Updated September 2026
For many people the best IRS payment plan help is free: individuals who owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest can set up a long-term plan themselves through the IRS Online Payment Agreement, per IRS.gov (September 2026). Paid help makes sense when you owe more, the IRS has already levied or garnished, returns are missing, or a plan was rejected. Global Gate Tax Relief publishes this guide and lists itself first; the IRS’s own tool is second because for many readers it is all they need.
How we chose these firms
We checked each option on 23 September 2026 against these points:
- Licensed representation: enrolled agents, CPAs or attorneys who can speak to IRS collections for you.
- Fees disclosed up front: a flat quote, a published policy, or at least a clear refund rule. A payment plan should not cost more to arrange than it saves.
- Free consultation.
- National coverage.
- Public record: no open or recent FTC or state attorney general action we could find.
- Honesty about DIY: we ranked the free IRS tool high on purpose and favored firms that say when you can do this yourself.
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Global Gate Tax Relief
Best for: Plans above the online limits, or with a levy already in place
Global Gate, an Irvine, California firm handling IRS tax resolution since 2017, has licensed tax attorneys, enrolled agents and CPAs on its team and works with clients in all 50 states remotely.
- Straight answer on DIY: it tells small-balance callers how to resolve things themselves and declines cases where it cannot add value beyond its fee.
- Fees: free consultation; if engaged, a flat fee quoted upfront, no hourly billing, no long-term contract.
- Urgent cases: in levy cases it can often act within 24-72 hours of engagement; release timing depends on the IRS.
- Example from its site: a self-employed client owing $47,000 got an installment agreement at $550 a month with no levy or garnishment. Individual results vary.
Call 1-877-800-8180 or see its installment agreement page.
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IRS Online Payment Agreement (free, do it yourself)
Best for: Individuals who owe $50,000 or less and can manage it themselves
The IRS’s own tool is the cheapest route, and a firm cannot get you a lower setup fee than this. Per IRS.gov (September 2026):
- Short-term plan (paid within 180 days): available if you owe less than $100,000; $0 setup fee.
- Long-term plan by direct debit, online: $29 setup fee, waived for low-income taxpayers.
- Long-term plan without direct debit, online: $69, or $43 for low-income taxpayers, which may be reimbursed.
- Applying by phone, mail or in person costs more: $107 with direct debit, $178 without.
The catch: interest and some penalties keep accruing until the balance is paid, and all required returns must be filed.
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Jackson Hewitt Tax Resolution
Best for: Choosing between plan types with an enrolled agent, at no upfront cost
Jackson Hewitt’s resolution team says its specialists are IRS enrolled agents, with CPAs and attorneys on client teams, and that it helps people “choose the payment plan that’s right for your budget and timeline.”
- Fees: a free consultation and IRS investigation, then a plan with transparent pricing; the site says you pay only if you choose to proceed.
- Extras: it also handles unfiled returns, which have to be filed to keep an IRS plan in good standing, and state balances.
A reasonable pick if you are unsure whether a short-term plan, a long-term plan or something else fits.
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Community Tax
Best for: Plans that depend on a full financial statement
Community Tax, in Jacksonville, Florida, lists installment agreements first among its resolution services and says its team includes enrolled agents, CPAs and tax attorneys. Its investigation step builds a financial profile and makes inquiries with the IRS before it proposes anything.
- Why that matters here: plans above the online limits usually mean giving the IRS a collection information statement, and the numbers on it set your monthly payment.
- Fees: a flat fee for the investigation; resolution fees are not published.
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Tax Defense Network
Best for: A free first call on a payment plan question
Tax Defense Network says it has been in business since 2007 and lists an IRS payment plan service alongside offers in compromise and help with unfiled returns. Its footer says it may employ attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents under IRS Circular 230.
- Consultation: free and no-obligation.
- Fees: the site states you will be charged if you hire it but does not publish amounts, so get the quote in writing.
Before you sign, compare the quote with the IRS setup fee you would pay doing it yourself online.
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Polston Tax
Best for: Business owners who also need current-year compliance
Polston Tax, in Norman, Oklahoma, says it has worked on tax problems since 2001 with tax attorneys and enrolled agents, and offers installment agreement services along with tax preparation and bookkeeping.
- Why it fits: the IRS can default a plan if you fall behind on new returns or estimated payments, so keeping current-year books in order protects the agreement.
- Fees: not published on the pages we read; the consultation is free.
Most useful when the plan is only one part of getting a business back on track.
Should you use a firm or set up the plan yourself?
Use the IRS tool if you are an individual, owe $50,000 or less, have filed every return, and there is no levy in place. Consider paid help if you owe more, run a business with payroll taxes, have unfiled years, or a plan was rejected or defaulted. A representative’s job there is to prepare the financial statement, argue allowable expenses and ask for the IRS to stop collection while the plan is considered.
Plan terms worth knowing in 2026
Setting up a plan cuts the failure-to-pay penalty. Per IRS.gov (page updated June 2026), it normally runs 0.5% of the unpaid tax per month, up to 25%, and drops to 0.25% a month while an approved plan is in place for individuals who filed on time. Interest still accrues at the federal short-term rate plus 3%, reset quarterly. Our guide to payment plan mistakes covers the errors that lead to default. If you cannot afford any payment, compare an offer in compromise or currently not collectible status.
Frequently asked questions
Per IRS.gov in September 2026: $0 for a short-term plan; $29 for a long-term plan by direct debit applied online (waived for low-income taxpayers); $69 online without direct debit ($43 for low income). Applying by phone, mail or in person costs $107 or $178.
Individuals can apply online for a long-term plan if they owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, and for a short-term plan if they owe less than $100,000, per IRS.gov (September 2026).
No. Interest and some penalties keep accruing until the balance is paid, although the failure-to-pay penalty drops to 0.25% a month for individuals who filed on time, per IRS.gov.
Often not. A firm is most useful when the balance is above the online limits, a levy or garnishment is active, returns are missing, or the IRS has rejected a plan.
Related guides and services
Sources
Not sure which option fits?
Talk it through with a licensed tax professional. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Tax rules and IRS procedures change; check the linked IRS sources or speak with a licensed professional about your situation. Individual results vary.