What Do You Do When You Owe Taxes But Don’t Have the Funds?

For many people tax season brings the joy of a nice big refund to go out and splurge on something they’ve had your eye on for a long time. On the flip side of the equation are those people who surprisingly, or not, end up owing the IRS money. Not only do these people miss out on the extra cash influx, but they also have to come up with the funds to pay off the extra tax bill.

 For some people, depending how high the bill is, they could have to pay even more than just the shortage amount. That’s because many times when people underpay they end up owing penalties for the underpayment. For those who owe a lot of money, those penalties could end up being huge. In fact, the penalties can even be much higher than the shortage.

That’s why it’s always best to try to avoid owing any money to the IRS, especially if you don’t have the funds to pay it off when the tax bill comes due. So what happens to people who can’t pay their tax bill? You do have a few options.

In some cases, it might be a good idea to take out a loan or a line of credit in order to pay off the bill. Of course, you will then be responsible to pay off the loan, so use caution. Another option is to apply for an extension with the IRS. This could buy you a little time to come up with the needed funds. If you need even more time then try applying for a hardship extension, which could give you up to six months to pay it off. You could also ask the IRS for permission to set up a payment plan to pay off the debt in installments.

Whichever path you decide to take, make sure you do something. Don’t ignore the problem or it will only get worse. The penalties will likely increase the longer you wait and the IRS could eventually take other measures or even press charges. So the bottom line is: do something.

Posted in
From Combat Boots to Investor Suits with Jason Lehtinen, Managing Director at Collaborative Capital

From Combat Boots to Investor Suits with Jason Lehtinen, Managing Director at Collaborative Capital

Transcript: Alan Olsen Hi, this is Alan Olsen and welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Jason Lehtinen Jason, welcome to today’s show.   Jason Lehtinen Thank you Alan, its a pleasure to be here.   Alan Olsen So Jason, you have a unique background and I know in the in your past you’ve…

The Art of Building Authority through Books with Anna David, Author & Founder of Legacy Launch Pad Publishing

The Art of Building Authority through Books with Anna David, Author & Founder of Legacy Launch Pad Publishing

Transcript: Alan Olsen I’m Alan Olsen and welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Anna David. Anna, welcome to today’s show. Anna David Thank you so much for having me, Alan. Alan Olsen So Anna you came is a recommendation of Joe Polish. And I think both of us have that common connection. And…

The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Negotiation with Former FBI Lead International Kidnapping Negotiator Chris Voss

The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Negotiation with Former FBI Lead International Kidnapping Negotiator Chris Voss

Transcript: Alan Olsen Hi, this is Alan Olsen and welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Chris Voss, Chris welcome to today’s show. Chris Voss Alan Thank you very much happy to be here. Alan Olsen Chris You have an amazing background and you know for the listeners can you walk us through your…

Treating The Pain Behind Addiction with Joe Polish, Founder of Genius Recovery

Treating The Pain Behind Addiction with Joe Polish, Founder of Genius Recovery

Transcript: Alan Olsen Hi, this is Alan Olsen and welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Joe Polish. He Joe’s done a lot of things today we’re going to talk about his book, The Miracle Morning for addiction recovery. And, Joe, welcome to today’s show. Joe Polish Thank you, Alan. So good to be…