IRS Payment Plan Help: Installment Agreement Assistance for Businesses & Individuals

Owing back taxes you can’t pay immediately doesn’t mean you’re out of options. But you need a structured agreement in place before the agency enforces escalation and adds more stress to WC your life.

Let us help – 20/20 Tax Resolution serves businesses and individuals nationwide. We help clients set up IRS installment agreements that reflect what they can actually afford. We handle all IRS communications and ensure the agreement holds long-term.

If you’ve received collection notices, defaulted on a previous plan, or if you’re a business owner dealing with payroll tax debt, you’re in the right place.

If This Sounds Familiar, We Can Help

You don’t have to be in immediate crisis mode to benefit from professional guidance. We work with taxpayers at every stage:

• You owe back taxes and can’t afford to pay the full balance right now.
• You’ve received IRS collection notices and aren’t sure what to do next.
• You’re worried about a lien, levy, or wage garnishment.
• Your business has payroll tax liabilities or missed federal deposits.
• You defaulted on a prior installment agreement and need to restructure.
• You want to know your options before contacting the IRS directly.

The good news is that installment agreements are among the most common ways taxpayers resolve IRS debt. They’re also among the most mishandled because the monthly payment is sometimes set too high to maintain, or because the taxpayer never considered a different, better-fitting option.

Help for individuals

We regularly work with clients carrying multi-year tax debt, large balances that came due after filing, additional assessments after an audit, and self-employed taxpayers whose income fluctuates from year to year. Each situation impacts what the IRS accepts as a monthly payment and how much room you have to negotiate.

Services for businesses

Business tax cases carry higher stakes and move faster. Payroll tax liabilities, missed federal deposits, and cash flow interruptions can escalate quickly to revenue officer involvement, signaling that the IRS has moved beyond automated collection. If a revenue officer has contacted you or visited your business, you have a much narrower window to get ahead of enforcement.

Payment Plans We Help You Set Up

An IRS installment agreement lets you repay your tax debt in monthly payments instead of in one lump sum. The IRS approves agreements based on its review of your income, expenses, and assets. Not every taxpayer qualifies for every option, and the wrong choice can cost you more over time.

We help businesses and individuals set up the following installment agreements:

• Simple payment plans: Available to taxpayers owing less than $50,000, these streamlined agreements have a straightforward approval process and rarely require financial disclosure.
• Partial pay installment agreements: These monthly payments are based on what you can realistically afford; any remaining balance potentially expires once the IRS collection statute runs out.
• Non-streamlined payment plans: This option may be necessary for larger or more complex balances requiring full financial disclosure and direct negotiation with the IRS.
• Business installment agreements: These repayment agreements are intended for businesses carrying income tax or payroll tax liabilities, with terms personalized to cash flow realities.
• State payment plans: For taxpayers owing federal and state taxes, we coordinate resolution between both entities, where applicable.

Some payment plans can last up to 120 months, but your agreement’s term depends on your specific balance, financial situation, and the time remaining on the IRS collection statute.

How Tax Debt Escalates Without a Plan in Place

Unpaid tax debt doesn’t stay where it is. The IRS follows a collection sequence that moves from automated notices to active enforcement. Each consecutive step narrows your options.

Typically, it starts with a series of notices escalating in urgency. The agency may also file a federal tax lien against your property, garnish wages, levy bank accounts, seize assets, or assign a revenue officer to your case.

Additional risks for business owners

Unpaid payroll taxes carry the risk of a Trust Fund Recovery Penalty, which holds business owners and responsible parties personally liable for the employee portion of the payroll taxes. Debt can follow you personally even if the business closes.

Revenue officer involvement changes the dynamic again. Unlike automated collection, a revenue officer is a real person assigned to your case with the authority to investigate your finances, contact your bank, and move toward asset seizure.

A levy on your bank account can freeze payroll, halt vendor payments, disrupt daily operations, and more. Securing a payment plan structured around your cash flow protects the business and your personal assets from IRS collection.

We work with business owners in these situations. We regularly handle payroll tax cases, revenue officer intervention, and agreements that must account for fluctuating revenue. Getting professional representation early makes a difference.

Tracie Lashell (Business Case – Manageable Monthly Payment + Levy Stopped)

“2020 Tax Resolution helped us stop the levy process and worked as a go-between for us with the IRS. Tiffani was able to get us a very manageable monthly payment, which allowed us to decrease our liability and keep current.”

Risks of Setting Up a Payment Plan Incorrectly

Setting up a payment plan incorrectly introduces other risks. Overcommitting to a monthly payment you can’t sustain leads to default. Default can trigger renewed enforcement and remove the protections the original agreement provided. Getting the number right the first time matters. Professional guidance is a strategic move.

Darla Bohacs (Lowest Monthly Payment Plan)

“Jessica Jefferson communicated directly with me and explained step by step how it would all be. The best part is she successfully rewarded me with the lowest monthly payment plan. She was always there to discuss the situation, and in the end, it all worked out to my best interest.”

How We Structure Your Payment Plan

We don’t use sales pitches. Each case starts with creating a clear picture of where you stand.

• Case evaluation: We pull your IRS transcripts and account history to confirm what’s owed, when it was assessed, and what enforcement actions are pending or active. We also look for unfiled returns, which disqualify you from most resolution programs until addressed.
• Strategy: We review your income, monthly expenses, and assets against IRS national and local standards. This data tells us what the IRS will accept as payment and where we can negotiate a lower amount. We also evaluate whether a payment plan is your best option or whether it makes more sense to request an Offer in Compromise or choose a different resolution, given your finances.
• Execution: We prepare all required documentation and communicate directly with the IRS on your behalf. We also follow up and negotiate as needed.
• Resolution: Once an agreement is in place, we confirm the terms and make sure you understand what’s required to keep it active.

Julie Morrandez (Individual Case – Payment Plan I Can Manage)

“Joe and James stepped in and handled everything. They talked to the IRS for me, explained things in a way I could actually understand, and helped me get on a payment plan I can manage.”

When You Should Call 2020 Tax Resolution

We focus 100% on tax resolution, not tax prep, bookkeeping, or financial planning. Our licensed tax professionals handle cases for businesses and individuals across the U.S. We charge less than most national competitors, and we don’t recommend strategies our clients don’t need.

If your tax balance is less than $50,000, you don’t have any pending enforcement, and your financial situation is stable, you might be comfortable requesting a simple payment plan through the IRS portal. If your situation is straightforward enough to handle without us, we’ll let you know.

If it isn’t, we’ll tell you that, too – and explain exactly why. Professional guidance is important for larger or more complex balances, business tax debt, active enforcement, prior defaults, or any situation where the wrong agreement structure could cost you a whole lot more over time or trigger renewed collection.

Joe Pruitt (Fair Payment Plan + Long-Standing IRS Issues Resolved)

“From day one, Nate treated my case like it truly mattered—not just another account. He stayed in constant contact, explained every step clearly, and even checked in on how I was doing personally through a stressful tax situation. Because of his persistence and dedication, my long-standing IRS issues were fully resolved, and I now have a fair payment plan in place. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will I have to pay the IRS each month?

Your payment amount depends on your income, assets, and expenses. We’ll analyze all your financials before submitting anything to make sure the payment reflects what you can actually afford.

Do penalties and interest keep accruing?

Yes. They continue to grow on the unpaid balance throughout the agreement, which is why structuring the lowest sustainable payment matters from the start.

What happens if I miss a payment?

The IRS can terminate your agreement and restart collection. If your income or situation changes, contact us before you miss a payment, not after.

Will the IRS file a tax lien?

For balances over $10,000, generally yes if you don’t set up payments. If you set up payments before the IRS files a lien, they typically won’t file one if you owe under $50,000.

Can businesses qualify for long-term payment plans?

Yes. Business cases, especially those involving payroll taxes, are more complex and have a higher enforcement risk. But long-term payment agreements are possible.

Is a payment plan better than an Offer in Compromise?

A payment plan requires you to repay the full balance. An OIC settles what you owe for less, but the qualification is strict. We evaluate both options before making our recommendation.

Can I modify my agreement if my income changes?

Yes. If your financial situation changes, you can usually restructure your agreement. Address it early; a proactive call to discuss the update is much easier than recovering from a default.

What if I already defaulted on a prior plan?

Defaulted agreements can often be reinstated or restructured. We handle those cases regularly.

Talk to Someone Before Collection Escalates

The IRS will keep collecting until you resolve your debt or the collection statute expires. A payment plan – structured correctly and for the right amount – stops enforcement and offers a manageable path out of debt.

20/20 Tax Resolution offers a free initial consultation for businesses and individuals nationwide. We review your records and give you an honest assessment, telling you exactly where you stand. Contact us today to request a confidential, no-pressure case review.