Need to file online but also setup payment plan with IRS - any way to avoid redoing everything?

Title: Need to file online but also setup payment plan with IRS - any way to avoid redoing everything? 1 I'm in the final stages of my online tax filing and I've gone through the whole process up to the checkout point where I have to pay what I owe. The problem is I can't pay the full amount right now and need to set up a payment plan. I've already spent hours inputting all my info and I'm dreading having to redo everything if I have to go directly through the IRS. Does anyone know if the IRS will be able to access the info from my tax software so I don't have to repeat the whole process? Or am I going to have to start from scratch with them? I'm pretty sure there's no option to set up payment plans through the tax software I'm using, just the ability to pay in full. Just trying to figure out if there's a way to avoid duplicating all that work I've already done... it was seriously a pain getting all my documents together the first time.

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18 comments

GalaxyGlider

•8M

8 You don't need to redo everything! You can still file through your tax software and then set up a payment plan separately with the IRS. Here's how it works: Go ahead and complete your filing through the tax software. When you get to the payment page, just select the option to pay later or by mail (the wording varies depending on which software you're using). This will allow you to submit your return without making a payment. After your return is processed and accepted by the IRS (usually within 24-48 hours), you can then go to the IRS website and set up a payment plan. Visit irs.gov/payments and look for the "Online Payment Agreement" option. You'll need your filing info and the exact amount you owe, but you won't have to re-enter all your tax information. The key thing is to still file on time even if you can't pay right away. This helps you avoid the failure-to-file penalty, which is much higher than the failure-to-pay penalty.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

8 Once your return has been processed, the IRS will have a record of how much you owe. When you go to set up the payment plan, you'll verify your identity and the system will show your outstanding balance. However, it's always good to know the exact amount you owe from your return as a double-check. There are several payment plan options available. For amounts under $50,000, you can usually set up a short-term plan (180 days or less) with no setup fee or a long-term monthly payment plan. The long-term plans do have setup fees, but they're reduced if you opt for direct debit payments. If you qualify as low income, you might also have the fee waived.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

12 I went through this exact same situation last year! I tried several tax filing services but kept running into the same problem until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). What's cool is that you can actually upload your completed tax forms there, even if you prepared them somewhere else, and they'll analyze everything to make sure you're not missing any deductions before you finalize. Then they have this super helpful guidance on setting up IRS payment plans - it walked me through the whole process of filing my return first, then setting up my payment arrangement without duplicating anything. They even found a deduction I missed that reduced what I owed by about $340!

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

12 They don't set up the payment plan for you - nobody can do that except you directly with the IRS. What they do is analyze your completed forms to find potential missed deductions that might lower your tax bill in the first place. In my case, they identified some business expenses I hadn't properly categorized. The payment plan guidance is just part of their service - they provide clear instructions on how to file your return first through your existing software, then set up the payment plan with the IRS afterward. They don't charge any additional fees for this guidance - it's all included when you use their service to review your return.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

19 Just wanted to follow up - I decided to give taxr.ai a try after all, and I'm really glad I did! I uploaded my almost-completed return from my regular tax software and they identified a student loan interest deduction I'd completely missed. Saved me about $280 in taxes! Their instructions for filing first and then setting up the payment plan separately with the IRS were super clear. I was able to submit my return through my original software and then use the IRS website to set up a monthly payment plan. The whole process was way easier than I expected! Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

3 If you need to talk to an actual person at the IRS about payment options (which I highly recommend), don't waste your time calling the regular number. I spent DAYS trying to get through last year. Use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) instead - you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to answer. I was skeptical at first, but after wasting 3 hours on hold one day, I tried it and got connected to an IRS rep in about 45 minutes without having to stay on the phone the whole time. The agent walked me through all my payment options and helped me pick the right one for my situation, which actually saved me money in the long run.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

3 It's not a scam - it uses a call system that maintains your place in the queue. When an IRS agent picks up, you get an immediate call connecting you directly to that agent. The IRS agents don't even know you weren't personally waiting on hold. The service doesn't do anything with your tax information - it just connects you with the IRS so you can discuss your payment options directly with them. I found it incredibly useful because I had specific questions about which payment plan would work best for my situation. Speaking with an actual IRS representative helped me understand all the options, including some I didn't know existed that saved me on fees.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

22 I was super skeptical about Claimyr when I first saw it mentioned (as you could tell from my previous comment), but after spending 2 hours on hold with the IRS and getting disconnected TWICE, I gave it a shot. Holy crap - it actually works exactly as described! I got a call back in about an hour saying an IRS agent was on the line, and I was able to talk through my specific situation. The agent explained that since I owed less than $10,000, I qualified for a streamlined installment agreement with lower setup fees. Would have never known that without talking to someone. Saved me the hassle of multiple failed calls and probably saved me money on the setup fees too. Definitely recommend if you need to actually speak with the IRS.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

17 Just want to add that whatever you do, make sure you file your return by the deadline even if you can't pay right away! The penalty for not filing (5% per month) is TEN TIMES higher than the penalty for not paying (0.5% per month). Also, depending on how much you owe, you might have different options. If it's under $50,000, the online payment agreement is super easy. If it's less than $100,000, you can still do it online but with different terms. Over $100k and you'll probably need to fill out Form 9465 and maybe Form 433-F.

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GalaxyGlider

•8M

17 Setting up a payment plan itself doesn't directly impact your credit score - the IRS doesn't report installment agreements to credit bureaus. However, if you owe more than $10,000, the IRS may file a tax lien, which can affect your credit. The good news is that if you owe less than $50,000 and set up a direct debit installment plan, the IRS generally won't file a tax lien. So if you're applying for a mortgage later, getting on a payment plan quickly is actually better than leaving the tax debt unaddressed.

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