What Should You Do if You Can’t Afford to Pay Back-Taxes?

Paying taxes is no fun. Owing back taxes and not being able to pay them is much worse. Many people get into tax trouble when they end up owing money to the IRS and they don’t have the means to pay it off. This can cause a lot of stress, anxiety and even fear or panic. However, you shouldn’t panic. The IRS won’t show up at your door with the police ready to take you away in handcuffs.
If you do end up owing back taxes and you can’t pay them off all at once, you have some options. That’s because the IRS is willing to work with you, so long as you are willing to work with them. The first thing you should do, is file your return on time, even if you know you don’t have the money to pay off your tax debt. This will help you avoid additional late-filing penalties.
Pay as much as you possibly can when you file your return. If you just need a little more time then you can file for a short-term extension in order to pay off the remaining debt within 120 days. If it is going to take longer, then apply for a monthly payment plan with the IRS. It’s best to set up an automatic monthly payment plan. There will likely still be interest and some penalties but they will be much lighter.
The IRS wants you to be able to pay your taxes and they are willing to work with you if you keep up your end of the agreement. You can learn more about paying off back taxes by clicking here.
Section 1202: Small Business Stock Gain Exclusion
What is Section 1202 Stock? In December 2015, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (“PATH Act”) was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama. The PATH Act made several tax breaks permanent, including the Small Business Stock Gains Exclusion (Section 1202). The new law makes permanent the exclusion…
Section 1202: Small Business Stock Gain Exclusion
Section 1202: Small Business Stock Gain Exclusion Updated: 01/16/2016 In December 2015, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (“PATH Act”) was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama. The PATH Act made several tax breaks permanent, including the Small Business Stock Gains Exclusion (Section 1202). The new law…