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Last year, when I filed my taxes, I owed the IRS some money. I didn't pay it – I couldn't at the time. It was only a couple hundred dollars. I guess I have two questions, if you will:

  1. If I file a tax return this year and get a refund (things have changed dramatically since last year), will the government keep the difference automatically?

  2. If I don't get a tax refund from my tax return this year, or the government doesn't keep the difference automatically, how do I pay the IRS what I owe?

Thanks.

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  • Did you file last April? Do you have a payment plan? Jan 10, 2014 at 16:00
  • @mhoran_psprep I filed last April, but I don't have a payment plan. I didn't even realize that was an option.
    – crush
    Jan 10, 2014 at 16:02
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    If you owe them money the clock is ticking on interest and penalties. Jan 10, 2014 at 16:15

1 Answer 1

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If I file a tax return this year and get a refund (things have changed dramatically since last year), will the government keep the difference automatically?

Yes.

If I don't file a tax return this year, or the government doesn't keep the difference automatically, how do I pay the IRS what I owe?

Not filing a tax return will lead to additional penalties and taxes, so do file. Regardless - you pay by check. You mail it to the IRS center assigned to you based on the residence address, see the instructions to form 1040. You can also submit a form authorizing direct debit from your checking account.

If you pay by check - write down your SSN and the relevant tax year in the MEMO of the check. The cancelled check is your receipt.

The sooner you pay the less the interest and penalties will be.

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  • Sorry, that part of the question was edited by someone else incorrectly. It should read "If I don't get a refund on my tax return this year, or the government doesn't keep the difference automatically, how do I pay the IRS what I owe?" Thanks for the information. This helps.
    – crush
    Jan 13, 2014 at 13:32

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