IRS payment plan: what to do if you can't pay in full
If you can't pay your IRS balance at once, you can ask for a payment plan. What to know before you apply.
Check my letter freePay what you can now
Interest and the failure-to-pay penalty keep running until the balance is paid, so paying part now lowers what you will owe.
Short-term or long-term plan
The IRS offers short-term plans to pay within a few months and longer installment agreements with monthly payments. You can apply online on irs.gov, by phone or by mail.
A plan lowers the late payment penalty
If you filed on time and set up a payment plan, the failure-to-pay penalty rate is reduced while the plan is in effect.
More guides
- How to respond to an IRS CP2000 notice
- Is this IRS letter real? How to check
- IRS first-time penalty abatement: how to ask
- IRS changed your return? You have 60 days to disagree
- All IRS notices