IRS Heads Up New Effort to Help Struggling Taxpayers Get a Fresh Start

The Internal Revenue Service is offering new steps to help people get a fresh start with their tax liabilities.

The goal, the agency said, is to help individuals and small businesses meet their tax obligations without adding unnecessary burden to taxpayers.  Specifically, the IRS is announcing new policies and programs to help taxpayers pay back taxes and avoid tax liens.

“These steps are good for people facing tough times, and they reflect a responsible approach for the tax system,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a statement. 

The changes include:

• Increasing the dollar threshold when liens are generally issued, resulting in fewer tax liens.
• Making it easier for taxpayers to obtain lien withdrawals after paying a tax bill.
• Withdrawing liens in most cases where a taxpayer enters into a direct debit installment agreement.
• Creating easier access to installment  agreements for more struggling small businesses.
• Expanding a streamlined "offer in  compromise" program to cover more taxpayers.

This recent announcement comes after a review of collection operations that Shulman launched last year, as well as input from the IRS Advisory Council and the National Taxpayer Advocate.

Tax Lien Thresholds

The IRS will increase the dollar thresholds when liens are generally filed. The new dollar amount is in keeping with inflationary changes since the number was last revised. Currently, liens are automatically filed at certain dollar levels for people with past-due balances.

The IRS plans to review the results and impact of the lien threshold change in about a year.

A federal tax lien gives the IRS a legal claim to a taxpayer’s property for the amount of an unpaid tax debt. Filing a notice of federal tax  lien is necessary to establish priority rights against certain other creditors. Usually the government is not the only creditor to whom the taxpayer owes money.

A lien informs the public that the U.S. government has a claim against all property, and any rights to property, of the taxpayer. This includes property owned at the time the notice of lien is filed and any acquired thereafter. A lien can affect a taxpayer's credit rating, so it is critical to arrange the payment of taxes as quickly as possible, the IRS says.

Tax Lien Withdrawals

The IRS will also modify procedures that will make it easier for taxpayers to obtain lien withdrawals.

Liens will now be withdrawn once full payment of taxes is made if the taxpayer requests it.

Direct Debit Installment Agreements and Liens

The IRS is making other changes to liens in cases where taxpayers enter into a direct debit installment agreement (DDIA). For taxpayers with unpaid assessments of $25,000 or less, the IRS will now allow lien withdrawals under several scenarios:

• Lien withdrawals for taxpayers entering into a direct debit installment agreement.
• The IRS will withdraw a lien if a taxpayer on a regular installment agreement converts to a DDIA.
• The IRS will also withdraw liens on existing DDIA upon taxpayer request.

Liens will be withdrawn after a probationary period demonstrating that direct debit payments will be honored.

In addition, this lowers user fees and saves the government money from mailing monthly payment notices. Taxpayers can use the online payment agreement application on IRS.gov to set up with DDIAs.

Installment Agreements and Small Businesses

The IRS will also make streamlined installment agreements available to more small businesses. The payment program will raise the dollar limit to allow additional small businesses to participate.

Small businesses with $25,000 or less in unpaid tax can participate. Currently, only small businesses with under $10,000 in liabilities can participate. Small businesses will have 24 months to pay.

The streamlined installment agreements will be available for small businesses that file either as an individual or as a business. Small businesses with an unpaid assessment balance greater than $25,000 would qualify for the streamlined installment agreement if they pay down the balance to $25,000 or less.

Small businesses will need to enroll in a DDIA.

Offers in Compromise

The IRS is also expanding a new streamlined "offer in compromise" (OIC) program to cover a larger group of struggling taxpayers.

This streamlined OIC is being expanded to allow taxpayers with annual incomes up to $100,000 to participate. In addition, participants must have tax liability of less than $50,000, doubling the current limit of $25,000 or less.

OICs are subject to acceptance based on legal requirements. An offer in compromise is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. Generally, an offer will not be accepted if the IRS believes that the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement. The IRS looks at the taxpayer’s income and assets to make a determination regarding the taxpayer’s ability to pay.