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On Line Payment Agreement (OPA Application)
Paying your taxes in full and on time avoids unnecessary penalties and interest. However, if you cannot pay your taxes in full, you may request a payment agreement.
Individuals who owe $25,000 or less in combined tax, penalties, and interest can use the OPA application to request a payment agreement. This application will allow you or your authorized representative (Power of Attorney) to self qualify, apply for an installment agreement, and receive immediate notification of approval. There may be times when you will need to mail in paperwork or speak with the IRS before the Service can determine your eligibility for an installment agreement. If that is the case, the OPA application will give you an address or a toll-free phone number to reach the IRS.
NOTE: The OPA uses the terms installment agreement and payment agreement/plan interchangeably.
For security purposes, you will automatically be logged out of OPA after 20 minutes of inactivity per page. Be sure to gather all the necessary information so that you are not automatically logged out of OPA before completing the required information. If you have difficulty entering the data required, call the IRS at the number listed under “When should I call the toll-free number.”
Important: DO NOT use the back button in your browser window when making an Online Payment Agreement. If you use the back button you will lose any data you have entered and will need to start the agreement process over.
Important: DO NOT use the back button in your browser window when making an Online Payment Agreement. If you use the back button you will lose any data you have entered and will need to start the agreement process over.
What To Do If You Receive An IRS Notice
It’s a moment many taxpayers dread. A letter arrives from the IRS — and it’s not a refund check. Don’t panic; many of these letters can be dealt with simply and painlessly.
Each year, the IRS sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers to request payment of taxes, notify them of a change to their account or request additional information. The notice you receive normally covers a very specific issue about your account or tax return. Each letter and notice offers specific instructions on what you are asked to do to satisfy the inquiry.
If you receive a correction notice, you should review the correspondence and compare it with the information on your return.
Agree? If you agree with the correction to your account, usually no reply is necessary unless a payment is due.
Disagree? If you do not agree with the correction the IRS made, it is important that you respond as requested. Write to explain why you disagree. Include any documents and information you wish the IRS to consider, along with the bottom tear-off portion of the notice. Mail the information to the IRS address shown in the upper left-hand corner of the notice. Allow at least 30 days for a response.
Most correspondence can be handled without calling or visiting an IRS office. However, if you have questions, call the telephone number in the upper right-hand corner of the notice. Have a copy of your tax return and the correspondence available when you call to help us respond to your inquiry.
Be sure to keep copies of any correspondence with your records.
For more information about IRS notices and bills, see Publication 594, What You Should Know about the IRS Collection Process. Information about penalties and interest charges is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. Both publications are available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Links:
Publication 594, Understanding the Collection Process (PDF 129K)
Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (PDF 2,072K)
Tax Topic 651, Notices — What to Do
Stacie's Tax Stuff 