Do you think that you might owe additional taxes to the IRS? Have you wondered about how you can settle a back tax debt? Well, in some cases, it may actually be a good idea to call the IRS and inquire about your situation. Here are a few tips for contacting the IRS and settling your tax bill.

When You Might Need to Call the IRS

While dealing with the IRS may not be a pleasant activity, the agency really is there to offer assistance with your tax questions. As a result, you don't have to be afraid to call the IRS to ask about your current situation. The agency does not behave like a prosecuting attorney in a case where "anything you say may be used against you." If you have general tax questions, a concern about your refund, or help navigating the IRS website, you should feel free to contact the agency at any time.

However, if you have been notified of a tax audit or a tax lien, you may want to hold off on contacting the IRS directly. In these cases, it's best to leave the work of contacting the IRS to your tax attorney or an Enrolled Agent, particularly if you intend to appeal the IRS audit findings.

Settling Your Account with the IRS

If you owe the IRS additional tax and you want to settle the amount due, you can call the agency to make a payment or set up an IRS installment plan. As long as you agree with the amount of tax you owe, this is an excellent idea.

Making a payment automatically brings your account into good standing, because it shows that you are willing to work with the IRS in settling your back tax debt. With an installment plan, you can arrange to send a certain amount to the agency each month. The IRS also accepts payments via credit or debit card over the phone.

Contacting the IRS by Phone

The biggest difficulty for many taxpayers is successfully reaching an IRS representative over the phone. At peak times, you may have to wait on hold for quite a long time, sometimes up to 20 minutes.

The best way to avoid this is to contact the agency during late morning or early afternoon. Early mornings and evenings are some of the busiest times for the IRS call center, and Monday mornings are the absolute worst times of all, so avoid attempting to call at these times.

If you want to settle a tax debt with the IRS, it is possible to call the agency and clear up your account. However, you may want to talk to an experienced tax professional before doing so to make sure this is the best course for you.