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

Late Obamacare Forms Could Be Big Problem for Taxpayers

While you may or may not like Obamacare, the fact is the president’s health care plan has caused problems at tax time since its inception. Apparently, this year is no different. According to a recent report, because of a delay in new tax forms for the health law this year, many taxpayers are facing more…

Don’t Forget About These Important Tax Write-Offs

The saying goes that it’s the small victories that count. That saying can be especially true during tax time when for many taxpayers any chance to save even a few dollars more is considered a positive. Plus, when you add up enough of the small victories they can equal a significant reward. With that in…

Have You Heard About These New Income Tax Changes?

February is almost over. Can you believe it? That means the annual income tax return deadline is fast approaching.  If you still haven’t done your taxes then there are some important changes you should know about. Hopefully, if you’ve already filed, then you were aware of these changes beforehand. If not, and you think they…

Tell Me Your Value Equation

Every company feels like it has what it takes to make a difference in its customer’s lives. No matter what product or service they offer their clients, all companies feel like they can do it better than anyone else. So what makes one company stick out from another? Is it how much money that company…