How to Use Tax Relief to Resolve Your Back Taxes

Overdue income tax payments are nearly always a terrible decision.

14:53 21 October 2022

Not only will you owe the government money, but the government will ultimately catch on and charge you interest on what you did not pay. 

And the longer you wait, the greater the effects will be.

Fortunately, the IRS will occasionally work out a compromise with people who can show that they were unable to pay taxes due to a lack of funds, rather than a desire to defraud the government. 

The IRS provides choices for folks who wish to settle their tax liability but are unable to pay what they owe right away. 

You must comprehend your alternatives and choose a plan that works for you. And in this essay, we will provide you with some useful techniques.

What Exactly Are Back Taxes?

Back taxes are taxes outstanding from a prior year. These taxes were either entirely or partly underpaid in the fiscal year in which they were due. 

Back taxes may be due at the municipal, state, and/or federal levels. The taxpayer is not only required to pay the past taxes, but they are also financially accountable for the penalties and interest that accrue on these back taxes.

Any taxpayer may find himself in a position where they owe back taxes. While some taxpayers purposely fail to pay their taxes when they are due, many fall behind accidentally.

Because the IRS is supported by the government, not paying them what they are due might ruin your life. 

They can rob you to the skin and you will be forced to search the Internet for direct lenders bad credit to somehow make ends meet. 

Charging you high-interest rates and penalty fees, placing liens on your property, or taking money straight from your income or bank account are all examples.

How to Get Out of Back Taxes?

Here are some popular solutions that may help you achieve tax reduction.

Installment Contract

Setting up a payment plan is generally the best option, as it will result in the least expense and inconvenience to you. 

It's worth noting that when you apply to the IRS for an installment arrangement, you'll have a greater chance of success if you tell them you'll pay the bill off within six years - ideally within three.

The monthly payment you propose should be equivalent to or more than what the IRS thinks it can get from you via a negotiated arrangement initiated by the IRS. 

The recurring (typically monthly) tax payment you initiate with the IRS should be linked to established IRS criteria. You should, for example, deduct home costs from your overall revenue. Then write a cheque to the IRS for the difference.

Obtain a Personal Loan

To pay your back taxes, you may be eligible to get a personal loan.


A personal loan provides a steady monthly payment and may be less expensive than a credit card or an IRS payment plan.

If you'll be paying more in interest if you use money borrowing app than you would under an IRS repayment plan, this choice may not be the best one for you. If you fail to make a loan payment on time, your credit score may suffer as well.

A personal loan from a family or friend may also be possible. The cost and expenses connected with this loan vary depending on the provider. 

To assess whether a personal loan is the best financial alternative for you, compare the calculations for a personal loan to a credit card payment or an IRS repayment plan.

Compromise Offer

Another alternative is to apply for a compromise offer (OIC). You may use this kind of tax relief to settle your tax bill for less money than you owe. Consider it similar to debt settlement for unpaid taxes. 

 

When you apply to an offer in compromise, you are essentially making the IRS an offer of money you can afford in the hopes that they would accept it and forgive your tax burden. 

The IRS considers your capacity to pay, your income, your expenditures, and the value of your property to determine if your offer is indeed the best they can obtain from you.

However, you should be aware that your chances of qualifying for a compromise offer are slim.

OIC applications are seldom accepted, and to qualify for this kind of tax relief, you often need to be in a dire financial condition.

Programs for Innocent Spouses

Even if you are officially divorced and file a joint tax return with your spouse, you may be held personally liable for any underpayment. 

However, if one spouse, or ex-spouse, conceals a tax burden from the other, the IRS provides some relief for married or separated couples.

To be eligible for innocent spouse relief, you must be able to demonstrate that your spouse deceived you by either failing to disclose income or claiming unallowable deductions or credits. 

In most cases, you have two years from the day the IRS sought to collect the unpaid taxes to seek relief.

Currently Not Collectible

The IRS may put your case on hold and declare it to be now not collectible if you can provide justifications for why you just aren't able to pay your tax right now. 

The "not collectible" status is only temporary, and the IRS will notify you when you must pay.

You must seek this collection delay, and the IRS may need you to file a Collection Information Statement or a Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals form to demonstrate that your finances are as poor as you claim.

 On that form, you must provide details regarding your monthly income and spending.

The difference has the benefit of putting a stop to tax levies, wage garnishments, and liens on your property.

After you pay off all your tax debts, you will need to know how to properly keep your records and how you can get tax breaks. Quite a lot of funds are allocated for benefits that relate to the daily sphere of life. 

For example, the mortgage interest deduction for owner-occupied residences is $77 billion, which you can see in the table below.