40 percent — so it may be a good idea to hire a tax relief expert,” he says.

Similarly, Exantus says to keep in mind that if you would be able to pay off your tax liability in installments, you are not likely to get accepted.

If none of the above apply and you cannot afford to make any type of payment, you do have another option. “If you have no assets and little income, you may be a candidate for “Currently Not Collectible” (CNC) status,” Latham says. “In such a case, the IRS will not try to collect taxes until you can afford it.” He says the catch is, you will have to prove it, of course. “Expect a mountain of paperwork and annual audits,” Latham says. “This can be tricky, so it may also be a good idea to consult with a tax expert before you go down this path.”

As you can see, even if not being able to pay the IRS may seem overwhelming and stressful, you have several options to make it less so. Plus, time is on your side since there’s still two months before taxes are due. You can always call the IRS, too, at 1-800-829-1040, to talk about your tax payment options, which you may want to do soon — the closer it gets to April 15, the more calls they’ll probably receive. In any case, be confident in that you can come up with the payment solution — the one that is right for you.