Do I Owe the IRS? How Much Do I Owe? How to Find Out

Wondering if you owe money to the IRS? Not sure how much you owe? You can find out if you owe and how much you owe by creating an online IRS account. If that's not an option, you can call the IRS, check the last notice you received from the IRS, or hire a tax professional to help you.

In the following sections, we provide more details on how to figure out whether or not you owe the IRS money and how to find out how much you owe.

Key Takeaways

• If you have smartphone and an ID, you can set up an IRS online account to find out how much you owe.
• You can call the IRS to find out how much you owe.
• A tax attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent can check how much you owe the IRS if you authorize them to do so.
• The online account shows penalties and interest the next day, but it doesn't update payments for two to three weeks.
• If you order a transcript through the mail, it won't have the info you need. Going online or calling are better ways to get your balance due.

Go Online to Find Out How Much You Owe the IRS

The IRS offers an online tool to help you figure out how much tax you owe. You will need to create a tax account with the IRS to access the information, and this requires you to verify your identity with an ID.me account. To set up an ID.me account, you will need your photo ID, a smartphone, and your Social Security Number. When setting up the account, you will take a photo of your ID and a selfie. If you're not comfortable with that option, you can verify your identity by getting on a video chat with a specialist. 

Once you have your online IRS account set up, you can sign in to see how much you owe. You can see how much you owe in tax for each year as well as the interest and penalties on your account. The online account shows you which tax returns you've filed, forms that the agency has received about you (for example, W2s from employers or 1099s from banks), and economic stimulus payments that were sent to you.

It also shows payments that you have made, but it can take up to three weeks for the system to reflect recent payments. So, keep that in mind if you recently made a payment on your account. Generally, the amount of interest and penalties you see on the online account is correct because these numbers get updated daily. 

The online service to check how much you owe the IRS is not available in the middle of the night, or during the day on Sunday. Here are the hours:

• Monday to Friday: 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET
• Saturday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: 6 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET

Call the IRS to Find Out How Much You Owe

If you don’t have a smartphone or are unable to use the online service for any other reason, you can find out your balance by calling the IRS directly. Before you call, realize that the wait times can be very long to get through to an IRS representative. Individual taxpayers may call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Taxpayers representing a business may call 1-800-829-4933, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Look at Old Notices to Find Out How Much You Owe the IRS

If you have a copy of the latest notice mailed to you by the IRS, you can check that for your tax liability balance. Note that the amount shown does not include any interest or penalties assessed since the notice was sent. Also, many times the IRS will send notices that only contain one year of taxes owed, so if you owe taxes for multiple years it is likely that you will need to add up the balances from multiple notices. To get up-to-date information, you need to check online or by calling the IRS.

Hire a Tax Professional to Find Out How Much You Owe

A tax professional can easily find out how much you owe the IRS. Generally, they will have you sign a Form 2848 Power of Attorney, but in some cases, they may use Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization). Both of these forms allow tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents to get access to your tax account and transcript. A tax pro will be able to tell you how much you owe, and they will also be able to walk you through resolution options such as payment plans, penalty waivers, or settlements if applicable. 

FAQs

How do I know if I owe the IRS?

If you're unsure of whether or not you owe the IRS, set up an online account and check if you have a balance due for the year in question. If you haven't filed yet, you will need to prepare a tax return to figure out how much you owe. This guide explains whether or not you need to file. 

Do I owe the IRS?

You can find out if you owe the IRS by setting up an online account or asking a tax professional to check for you. If you're wondering whether or not you are likely to owe taxes based on your income, look at the current income tax chart for the year or use the IRS's withholding calculator to get a sense of your potential tax liability.

Can I find out how much I owe the IRS through the mail?

No, you cannot mail the IRS a request to find out how much you owe. You must call, check online, or hire a tax professional. If you order a tax transcript, it will show how much you owed for a certain year, but it will not show payments that you made. You can use this online IRS service to request to have a transcript mailed to you, or you can file Form 4506-T.

How do I view my remaining balance if I'm on an IRS payment plan? 

If you're on a payment plan, the easiest way to see how much you still owe the IRS is to set up an online account and check your balance. Note that your account may not reflect any payments that were made in the last two to three weeks.

How can a tax pro check how much I owe to the IRS?

The IRS provides special tools to tax preparers. If you authorize a tax preparer to check your tax account, they will be able to quickly pull up your information online. 

What is the phone number to find out the taxes you owe?

To contact the IRS to see if you owe them and if so how much, individuals can call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. If you're representing a business, you may call 1-800-829-4933. 

Get Help With IRS Taxes

Wondering if you owe the IRS money? Worried about how much you owe? Want help dealing with unfiled returns, audits, old tax debts, or other tax problems? Then, use TaxCure to find a local tax professional to help you. Regardless of your situation, TaxCure can help you find a trustworthy tax pro who has experience with your concern. Use the search feature to look for a tax pro today and then narrow down your search to find someone with the right experience.