Written
by Alayna Okerlund, Content Management Specialist for BestCompany.com
Most people try not to think about taxes until
they absolutely have to. Thanks to the recent tax season, you’re probably still
thinking about your tax situation, especially if you have a large tax bill
looming over your shoulder.
Nothing is worse than realizing you don’t have
enough money to pay your taxes on time. There are several options you can take
to make sure you do pay off your tax bill; however, many people end up
procrastinating their tax payments. They might think obtaining enough money is
possible if they wait, or are unaware of what payment options are available.
Little do they know, putting off tax payments
can financially hurt in more ways than one.
Potential Consequences
Multiple consequences arise when you fail to
pay your taxes on time.
Penalties and Interest
The longer you procrastinate your tax bill
payments, the more money you will likely end up paying.
The IRS will give you what is called a “failure-to-pay penalty” if you do not pay
your taxes by the tax due date. The penalty is a recurring monthly charge that
you must pay until you’re done paying off your tax bill. In addition to this
penalty, you will have to pay whatever interest is accruing during the time
you’re not paying your taxes. Over time, you will be spending more money than
if you were to pay your tax bill on time.
Keep in mind that you can receive a different
penalty for failing to file your tax return. Consider filing your taxes
regardless of whether you can afford to pay your taxes on time. Filing your
taxes can help you avoid the “failure-to-file penalty” and other tax issues.
Wage Garnishment/levies
The IRS can also garnish/levy your wages. If a
wage levy takes place, the IRS website states that “part of your wages
will be sent to the IRS each pay period until
- You make other arrangements to pay
your overdue taxes, - The amount of overdue taxes you
owe is paid, or - The levy is released.
Part of your wages may be exempt from the levy
and the exempt amount will be paid to you. The exempt amount is based on the
standard deduction and an ‘amount determined’ calculated in part based on the
number of dependents you are allowed for the year the levy is served.”
Indirect Credit Impact
Paying your taxes late could indirectly put
your credit
in a bind.
Late tax payments and unpaid taxes might not show up on your credit reports, but there are ways tax liens can indirectly affect your credit.
According to Experian, “paying extra money in penalties and
interest because you sent in your tax payment late could make it more
challenging to keep up with the rest of your bills. If this happens, and you
fall behind on any credit obligations as a result, your late tax payment could
indirectly harm your credit. Payment history is the most important factor in
your credit score, counting for about 35 percent of your score, so late credit
payments reported by your creditors can damage your credit quickly.”
Potential Tax Payment Solutions
Paying your taxes is important. Paying on time
would be best, but if you can’t manage to pay your taxes before the tax due
date, here are a few options to consider:
Payment
Plan/installment Agreement
The IRS has a few different payment plans that
you can request. The IRS payment plan options include the
following:
Pay now plan
- Full amount in one payment
- $0 to apply
- No interest or penalties
Short-term plan
- 120 days or less
- $0 to apply
- Interest + Penalties
Long-term plan option 1
- More than 120 days
- Automatic payments via direct
debit - $31 to apply online
- $107 to apply via phone, mail, or
in-person - Interest + Penalties
Long-term plan option 2
- More than 120 days
- Electronic, non-direct debit
payment (Direct Pay or credit/debit card) - $149 to apply online
- $225 to apply via phone, mail, or
in-person ($43 for low income) - Interest + Penalties
Personal Loans
A personal loan might not be your first
option, but it can be helpful in some unpaid tax situations.
You can obtain a personal loan
from credit unions, banks, and online lenders. So depending on a few factors
like credit score, interest rates, applications, etc., you could receive
funding within a short time.
It could be smart to get a short-term personal
loan if you are planning on using it to pay off your tax bill. However, it’s
important that you compare lenders and consider interest rates, your particular
financial situation, potential repayment plans, and other payment options
before you decide to take out a personal loan for tax payment purposes.
Credit Cards and Debit Cards
Paying your tax bill with a credit card may be
an option for you, depending on your circumstances. However, it’s generally not
the first option people consider due to a variety of fees and high tax bills.
It’s important to note that paying your taxes
with a credit card could be a good option if you can afford to pay off your
credit card bill. If you can’t afford to pay it off, however, your credit score
could suffer.
Before you start making tax-related payments
with a credit/debit card, visit the IRS website to learn about processing fees and
actions, payment limitations, and more.
The Bottom Line
Tax bills shouldn’t be put on the backburner
for too long. Although owing the IRS money doesn’t put you in an ideal
situation, sometimes it can seem inevitable. Knowing what can happen when you
fail to pay your taxes on time and what you can do about it will help you avoid
dealing with future tax debt. Consider conducting your own personal research to
figure out which tax relief options are best for your specific
situation.
If you notice that your credit situation is indirectly suffering from tax debt, consider looking into credit repair services sooner rather than later. After all, poor credit can restrict your loan options and harm your overall financial situation.
Source: lexingtonlaw.com