How to set up an Online IRS payment plan when getting system errors
Title: How to set up an Online IRS payment plan when getting system errors 1 Hi everyone, I've been trying to set up a payment plan with the IRS online for the past few days but keep running into problems. I've tried literally every browser I can think of - Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox - but I'm still getting the same error message no matter what. The error I keep seeing is:
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Giovanni Conti
12 That error message is frustrating but pretty common with the IRS payment system, especially during peak filing season. There are definitely other options for setting up a payment plan! First, try using an incognito/private browsing window - sometimes cached data can cause these errors. Also, the IRS system tends to work better during off-hours like early morning or late evening. If you've already tried all that, you have three alternative options: 1. Call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 (be prepared for a long wait) 2. File Form 9465 (Installment Agreement Request) by mail 3. Use the IRS2Go mobile app which sometimes works when the website doesn't The fastest option is usually calling, but again, expect to be on hold for a while. Don't wait too long though - setting up a payment plan stops most penalties from continuing to accumulate.
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Giovanni Conti
•8 Thanks for the detailed info! Do you know if the Form 9465 option takes longer to process than doing it online? Also, if I mail in the form, will interest continue to accrue during the processing time?
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Giovanni Conti
•12 Yes, the Form 9465 typically takes 30-45 days to process compared to immediate approval online. Interest unfortunately continues to accrue regardless of which method you use to set up the plan - it's essentially the "cost" of paying over time rather than all at once. The IRS interest rate is currently around 6% annually, which is actually lower than many credit cards, so it's still a decent option if you need time to pay. Filing the form at least shows you're making a good faith effort to pay, which can help avoid escalation to collections.
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Giovanni Conti
15 I had the EXACT same error message last month! After lots of frustration, I found this AI tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out what was going on with my payment plan issues. Basically, the tool analyzed my tax documents and helped me understand why I might be getting those eligibility errors. Turns out there was an issue with how my previous year's taxes were reported that was triggering some flag in their system. The tool helped me identify exactly what the problem was so when I finally got through to a human at the IRS, I knew exactly what to explain. Saved me hours of confusion and probably weeks of back and forth with the IRS!
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Giovanni Conti
•7 That's interesting. How exactly does this AI thing work? Does it just look at your forms or does it actually connect to the IRS system somehow? I'm always skeptical about giving my tax info to random websites.
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Giovanni Conti
•19 I checked out the site but I'm not sure if it would help with a payment plan issue specifically. Did it just help you understand the error or did it actually help you set up the payment plan too?
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Giovanni Conti
•15 The AI doesn't connect to the IRS systems at all - you upload your tax documents and it scans them to identify potential issues or inconsistencies that might be causing problems. It's completely secure and your data is encrypted. It didn't set up the payment plan for me directly, but it identified that I had a mismatch between my reported income on two different forms that was causing the eligibility error. Once I knew what the problem was, I was able to call the IRS and explain the issue specifically, which made the conversation much more productive. Instead of them saying "we don't know why it's not working," I could say "I think it's because of X issue" and they confirmed that was the problem.
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Giovanni Conti
19 Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after commenting here and wow, it actually worked! Like the other commenter said, it analyzed my tax forms and found that I had checked a box on my return that was flagging my account as potentially under review (which was causing the eligibility error). Once I knew this, I called the IRS with this specific information. The agent confirmed this was indeed the issue, removed the flag, and I was able to set up my payment plan online immediately after. What would have probably been weeks of back and forth was solved in a day. Definitely recommend if you're stuck with weird IRS errors like this!
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Giovanni Conti
3 If you're still having trouble with the online system and getting frustrated with waiting on hold with the IRS (which can literally take HOURS), you might want to check out this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have a system that basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I used it last year when I had payment plan issues and it saved me from having to sit by my phone for 3+ hours. I think I waited maybe 15 minutes total. Worth it when you consider how valuable your time is.
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Giovanni Conti
•22 How does that even work? The IRS phone system is notoriously difficult, and I find it hard to believe some third-party service can somehow game their phone system. Sounds too good to be true.
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Giovanni Conti
•6 I've heard about these services but always wondered if they actually deliver. The IRS hold times are insane but paying someone else just to wait on hold for me seems... weird?
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Giovanni Conti
•3 It's not gaming the system at all - they just use an automated system to wait in the queue for you. They call the IRS, wait on hold, and when they detect that a representative is about to answer, they call you and connect the call. It's basically just outsourcing the hold time. For me it was absolutely worth it because I was able to continue working instead of being stuck listening to the IRS hold music for hours. The service doesn't do anything beyond connecting you - you still talk directly to the IRS yourself when an agent becomes available.
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Giovanni Conti
22 I want to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier. After continuing to get nowhere with the online system, I reluctantly tried Claimyr yesterday. I was connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes without having to actually sit on hold myself. The agent was able to see that there was indeed a system issue on their end that was causing my eligibility error, and they manually set up my payment plan over the phone. Got an email confirmation a few minutes later. After a week of frustration with the website, I had it resolved in under an hour once I actually spoke to someone. Sometimes the old-fashioned way works best when technology fails!
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Giovanni Conti
5 Just wanted to throw out another option - some tax preparation services like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt can also help set up IRS payment plans. They usually charge a fee, but if you're really stuck, it might be worth it. They have direct lines to the IRS that sometimes get through faster than the public numbers.
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Giovanni Conti
•11 Do you know roughly how much they charge for this service? I'm trying to save money since I already owe taxes, so paying a huge fee would kinda defeat the purpose.
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Giovanni Conti
•5 It varies but generally runs between $50-150 depending on the complexity of your situation and which company you use. H&R Block tends to be on the higher end while some local tax preparers might charge less. You're right that it's an additional cost when you're already owing money, but sometimes the peace of mind and time saved is worth it. They also might be able to help identify if you qualify for a reduced payment or first-time penalty abatement, which could save you more than their fee.
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Giovanni Conti
17 Has anyone tried calling the IRS first thing when they open at 7am? I've heard that's the best time to get through without an excessive wait.
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Giovanni Conti
•2 I've had good luck calling right at opening time. The trick is to call at 7am Eastern time regardless of what time zone you're in. If you're on the west coast, that means calling at 4am your time, which sucks but often means only a 10-15 minute wait instead of hours.
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Ravi Gupta
I've been dealing with IRS payment plan issues myself and found that clearing your browser's cache and cookies specifically for IRS.gov can sometimes resolve these system errors. Also, make sure you're using the correct URL - go directly to irs.gov and navigate to the payment plan section rather than using bookmarks or search results, as sometimes you can end up on outdated pages. Another thing to check - if you've moved recently or had any changes to your filing status, that can sometimes cause eligibility issues with the online system. The IRS database doesn't always sync properly between different systems. If all else fails, you can also try visiting a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. They can often resolve these technical issues on the spot and set up your payment plan immediately. You'll need to make an appointment first, but it's usually much faster than waiting on hold.
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