Here's what to do if you can't pay your tax bill on time
For taxpayers who owe and don't file, the penalty can be steep: 5% of the unpaid balance for each month it's late, up to a maximum of 25% of the amount due. As long as you file your return, the penalty for owing is less: generally 0.5% for each month the balance remains unpaid.
Here's what to do if you can't pay your tax bill on time For taxpayers who owe and don't file, the penalty can be steep: 5% of the unpaid balance for each month it's late, up to a maximum of 25% of the amount due. As long as you file your return, the penalty for owing is less: generally 0.5% for each month the balance remains unpaid. Check out this story on commercialappeal.com: https://usat.ly/2GJ8FFg
Sarah O'Brien, CNBC Published 7:00 a.m. CT April 9, 2018 | Updated 6:02 p.m. CT April 17, 2018
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The IRS slaps taxpayers who owe with a steep penalty if they don't file their return.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Anyone who has reacted with horror at the amount they owe the IRS might know what can come next: realizing there's zero chance of coming up with the money by the time it's due.
While it's common to feel fear from a big tax bill, it's important not to become immobilized, experts say.
"People get afraid and then don't file their return," said Ed Slott, a CPA and founder of Ed Slott & Co. in Rockville Centre, N.Y. "That's a big mistake."
The IRS expects 155 million tax returns to be filed this year, with a due date of April 17 (instead of the typical April 15). Last year, the agency issued 111.9 million refunds worth a collective $324 billion. The average amount of refund per taxpayer was $2,895.
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The IRS slaps taxpayers who owe with a steep penalty if they don't file their return: 5 percent of the unpaid balance for each month it's late, up to a maximum of 25 percent of the amount due.
So if you owe, say, $1,000 and do not file, that penalty alone could reach $250 after five months of not filing your return.
"Even if you can't pay anything, it makes sense to file on time to avoid these costs," said certified financial planner Misty Lynch, a financial consultant at John Hancock in Boston.
Refund data
Total returns received
152.5 million
Refunds issued
Total refund amount
Average refund amount
Source: The Internal Revenue Service
By comparison, if you file your return even if you cannot pay the full amount due, the penalty is far less: generally 0.5% per month of your unpaid taxes. After five months, assuming you had paid none of the hypothetical $1,000 due, you would have accrued 2.5% in interest, or $25.
And if you can put any amount toward the bill by April 17, the penalty only applies to the balance.
"File and pay what you can," Slott Said. "The IRS will send a bill for the rest."
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Also be aware that requesting a six-month extension generally does nothing to delay the failure-to-pay penalties from accruing; only the failure-to-file charges are affected.
"It's only an extension to file your return, not to pay what you owe," Slott said. "If it were an extension to pay, everyone would do it."
Of course, at some point the IRS begins to lose patience. If repeated efforts to collect taxes due don't work, the agency can turn to other methods to get what you owe, including freezing your bank account or garnishing your wages.
This is why it can make sense to work with the IRS in advance if you know you will struggle to pay your bill in a timely fashion.
"These are subject to approval, so plan ahead and file on time to improve your [approval] chances," Lynch said.
""When the IRS determines what matters most in your budget, you can bet that taxes will outrank keeping your most prized possessions or paying other creditors.""
Misty Lynch, Financial consultant at John Hancock
She also said that while there are fees associated with applying for a payment plan, the cost might be worth it to give you extra time to pay your bill. Depending on the length and terms of your plan, along with your income, the fee to set up the plan could range from zero to $149.
The IRS also has a program that helps settle your tax debt for less than what you owe. Lynch said, however, the process is extensive and the IRS will take a deep dive into your finances to make sure you don't have the means to pay the full amount.
"When the IRS determines what matters most in your budget, you can bet that taxes will outrank keeping your most prized possessions or paying other creditors," Lynch said.
© CNBC is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
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