IRS Payment Plan Help in Houston
Written by Deanna R. Ngueket, CPA. Reviewed October 2026. This page is general information, not tax advice for your situation.
If you owe the IRS more than you can pay at once, a payment plan lets you pay over time. It also keeps the balance from moving toward a levy. I help individuals and business owners in Houston, Spring, Humble and Atascocita choose the right plan, apply for it, and keep it in good standing.
The two kinds of IRS payment plans
Short-term plan: up to 180 days to pay in full, if you owe less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. No setup fee.
Long-term plan (installment agreement): monthly payments. You can apply online if you owe $50,000 or less and have filed all required returns. Setup fees as of October 2026:
- Online, with automatic bank payments: $29
- Online, paying another way: $69
- By phone, mail or in person: $107 with automatic bank payments, $178 otherwise
- Lower-income taxpayers: reduced, and in some cases reimbursed
If you owe more than $50,000, you can still get a plan. The IRS usually asks for a financial statement first, and that back-and-forth is where having a representative helps most.
What a payment plan does, and doesn’t, stop
- Interest keeps running on the unpaid balance until it’s paid.
- The late-payment penalty is cut in half, from 0.5% to 0.25% a month, while the plan is in place, if you filed that return on time.
- Levies generally stop. The IRS can’t levy while your request is pending or while the plan is in effect.
- Future refunds are applied to the balance until it’s paid.
Keeping the plan in good standing
The plan stays in place as long as you make each payment, pay new taxes on time, and file future returns on time. If you miss one of these, the IRS can end the plan. If you’re self-employed, that means keeping up with quarterly estimates while you pay down the old balance.
How I help
- I pull your IRS account transcripts, so the balance and the years are right before you commit.
- I check whether penalty relief should come off first, so you’re not paying penalties over time that could have been removed.
- I help you choose the plan and a payment you can keep up with.
- I apply for you under a signed Form 2848 and handle the follow-up.
- If you’ve already received a CP504 or a final notice, I work that deadline first.
What it costs
There’s no fixed fee. I quote in writing after I’ve read your notice or account transcript. Book a free 15-minute consultation.
Sources: IRC §§ 6159, 6331(k)(2), 6402(a), 6601 and 6651(h); IRS, Payment plans; installment agreements.
Related: IRS Tax Resolution · IRS Penalty Relief · Unfiled Tax Returns · Behind on quarterly estimates?
Talk to someone today
Call 713-730-9792, or book a free consultation. If you have an LT11, Letter 1058, or CP90, you generally have 30 days from the date on the notice to request a Collection Due Process hearing — call before that passes.
