Don’t panic. If you cannot pay the full amount of taxes you owe, you should still file your return by the deadline and pay as much as you can to avoid penalties and interest. There is a penalty for failure to file a return on time so even if you can’t pay in full, be SURE you file your return no later than July 15, 2020.
When it comes to paying what you owe, the IRS may be able to offer you a monthly installment agreement. In some cases, you can establish an installment agreement by using the Online Payment Agreement Application (OPA) or you may complete Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request (PDF) and mail it in. You may also request an installment agreement over the phone by calling the IRS 800-829-1040.
*There’s a user fee to set up a monthly installment agreement. For low-income taxpayers, the user fee is reduced and possibly waived or reimbursed if certain conditions apply.
When calling, be mindful that wait times could be long. Phone lines remain extremely busy as the IRS resumes operations. Taxpayers also have a variety of options through IRS.gov/payments to make one time or recurring payments without having to contact the IRS.
