Irs

[Magic Johnson]

I posted about a month ago about some IRS debt that I have. It’s all from my 2021 income - nothing is past due. I owe about $5,200 in federal income tax. When I finished my tax return, I paid what I could right away, and decided to pay the rest in 4 installments over the next year. I have changed my mind and would like to pay over 60 months. That will drop my monthly payment to around $100. I need to do this for cash flow reasons. Apparently it’s an effective interest rate of around 10% (interest + penalties).

I tried to contact the IRS to make this change. I tried calling their number, and I tried making the change on the IRS.gov website. I was stymied with each method.

I called the number probably 5 or 6 times, at various times during the day, including early morning. I got the same recording each time that call volumes were too high.

I’ve tried making the change through the web site three times. Each time I was stopped by a process called ID.me, where you have to verify your identity using a state ID and web cam image (make sure they match).

I contacted my member of Congress, telling her about my experience, and hoping she could help. I also submitted a “ticket” with ID.me through the IRS website. Apparently that alerts ID.me that I’m having problems.

Maybe I’ve done all I can, but I was wondering if anyone here has experience of this type contacting the IRS. Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[kork13]

Contacting the IRS & speaking to a human being? .....It's almost meme-worthy. If you manage it, you might also consider buying some lotto tickets. Truly.... It is notoriously difficult to speak with an actual person at the IRS. They're grossly under-funded (ironic, no?), and their customer service capability has always been the victim of such budgetary restrictions.

Honestly, I don't know what else you can do... You're doing more than I'd ever imagine attempting. Good luck, but you might try to find a way to make the existing arrangement work... Else you might be waiting for all of those 60 months to actually speak with somebody who can help you.

ETA: This reminded me to check on my income tax refund. It's been nearly 4 weeks and the IRS "Refund Status Check" website just says that it's still processing. With COVID-impacted personnel issues, perennial budgetary constraints, and so on.... Who knows when it'll get past the logjam. Sure will be nice to eventually get my (abnormally & dramatically large) refund check.... Hopefully that happens sometime in the next month or three.......... So as I said -- when dealing with the IRS, set your expectations low....very low......then anticipate those expectations will lead only to disappointment.

[Magic Johnson]

Contacting the IRS & speaking to a human being? .....It's almost meme-worthy. If you manage it, you might also consider buying some lotto tickets. Truly.... It is notoriously difficult to speak with an actual person at the IRS. They're grossly under-funded (ironic, no?), and their customer service capability has always been the victim of such budgetary restrictions.

Honestly, I don't know what else you can do... You're doing more than I'd ever imagine attempting. Good luck, but you might try to find a way to make the existing arrangement work... Else you might be waiting for all of those 60 months to actually speak with somebody who can help you.

ETA: This reminded me to check on my income tax refund. It's been nearly 4 weeks and the IRS "Refund Status Check" website just says that it's still processing. With COVID-impacted personnel issues, perennial budgetary constraints, and so on.... Who knows when it'll get past the logjam. Sure will be nice to eventually get my (abnormally & dramatically large) refund check.... Hopefully that happens sometime in the next month or three.......... So as I said -- when dealing with the IRS, set your expectations low....very low......then anticipate those expectations will lead only to disappointment.

You’re probably right - I’m probably stuck with my four payment installments. I’ve got until April 18 to figure it out, but I probably am stuck.

[myrdale]

I don't have any experience working directly with the IRS.

Did you do your own taxes or did someone else prepare them for you?

Are you mailing them checks or are you paying electronically?

Last year when I owed $1,200 the lady who prepared my taxes just scheduled a time that the money would be taken out of my account, and then it was.

My line of thought is see if the person who prepared your taxes can adjust the payment schedule. Or if your paying by check, just send them what you can when you can. I suspect they are so understaffed its a mess either way.

[Magic Johnson]

I don't have any experience working directly with the IRS.

Did you do your own taxes or did someone else prepare them for you?

Are you mailing them checks or are you paying electronically?

Last year when I owed $1,200 the lady who prepared my taxes just scheduled a time that the money would be taken out of my account, and then it was.

My line of thought is see if the person who prepared your taxes can adjust the payment schedule. Or if your paying by check, just send them what you can when you can. I suspect they are so understaffed its a mess either way.

I did my own taxes with Turbo Tax.

I made a $2,600 payment electronically the day I filed my taxes.

I was going to pay the balance (in installments) electronically.

I threw a Hail Mary today, or maybe it wasn't a Hail Mary, and was the most appropriate thing to do.

I sent a letter to my US Senator, Gary Peters. There was a spot on his website for Help With Federal Agencies. There was a form for me to fill out, print, sign with an actual pen, and snail mail to his Detroit office.

I've got a month to get this to a conclusion, we'll see what happens.

[mumof2]

[QUOTE=kork13;n731478]Contacting the IRS & speaking to a human being? .....It's almost meme-worthy. If you manage it, you might also consider buying some lotto tickets. Truly.... It is notoriously difficult to speak with an actual person at the IRS. They're grossly under-funded (ironic, no?), and their customer service capability has always been the victim of such budgetary restrictions.

I have to say that we live overseas and we managed to get through and talk to people each time we call but they are so unhelpful and have no idea what they are talking about...I am still trying to sort out 2020 taxes which they have now closed the case and I have asked to be sent the transcripts they have on our acct as they owe us around $3000, it has been frustrating and now we wait for the paperwork to arrive so far it has been 7 weeks...see if it actually shows up and we can get it sorted...sent this years in jan and haven't heard from them yet...so will see how that turns out as well...so much harder when you don't live in the country

[Magic Johnson]

I got a call from my Congressional Rep’s office, and an email from my Senator’s office this morning.

The call from my Rep’s office was helpful. He gave me a phone number to our local Detroit’s Taxpayer Advocate office. I might be able to get somewhere with that.

The email from my Senator’s office was absolutely useless.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

did you file 2021? If you did you could just take what you owe and file a 9465 form and pick what you want to pay. i think you can do it in turbotax.

[Magic Johnson]

did you file 2021? If you did you could just take what you owe and file a 9465 form and pick what you want to pay. i think you can do it in turbotax.

Yes, I filed in 2021. I’ll look into a 9465 form. Thanks.

[Magic Johnson]

did you file 2021? If you did you could just take what you owe and file a 9465 form and pick what you want to pay. i think you can do it in turbotax.

Yes, I filed in 2021. I’ll look into a 9465 form. Thanks.

[Magic Johnson]

It looks like form 9465 is exactly what I needed. Thanks!