Explore Your Payment Options

If you cannot pay the tax you owe in full by April 15, you should still file your return on time and pay as much as you can to avoid penalties and interest. There are also other payment options to consider:

• Additional time to pay - Depending on your circumstances, the IRS sometimes allows a brief additional amount of time to pay. Request this through the Online Payment Agreement (OPA) application at IRS.gov or call 800.829.1040. If you get an additional 30 to 120 days to pay the tax, you'll usually pay less penalty and interest than if you paid by installment agreement over a longer period.
• Installment agreement - You can apply for an IRS installment agreement using the OPA application on IRS.gov. This is for taxpayers who owe $25,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest. You can find out immediately if you're approved. The OPA option gives you a simple and convenient way to set up an installment agreement, eliminates the need for personal interaction with IRS, and reduces paper processing.