TaxAct payment plan setup confusion - where do I manage my IRS installment agreement?

The payment plan you set up through TaxAct (Form 9465) is actually an IRS installment agreement, not a TaxAct payment plan. TaxAct just helps you complete and submit the form during your filing process. Once approved, your installment agreement is managed directly through the IRS. You'll need to create an account on the IRS website (irs.gov) and go to the "View Your Account" section. From there, you can check your balance, make payments, and see your payment history. The IRS should also send you a letter confirming your installment agreement with all the details. If you need to change your payment method or update card info, you'll need to do that through the IRS payment system or by calling them directly. TaxAct won't have any visibility into your payment plan once it's been submitted to the IRS.

I went through this exact same headache last year! TaxAct makes it seem like they're handling the payment plan, but they just submit the form to the IRS. After struggling for weeks trying to figure out where to manage my payments, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me understand exactly what was going on with my installment agreement. Their AI analyzed my tax documents and explained that I needed to create an IRS account to manage everything. They even walked me through what sections of the IRS website to navigate to find my specific payment plan details. Saved me so much confusion and probably prevented me from missing payments because I had no idea where to go!

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. I was super confused about my payment plan too and decided to give it a try. It was honestly SO helpful!! I uploaded my tax return and the confirmation I got from the IRS (which I didn't even understand) and the AI immediately explained that my payment plan was already approved but wouldn't be active until next month. It showed me exactly where on the IRS site to go to manage everything and explained all the payment options I had. Saved me from spending hours on hold with the IRS just to ask basic questions! It even told me what to do if I need to change my payment amount later this year when my lease is up. Way more helpful than H&R Block's customer service ever was.

For anyone having trouble reaching the IRS about their payment plan - I was in the same boat trying to change my payment method after setting up through TaxAct. Spent DAYS trying to get through to someone at the IRS with no luck. Finally found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the IRS in about 20 minutes. They have this cool system where they call the IRS for you and wait on hold, then call you when they have an agent on the line. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was super skeptical, but it actually worked! Got my payment method updated with the first person I talked to at the IRS. Way better than the 3+ hours I spent on hold trying to do it myself.

Ok I'm back to eat my words. After struggling for another week trying to reach the IRS about my payment plan, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Cannot believe I wasted so many lunch breaks on hold with the IRS! They got me through to someone in about 35 minutes (which is INSANE considering I'd waited 2+ hours multiple times). The IRS rep confirmed my payment plan was approved and helped me switch from direct debit to paying by card each month. She also told me I could have just used the online payment system on IRS.gov the whole time, but you need a special PIN they send in the mail, which explains why I couldn't access it yet. Seriously kicking myself for not trying this service weeks ago.

Just a tip from someone who's been on an IRS payment plan before - make sure you keep track of all your payments and confirmation numbers! The IRS systems don't always update right away and I once had them send me a notice saying I missed a payment when I absolutely didn't. Always choose the option that gives you a confirmation number and screenshot or write it down somewhere. It was a nightmare having to prove I'd made a payment they didn't record properly. And if you ever need to change your bank info, do it at least 2 weeks before your payment date or it might not update in time.

I'm in the same boat with TaxAct! One thing nobody mentioned - check your email spam folder. I found an email from the IRS with instructions about my payment plan that got filtered out. It had a link to set up my online account and explained the whole process. Also the letter confirming your payment plan approval (with all the details) comes separately from your tax return confirmation, so watch for that too. Once I got that letter and set up my online account, everything showed up correctly and I could manage my payments there.

Great to see this got resolved! Just wanted to add for anyone else in this situation - if you're still having trouble finding that IRS email or it never came through, you can also call the IRS automated line at 1-800-829-0922 and use the automated system to check your installment agreement status. You'll need your SSN and the exact amount you owe, but it can confirm if your payment plan was approved and when your first payment is due. I had a similar issue where the email never came (even checked spam) and this automated line saved me from waiting on hold. It also gives you the option to speak to a representative if you need to make changes, though as others mentioned, services like Claimyr can help you get through faster if the wait times are crazy.