Educational information · Sources checked October 27, 2026 · Not individualized tax advice.
Yes. Hiring a company is not required.
The IRS offers ways to address tax debt directly. A paid professional may be useful for a complicated situation, but a referral website or tax resolution firm is not required to request an IRS payment plan.
Start with your actual balance and filing history
Review your notice and IRS account. Check which years are involved, whether required returns have been filed, and the response date on the notice. Never assume that submitting an inquiry here pauses a deadline.
Payment plans
A payment plan spreads payments over time. Eligibility and fees depend on the plan and your situation. Use the IRS’s current eligibility tool rather than assuming a debt amount guarantees acceptance. Interest and applicable penalties may continue.
Check the official IRS online payment agreement application ↗
Other options are different—not interchangeable
- Offer in compromise: an application-based option evaluated under IRS rules. It is not an automatic reduction, and not everyone is eligible.
- Currently not collectible: a possible temporary collection delay when paying would prevent meeting basic living expenses. The debt does not disappear.
- Penalty relief: possible relief from certain penalties when the applicable criteria are met. It does not automatically remove the underlying tax.
When professional help may be useful
Consider obtaining qualified advice if you have unfiled returns, a disputed assessment, a business tax issue, active enforcement, or a hearing deadline. Ask who will handle your case and what services are included. You may also want to check the IRS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic resource.
What if you owe your state?
State tax debt follows the rules of the state agency involved. Tell a provider which state you owe and ask whether it handles that agency, missing returns, and the type of tax involved. An IRS arrangement does not automatically resolve state debt.
Sources and next steps
- IRS: Get help with tax debt
- IRS: Payment plans
- IRS: Tax payment options
- IRS: Penalty relief
- IRS: Low Income Taxpayer Clinics
These resources concern federal taxes. State debt is handled under the relevant state agency’s rules.