09/23/2026
You get an IRS notice and see the balance.
Before you start thinking about how much you can pay, ask a different question.
Why does the IRS say you owe this amount?
Was the return filed?
Did the IRS create a Substitute for Return?
Are penalties included?
Has collection activity started?
Is there a levy or lien?
Those are the questions I look at first.
Sometimes the first step is not setting up a payment plan.
Sometimes the first step is figuring out how the balance got there.
That is why I investigate before I recommend a resolution.
If you are dealing with an IRS issue and do not know where to begin, start with the facts.