Good Afternoon All,   Did you know the IRS can be nice too  !!  All I have ever heard is how awful they are to work with.  I have owed some money for two years now, but do to my financial circumstances, I have been unable to pay it.  Well, today I called them cuz I can't make my monthly payment, they put me into what is called "uncollectable status."  That means there wont be any more payments until I can afford to start making them.  Yes, it will still accure interest, but eventually, if I still can't pay, they will write off the balance.  I have worried over this for sooo long.  It is such a relief to know no men in grey suits will be coming after me.

Debr

Debr, I'm glad you don't have to worry about the IRS for now.  I know from my professional experiences with the IRS, you are always better off letting them know your situation rather than running from them when you owe money.  They also know they can't blood out of a turnip.  If you don't have the money, you don't have the money!  And, if you don't have a job, they can't attach your wages either!  The odds are, the amount you owe is small potatoes to them and they would rather put the debt on hold than spend the resources to try to collect in your situation.  (And, surprise, surprise, they have a much better chance of your paying them back!)

Technically the IRS can arrest you for failure to pay back taxes, but the reality is, that is seldom done to people of the "working class".  They reserve that punishment for those who clearly have the means to pay, but choose not to.  For those who don't pay because they are unable to pay, it is better to allow you to try to find employment and pay off the taxes when you can.  Also, when you do find a job, if the IRS decides to attach your wages, there is a formula that is used to make you always have at least a minimum amount to live on.  I don't have that number on the top of my head (it used to be $309 for a 2 week payroll), but if you want more specifics on this, feel free to ask me.  (I write payroll software and spend a lot of time working with my customers on garnishment issues for tax levies, child support, student loans and bankrupcies.)  The IRS usually comes after people when they try to ignore their back taxes, but keeping in touch with them and/or paying a bit at a time when you can will usually keep them at bay.