What are the consequences of tax debt?

The IRS will not ignore your tax debt

Before collecting your amount via enforcement tools, the IRS must notify you of your tax bill and deliver specific letters. IRS letters and notifications are slightly annoying in and of themselves, but ignoring them can lead to more severe consequences. After sending their notices, the IRS will put you in the automated collection program.

If you disregard the notification, your next destination will likely be the IRS Automated Collection System (ACS). The principal IRS function that collects back taxes is ACS. In addition, ACS has the authority to collect bank accounts and earnings and impose liens. If you fail to comply by the deadline, the warnings you get from ACS will begin to explain increasingly significant repercussions.

Will I get charged with penalties?

The IRS will also add interest to your tax bill. Interest accrues in direct proportion to the balance. 5% per year is the current rate. Your unpaid tax debt is subject to interest and an inability to pay the penalty from the IRS (0.5% per month). However, if you have received several reminders from the IRS to pay and haven’t made plans, the penalty rate rises to 1% each month.

When arranging a payment plan with the IRS, the penalty rate is reduced to 0.25% monthly if you establish a payment arrangement with the IRS. Therefore, the best practice is to contact the IRS to arrange a payment plan while you look for different options. Doing so will help you prevent higher interest charges.

The IRS could seize your assets or file for levies

The IRS has the right to “seize your assets.” The IRS, however, often just seizes cash. The IRS finds that taking and selling homes, yachts, and another property is a significant problem. In actuality, the IRS only seizes property a few hundred times a year.

Payroll levies, often known as wage garnishment, Your wages are deducted by the IRS to cover your tax obligation. The IRS will often seize the levy if you make a payment arrangement. For example, in the case of a business owner, the IRS seizes the money you have made as a small company owner or independent contractor through account receivable levies. In addition, the IRS will seize the levy if you enter a payment plan with them.

Individually, levies can be a significant burden and interrupt your capacity to pay your expenses. In addition, levies may be disastrous for businesses, as levies can make it hard to pay your staff and buy equipment and stock. As a result, you will encounter difficulties running your company under interrupted cash flow.

 If the IRS has not collected your tax balance after a few years, the IRS can transfer your account over to a private debt collection agency. If your case is transferred here, you will get calls and inquiries from strangers, just as you would with other debt collection agencies. In summary, failing to pay can result in years of problems.

Get some help from the experts

If the tax debt is significant, the fresh start program of the IRS might help you get out of your burdening situation. However, there are complex qualifications that apply to this program.

Discover what to do if you cannot pay your taxes to prevent these repercussions. Alternatively, our tax professionals may assist you in determining which payment method or other solution is best for you.