Form 9465 (Installment Agreement Request)
The paper route to a payment plan. The IRS points to the online application first, and states that route is cheaper.
Full Definition
Form 9465 requests a monthly installment plan. The IRS describes it as being for use "if you cannot pay the full amount you owe shown on your tax return (or on a notice we sent you)".
It is the paper alternative rather than the default. The IRS's payment plans page directs you to apply online through your online account, or by phone or mail by submitting Form 9465 — and states that the setup fee is lower when you apply online.
The IRS names it on several collection notices as the route where the online application is not available or has not worked: CP504 points to it, LT26 names it for a balance that cannot be paid at filing, and LT27 pairs it with Form 433-F where the Online Payment Agreement tool cannot be used.
Two related forms the IRS lists with it are worth knowing about. Form 13844, Application for Reduced User Fee for Installment Agreements, is how a low-income determination is contested. Form 2159 is a payroll deduction agreement, where the employer sends the payment.
What to do next
Check whether the online application is open to you before using the paper form — the IRS publishes both a lower setup fee for online applications and a balance threshold for using them.
Sources
- About Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-21
- Payment plans; installment agreements — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-20
Last reviewed 2026-08-21 by Tax Resolution Clarity editorial.
Sourced to primary IRS materials and editorially reviewed. Not reviewed by a tax professional. Not tax advice.
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Where to go next
The IRS publishes the rules this page describes. Your own notice governs your dates.