Form 433-A vs. Form 433-F
Two Collection Information Statements the IRS uses to decide what you can pay. Which one you are asked for is not your choice — the Internal Revenue Manual sets dollar thresholds and case types that determine it.
Quick Answer
Which form applies is not a preference — the Internal Revenue Manual sets specific triggers. Form 433-F is permitted only below its published aggregate-balance and Trust Fund Recovery Penalty ceilings, and never for an Offer in Compromise or an Abusive Tax Avoidance Transaction case; those go to Form 433-A regardless of balance. Above the ceilings, or outside the case types 433-F is permitted for, Form 433-A applies. The two are not interchangeable versions of the same disclosure — they are gated by different rules.
Form 433-A
Advantages
- Used for the full range of individual and self-employed cases, including those above Form 433-F's ceilings.
- Required for Offer in Compromise cases and cases designated as Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions, where the Internal Revenue Manual states Form 433-F cannot be used.
- A revenue officer assigned to a case can use it for a more complete financial picture than the shorter form captures.
Disadvantages
- Longer and more detailed than Form 433-F, asking for a fuller accounting of income, expenses, assets, and self-employment financials.
- Takes more time to complete and for the IRS to process than the shorter form.
Best For
Offer in Compromise cases, Abusive Tax Avoidance Transaction cases, and any case above the balance ceilings that permit the shorter Form 433-F.
Typical Cost
No fee to file either form.
Form 433-F
Advantages
- Shorter and faster to complete than Form 433-A for the cases it is permitted on.
- The Internal Revenue Manual permits it for self-employed and individual wage earners who owe for Individual Master File liabilities only, with an aggregate balance of assessments less than $250,000, and for Trust Fund Recovery Penalty investigations where the individual is a wage earner and the potential penalty is less than $100,000.
- The form most non-revenue-officer channels (phone, mail-in Form 9465 processing) use for a Collection Information Statement.
Disadvantages
- The Internal Revenue Manual states Form 433-F cannot be used for Offer-in-Compromise cases or for cases designated as Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions.
- Above the published aggregate-balance and Trust Fund Recovery Penalty ceilings, the case moves to Form 433-A instead.
- No dedicated "About Form 433-F" IRS webpage exists to cite independently of the form and the Internal Revenue Manual — a thinner public paper trail than Form 433-A carries.
Best For
Self-employed and individual wage earners with IMF-only liabilities under the published aggregate-balance ceiling, and TFRP investigations under the published ceiling, outside OIC and ATAT cases.
Typical Cost
No fee to file either form.
The Verdict
Which form applies is not a preference — the Internal Revenue Manual sets specific triggers. Form 433-F is permitted only below its published aggregate-balance and Trust Fund Recovery Penalty ceilings, and never for an Offer in Compromise or an Abusive Tax Avoidance Transaction case; those go to Form 433-A regardless of balance. Above the ceilings, or outside the case types 433-F is permitted for, Form 433-A applies. The two are not interchangeable versions of the same disclosure — they are gated by different rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose which form to file?
What is the dollar threshold for using Form 433-F?
Does an Offer in Compromise ever use Form 433-F?
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Sources
- IRM 5.15.1, Financial Analysis Handbook — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-24
- Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-24
- Form 433-F, Collection Information Statement — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-24
Sourced to primary IRS materials and editorially reviewed. Not reviewed by a tax professional. Not tax advice. Report a correction.