Installment Agreement
A payment plan that allows you to pay your tax debt over time in monthly installments.
Full Definition
An IRS installment agreement allows you to pay your tax debt over time through fixed monthly payments. There are several types, and which one applies turns on how much you owe and whether you must supply financial documentation — the IRS publishes the current balance thresholds on its payment plans page. Installment agreements prevent levies and garnishments while in effect, but interest and penalties continue to accrue. You must stay current on future tax obligations to keep your agreement in good standing.
What to do next
Check the notice or letter you actually received: the dates and instructions printed on it govern, not this page. The IRS page linked in Sources is the authority on the rule itself.
Sources
- Payment plans; installment agreements — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-20
Last reviewed 2026-08-20 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.