IRS Form 13844 Instructions

The Internal Revenue Service allows taxpayers who are behind on their federal taxes to enter into a monthly payment plan to reduce their tax debt. Usually, there is a one-time setup fee to enter an IRS installment agreement. But if you’re a low-income taxpayer, you may be eligible to set up a tax payment plan for a reduced fee by filing IRS Form 13844.

This article will walk you through this form, including:

• Background information on installment payment plans
• Who is eligible for a reduced user fee
• How to complete IRS Form 13844

Let’s start with step by step guidance on completing this tax form.

How do I complete IRS Form 13844?

This IRS form is fairly straightforward. Let’s take a look at what you need to complete.

Page 1

The first page of this form contains background information about reduced installment agreement fees and how low-income taxpayers might be eligible.

There are only 3 information fields you need to complete on Page 1.

Block 1

If are unable to make electronic or direct debit payments, check the block in #1.

Block 2: Family unit size

Enter the total number of depends that you claimed on your most recent income tax return. Include yourself and your spouse, if applicable.

This number should match the number on your most recent federal tax return.

Block 3: Adjusted gross income

Enter your adjusted gross income (AGI) from the most recent tax year available. You can find this number on Line 11 of your IRS Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.

As with Block 2, this should match the number shown on your most recent tax return.

Please note: The IRS will not consider any applications for low income taxpayer status, for installment agreement purposes, if you submit them 30 days (or more) after the date on the installment agreement acceptance letter that you’ve previously received.

Page 2

The top of page 2 contains the low-income taxpayer AGI guidance, based upon family size. There are 3 categories of income, depending on where you reside:

• 48 contiguous states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories
• Alaska
• Hawaii

Below this field, you and your spouse will enter your names and Social Security numbers. If either of you does not have a Social Security number, you may use your taxpayer identification number (TIN) instead.

Below your name and SSN, you and your spouse will sign the certification stating that you certify, under penalty of perjury, that you are eligible for status as a low-income taxpayer for installment agreement purposes based upon your family unit size and adjusted gross income.

What is IRS Form 13844?

IRS Form 13844, Application For Reduced User Fee For Installment Agreements, is the tax form that individual taxpayers may use to reduce or eliminate the installment agreement user fee that the IRS charges.

How do I set up an installment plan?

The IRS website contains a lot of information on how to set up installment plans for taxpayers trying to pay their tax bill. There are three categories of payment options available:

• Immediate payment
• Short-term payment plan
• Long-term payment plan

Let’s take a closer look at each of these in depth.

Immediate payment

To completely avoid any additional fees or penalty charges, the IRS highly encourages taxpayers to pay their unpaid taxes with a lump sum payment.

Taxpayers may pay directly from their bank account online through direct deposit or over the phone through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

Taxpayers may also make immediate payment by:

• Check
• Money order
• Credit card (additional fees may apply)

There is no installment plan fee if the taxpayer makes a full payment of their back taxes. However, for many taxpayers, the best option is setting up an IRS payment plan.

Let’s look a little more closely at the payment plan options.

Short-term payment plan

A short-term payment plan is an IRS payment plan that pays the total amount of taxes, penalties, and interest in 180 days or less. However, only individuals are eligible to sign up for a short-term payment plan.

There are no fees to set up a short-term payment plan.

Long-term payment plan

A long-term payment plan is one in which the full amount of tax debt is paid in installment payments lasting over 6 months. There are two ways to set up a long-term payment plan.

• Direct debit installment agreement (DDIA)
• Applying for a long-term payment plan

In either case, you can set up the payment plan by filing IRS Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. Under a direct debit agreement, the taxpayer provides their bank account information, and the IRS withdraws the monthly installments automatically.

Otherwise, the taxpayer is responsible for making their own monthly payments. These can be done:

• Directly from a checking or savings account (Direct Pay)
• Using Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) (enrollment required)
• Via monthly payment by:
  • Check
  • Money order
  • Debit/credit card Fees apply when paying by card

Regardless of how the long-term installment agreement is set up, there are user fees involved. Let’s take a closer look at those user fees.

How much does it cost to set up an installment plan?

The user fees differ depending on whether you sign up for direct debit payments or make your own installment payments. They also depend on how you submit the request. Online requests are easier to process, and cheaper than manual requests done by phone, in person, or via mail.

Below is the cost breakdown for each type of payment agreement.

Direct debit installment agreement

For online applications, the setup fee is $31 for non low-income taxpayers. To apply by phone, mail, or in-person, the setup fee is $107.

For low-income taxpayers, the setup fee is waived as long as there is a direct debit agreement in place.

Installment agreement

For an installment agreement request in which the taxpayer is responsible for their own payments, the application fee schedule is as follows:

• Apply online: $130 setup fee
• Apply by phone, mail, or in-person: $225 setup fee
• Low income: Apply online, by phone, or in-person: $43 setup fee which may be reimbursed if certain conditions are met

Generally, a low income taxpayer may be eligible for a refund of their setup fee at the end of their payments.

Who is eligible to set up an installment agreement?

Individual taxpayers may submit an online installment agreement request if they meet the following criteria:

• Long-term payment plan (installment agreement): A taxpayer may request a long-term payment plan if the taxpayer
  • Owes $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, and
  • Has filed all required tax returns.
• Short-term payment plan: Taxpayer must owe less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.

A business may request a long-term payment plan as long as the business:

• Owes $25,000 or less in taxes, interest, and late payment penalties
• Has filed all required tax returns

Any individual taxpayer may complete Form 13844 if they’re experiencing financial hardship and they feel their financial situation warrants a waiver of the user fee.