Resolve Your IRS Tax Debt
The Right Way
Free tools, expert guides, and trusted firm recommendations to help you navigate IRS tax problems. No sales pitch — just real help.
10 Years
General period the IRS has to collect an assessed tax
4 Options
Resolution programs explained on this site
30 Days
Typical window to respond to a collection notice — check yours
The collection period generally runs 10 years from the date of assessment, but each assessment has its own deadline and certain events pause the clock. See the IRS explanation. Response deadlines vary by notice — always use the date printed on the notice you received.
Free IRS Resolution Tools
Use our calculators and quizzes to understand your situation and explore your options.
IRS Resolution Options
Understand the different ways to resolve your tax debt and find the right fit for your situation.
OIC
Taxpayers who cannot pay their full tax liability
Learn More →Payment Plan
Taxpayers with steady income who can afford monthly payments
Learn More →CNC Status
Taxpayers experiencing severe financial hardship
Learn More →Penalty Relief
Situations where the same return type was filed on time for the prior three years and no penalty was assessed in that window — the timely compliance history the IRS tests for administrative relief
Learn More →Pay in Full
Taxpayers who have the funds available now and want to stop interest and penalties from growing further
Learn More →Short-Term Plan
Taxpayers who can pay the full balance within 180 days and want to avoid any setup fee
Learn More →Guaranteed IA
Individuals whose income tax liability, excluding penalties and interest, is small enough to meet the published limit
Learn More →Simple Payment Plan
Individual, out-of-business sole-proprietor, or non-trust-fund business taxpayers whose balance is at or below the published threshold
Learn More →Full-Disclosure IA
Balances above the Simple Payment Plan's aggregate threshold
Learn More →Appeals / CDP
Someone who disagrees with a specific IRS collection action — a lien filing, a levy, or a rejected/modified/terminated installment agreement
Learn More →Innocent Spouse
A joint filer who did not know about, and had no reason to know about, errors the other spouse made on a joint return
Learn More →Injured Spouse
A joint filer whose share of a joint refund was applied to the other spouse's separate debt — back taxes, child support, federal student loans, or other debts subject to offset
Learn More →Bankruptcy
Understanding, in general terms, what the Bankruptcy Code says determines whether an income tax debt can be discharged
Learn More →Got an IRS Notice?
Find your notice code and learn exactly what it means and what to do next.
Notice of Levy on Your State Tax Refund
The IRS has already levied your state tax refund. Unlike most levy notices, this one arrives after the fact — and it carries a right to a hearing.
Notice of Intent to Levy — business
The business version of CP504. It states a 30-day period, and names two levy types the IRS may serve without a further notice.
Balance Due Notice
The IRS says you owe money on unpaid taxes. The due date is printed on the notice — this page cannot tell you what it is.
Looking for professional help?
We used to rank firms here. We took that down — the ratings behind it weren’t sourced, and we won’t publish numbers about real companies that we can’t stand behind.
Until our verified directory is ready, the IRS keeps a free directory of preparers with recognized credentials. It’s the right place to confirm that an enrolled agent, CPA, or attorney is who they say they are.
IRS credentialed preparer directoryHow Tax Resolution Works
Understand Your Options
Read what the IRS publishes about each resolution program and what it says it considers.
Get Professional Help
Connect with a qualified tax professional who can guide you through the process and negotiate with the IRS.
Resolve Your Debt
Work with the IRS to settle, pay over time, or pause collection — and get back to your life.
Ready to Resolve Your Tax Debt?
Start with what the IRS publishes about each option. No page here can tell you what it will decide.