Can I Use a Short-Term IRS Payment Plan?

Yes — if you owe $100,000 or less, you can apply online for a short-term payment plan that gives you up to 180 days to pay your full balance. There's no setup fee for short-term plans (unlike long-term installment agreements). Interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance, but a short-term plan stops the clock on aggressive collection actions while your account is in good standing. Apply at IRS.gov under "Payment Plans" — it only takes a few minutes. If you can't pay within 180 days, you'll need to set up a formal installment agreement instead.