IRS Installment Agreement
Payment plans built around what you can afford
An IRS installment agreement is a structured monthly payment plan that lets you resolve your tax debt over time instead of paying it all at once. Our Enrolled Agents negotiate terms around your actual income and expenses — not what the IRS initially demands.
Enrolled Agents IRS-certified
All 50 states Nationwide
Clear pricing Typical timeline
Types of IRS installment agreements
Streamlined Installment Agreement
Available for individuals who owe $50,000 or less and businesses owing $25,000 or less. The IRS does not require a full financial disclosure. Approval is faster and more straightforward. Monthly payments are calculated to pay off the balance within the remaining collection statute, typically up to 72 months.
Partial Pay Installment Agreement
If you cannot afford payments that would fully satisfy the balance within the collection period, you may qualify for a partial-pay agreement. The IRS accepts a monthly amount based on your demonstrated ability to pay, even though the full balance will not be satisfied. This requires full financial disclosure and our team prepares the documentation to support the lowest defensible payment.
Non-Streamlined Installment Agreement
For balances exceeding $50,000 or situations requiring detailed financial analysis. The IRS conducts a full review of your income, expenses, and assets. We prepare IRS Form 433-A (individuals) or 433-B (businesses), present a complete financial picture, and negotiate terms directly with the IRS. This is where experienced representation makes the biggest difference.
Type
Balance limit
Financial disclosure
Approval speed
$50K individual / $25K business
Not required
Fastest
$1,555Monthly payment negotiated
on a $1.8M construction
company liability
Type
Balance limit
Financial disclosure
Approval speed
No limit
Full 433-A / 433-B required
Moderate — negotiation required
Type
Balance limit
Financial disclosure
Approval speed
Over $50K
Full 433-A / 433-B required
Longest — direct IRS negotiation
What happens during negotiation
The IRS has its own formula for calculating what you should pay monthly. It starts with gross income, subtracts IRS-allowable living expenses (which may differ from your actual expenses), and arrives at a disposable income figure. Our job is to ensure every legitimate expense is documented and that the resulting payment reflects reality — not the IRS's default assumptions.
Why the IRS number is often wrong
The IRS uses national and local standards for allowable expenses — housing, transportation, food, healthcare. If your actual costs exceed these standards (and many do), the IRS defaults to their number unless you provide substantiation. We document every justified overage to push the monthly payment down to what you can actually sustain.
See IRS National Standards
We also evaluate whether penalties can be reduced before or during the agreement, whether a different resolution like an Offer in Compromise might produce a better outcome, and whether the collection statute timeline works in your favor.
Protecting your business
For businesses with payroll tax debt, the IRS often requires proof of current compliance — meaning all recent deposits and filings must be current before they'll approve a payment plan. We work with your payroll provider and accountant to ensure compliance is documented, then negotiate terms that allow the business to continue operating without disruption.
Trust fund recovery penalties, which hold individuals personally responsible for unpaid payroll taxes, can also be addressed within the installment agreement framework. We evaluate whether personal and business liabilities should be resolved together or separately for the best outcome.
Client Result — Construction Company
$1.8 million in IRS liability resolved at $1,555 per month
$1.8M
Original debt
$1,555
Per month
Installment Agreement
Collections were stopped, assets were protected, and operations continued without interruption. The payment was structured to remain durable through the company's seasonal revenue cycles.
Not sure which plan fits?
If your balance qualifies and your financial situation supports it, an Offer in Compromise may allow you to settle for less than you owe instead of paying over time.
If the IRS has already levied your bank account or garnished your wages, we pursue emergency relief on the same day you engage us — the installment agreement negotiation runs in parallel.
And if IRS penalties have inflated your balance, we evaluate penalty abatement to lower the total before negotiating your monthly payment.
Installment Agreement questions
Common questions about IRS payment plans
Can I change my installment agreement later? Yes. If your financial situation changes, you can request a modification. We can help renegotiate terms, request a temporary reduction, or transition to a different resolution like an Offer in Compromise if circumstances warrant it.
Will the IRS still charge interest during an installment agreement? Yes. Interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance during the agreement. This is why we also evaluate whether penalty abatement can be pursued alongside the payment plan to reduce the total cost.
Can I set up an installment agreement for state taxes? Yes. Most states offer payment plans for outstanding tax debt. The terms vary by state. We handle both IRS and state installment agreements.
What happens if I miss a payment? Missing a payment can put your agreement in default, which may trigger enforced collection. If you're at risk of missing a payment, contact us immediately — we can often negotiate a temporary hold or modification before default occurs.