Can You Defer Payments From An Installment Agreement?

Each year, millions of taxpayers file a tax return with a balance due. Most people are able to set up a cheap monthly payment with the IRS, known as an Installment Agreement. The rest of the taxpayers just simply cannot afford to pay the tax liability back. If you have a past-due tax liability with the IRS and are unable to make payments towards the balance owed, then you may be entitled to defer those payments.

To qualify for a deferral of payments, you must show that you have little to no money left over each month. This is defined by matching your monthly income against your monthly expenses.

You must be able to prove you are in a financial hardship and then you can request that your account be placed into a “currently non collectible” status. Your account will remain in this status until your financial ability to pay improves.The overall concept of being placed into currently non collectible is to show the IRS that you have no money left over each month and if you were to dispose of any assets this would impose a severe financial hardship.

Prior to taking your income and expenses into concern, the IRS will search for any bank accounts that you may have. They are looking for accounts with large totals to pay off the tax liability. The way the IRS defines if the funds are usable, is through your financial status.

When telling your financial information, you must include all income that is received monthly. This will include any

that is received. All income must be stated, and proper federal tax withholdings must be made. Proper withholding will show the IRS that you are making strides to stop the cycle of owing each year.The IRS will allow you to claim all basic living expenses for your household. These expenses include, but are not limited to, utilities, food, rent or mortgage, car payments, car insurance, health insurance and out of pocket medical costs.

Do You Have An Equal Investment Account?

You must not have equity in investment accounts, real estate, vehicles or whole life insurance policies that you can borrow against to pay the tax liability in full. If you do have any assets with value, the IRS will request that you attempt to borrow against the value of the asset to pay them back for the taxes owed. If you apply for a loan to borrow the money against the asset and are denied, then the IRS will proceed with the request of placing your account into currently not collectible. There is a catch to this request, the IRS can set limits on your expenses. This means that if you have a car payment of $950.00 a month, the IRS may only allow you to claim $508.00, based on National Standards for your area.

There are national standard limits for food and clothing, housing and utilities, transportation and medical costs. Each national standard is based on national and local standard living expenses for your area. For an expense to be allowed above the amount listed on the National Standards guide, you may have to provide records. Most of the time you can fax over the records needed while on the line with an IRS agent. If done directly over the phone, then you will more than likely get an instant preliminary decision. Upon submission of your financials, the IRS will place your account into “Currently non-Collectible” after manager consent of the data given.

Although it seems like you are saving money by lifting a wage garnishment or bank levy by being placed into this Currently non Collectible status, you will ultimately be paying more in the end because of the added interest and penalties on the remaining balance due. It is best to consult a trained expert in helping you to determine your financial status and how to resolve your tax liability with the IRS that best suits your needs.

You will still owe the past due tax amount and the balances will continue to accrue interest and penalties at a daily rate. The IRS will keep any tax refunds you may be entitled to in the future years and apply them to your past due tax liability. This is a process called “Refund Offset”

A value to being placed into the Currently non-Collectible status is that you can do so even if you have missing tax returns. Under normal rules, the IRS will not even entertain a resolution with you if there are missing tax returns on your account. With the value of proving that your account should be placed into the currently non collectible status, it can be applied with or without the missing returns.

And all income and expenses for your household on a monthly basis. Aside from what is supplied, the IRS will monitor the income on your tax returns or data reported such as W-2’s, 1099’s, etc. If the IRS decides that your financial statements are showing an ability to pay, they will remove your account out of the currently non collectible status and request the dollar amount available after all expenses are paid as monthly payments through an Installment Agreement.