--- title: TaxTruce: Free Help With IRS and State Tax Debt | TaxTruce url: https://taxtruce.com/ updated: 2026-10-29 --- # Behind on taxes? Get real help Free call back from a licensed tax pro. No upfront promises. * Licensed tax prosTax pros * Text confirmed requestsText code * Not the IRSNot the IRS * Free to useFree [Self employed](/jobs/self-employed)[Owner operators](/jobs/owner-operators)[Rideshare drivers](/jobs/rideshare-drivers)[Contractors](/jobs/contractors)[Restaurant owners](/jobs/restaurant-owners) ## By the numbers **13.1 million**IRS accounts past due at the end of FY2025[IRS Data Book](https://www.irs.gov/statistics/collections-activities-penalties-and-appeals) **4.87 million**taxpayers on an IRS payment plan[IRS Data Book](https://www.irs.gov/statistics/collections-activities-penalties-and-appeals) **339,137**IRS levies on banks, pay and more in FY2025[IRS Data Book](https://www.irs.gov/statistics/collections-activities-penalties-and-appeals) **About 1 in 7**IRS offers accepted in FY2025 (5,464 of 38,797)[IRS Data Book](https://www.irs.gov/statistics/collections-activities-penalties-and-appeals) Ways to get help ## Real paths out of tax debt Not sure which fits? A tax pro can tell you. [Can't pay in full ### Offer in compromise Ask the IRS to take less than you owe. Hard to get. See offer in compromise](/coverage/offer-in-compromise)[Can pay over time ### Payment plan Pay what you owe a little each month. See payment plan](/coverage/installment-agreement)[Can't pay at all ### Not collectible The IRS pauses collection while money is too tight. See not collectible](/coverage/currently-not-collectible)[Hit with penalties ### Penalty relief Ask the IRS to remove late filing or late payment penalties. See penalty relief](/coverage/penalty-abatement)[Joint filers ### Innocent spouse Relief from tax your spouse caused on a joint return. See innocent spouse](/coverage/innocent-spouse-relief)[Bank or pay seized ### Levy release Stop a levy on your bank account or other property. See levy release](/coverage/levy-release) [All help types](/coverage) Results depend on your situation. Not every case qualifies. IRS letters ## Where your IRS letter fits IRS bills come in order. Find yours. 1. [**1. CP14**First bill for unpaid tax](/notices/cp14) 2. [**2. CP501**First reminder you still owe](/notices/cp501) 3. [**3. CP503**Second reminder you still owe](/notices/cp503) 4. [**4. CP504**Notice of intent to levy](/notices/cp504) 5. [**5. LT11 or Letter 1058**Final notice of intent to levy and your right to a hearing](/notices/lt11) Letters can come in a different order. Read your own letter. The code is in the top right corner. Notice CP14**Amount due** What it means**You have a balance due.** Your options * Pay in full * Set up a payment plan * Call the IRS if it looks wrong Notice CP504**Amount due** What it means**The IRS says it may levy.** Your options * Pay or set up a plan now * Ask a tax pro to look * Keep every letter Notice LT11**Amount due** What it means**Last notice before a levy.** Your options * Ask for a hearing within 30 days * Talk to a tax pro * Do not ignore it [Decode my letter](/tools/notice-decoder) ## Built around your work Paid on a 1099? No tax taken out? We get it. [**Self employed**No withholding means the tax bill comes all at once.](/jobs/self-employed)[**Gig workers**App pay is taxable, 1099 or not.](/jobs/gig-workers)[**Rideshare drivers**Miles matter when the 1099 comes.](/jobs/rideshare-drivers)[**Delivery drivers**Delivery pay, no withholding.](/jobs/delivery-drivers)[**Owner operators**Your own truck, your own Form 2290.](/jobs/owner-operators)[**Truck drivers**Company W-2 or 1099 loads, taxes differ.](/jobs/truck-drivers)[**Freelancers**Client pay comes in whole. Tax comes later.](/jobs/freelancers)[**Contractors**Crew payroll is where tax debt hits hardest.](/jobs/contractors)[**Construction**Seasonal work, 1099 pay, tax gaps.](/jobs/construction-workers)[**Electricians**Side jobs count. So does the tax.](/jobs/electricians) [All jobs](/jobs) ## Got an IRS letter or levy? Find your situation. See the next step. [All situations](/health) [**CP14 notice**Your first IRS bill for a balance](/health/cp14-notice)[**CP504 notice**The IRS says it may levy](/health/cp504-notice)[**LT11 or Letter 1058**This letter comes with hearing rights](/health/final-notice-of-intent-to-levy)[**CP2000 notice**The IRS thinks income was missed](/health/cp2000-notice)[**Audit letter**The IRS wants to check a return](/health/audit-letter)[**Passport at risk**Big tax debt can block a passport](/health/passport-hold)[**Refund taken**Your refund can pay old tax debt](/health/refund-offset)[**Social Security levy**The IRS can take part of benefits](/health/social-security-levy) ## Your life stage [In your 20s](/for/in-your-20s)[In your 30s](/for/in-your-30s)[In your 40s](/for/in-your-40s)[In your 50s](/for/in-your-50s)[Over 60](/for/over-60)[Retirees](/for/retirees)[Newlyweds](/for/newlyweds)[Divorced](/for/divorced)[Widowed](/for/widowed)[Single parents](/for/single-parents)[New parents](/for/new-parents)[Veterans](/for/veterans)[First year self employed](/for/first-year-self-employed)[New business owners](/for/new-business-owners)[Spanish speakers](/for/spanish-speakers) ## How it works 1 ### Tell us what's going on What you owe, who you owe and any letters. No Social Security number. What is going on? Got an IRS letter Bank account frozen Paycheck garnished About how much? Under 10k10k to 25k25k to 50k50k to 100k Your ZIP code 78701 Next All set **A tax pro will call you**You pick the time. Say no any time. 2 ### Confirm your phone We text you a 6 digit code. It proves the number is yours, so nobody else can sign you up. Your code is 481 207. Reply STOP to opt out. 481207 3 ### Talk to a tax firm A tax firm looks at your situation, then calls you back. Say no any time. TF**Tax firm**Calling about your request Can you call after 5? I'm on a job site. No problem. Talk at 5:15. Example screens. Your code and firm will be different. What a tax pro may do ## Ways a tax pro may help Each path has IRS rules. A pro checks which fit you. **A payment plan** Pay over time. Owe $50,000 or less and filed all returns? You can apply online. **Penalty relief** A first time or reasonable cause request can take off some penalties. **Offer in compromise** Pay less than the full amount. Only about 1 in 7 offers were accepted in FY2025. **Not collectible status** Can't pay because of hardship? The IRS may delay collection for now. **Levy and garnishment help** A pro can ask the IRS to release a levy in some cases. **Unfiled returns** Get old returns filed, so more options open up. Results depend on your situation. Not every case qualifies. [Source: IRS payment plans](https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements) · [Source: IRS penalty relief](https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief) · [Source: IRS hardship delay](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/temporarily-delay-the-collection-process) · [Source: IRS levy release](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-do-i-get-a-levy-released) · [Source: IRS Data Book](https://www.irs.gov/statistics/collections-activities-penalties-and-appeals) **We never ask**for your SSN, bank info or IRS login. Stay safe ## Is that call really the IRS? The IRS starts most contact by mail. Check what you owe at irs.gov. * We are not the IRS or any government agency * You can see your balance free in your IRS online account * Never pay anyone who calls and says they are the IRS [IRS online account](https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account) [Source: IRS](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door) ## IRS payment plan fees The setup fee the IRS charges. Penalties and interest keep adding until you pay in full. Low income? The IRS can waive or lower the fee. | Plan | Online | Phone or mail | | --- | --- | --- | | Short term, 180 days or less | **$0** | $0 | | Long term, direct debit | **$29** | $107 | | Long term, other ways to pay | **$69** | $178 | [Source: IRS payment plans, checked Oct 29, 2026](https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements). Where we work ## Tax help in all 50 states Each state has its own tax rules. We wrote them in plain words. [**Alabama**AL](/states/alabama)[**Alaska**AK](/states/alaska)[**Arizona**AZ](/states/arizona)[**Arkansas**AR](/states/arkansas)[**California**CA](/states/california)[**Colorado**CO](/states/colorado)[**Connecticut**CT](/states/connecticut)[**Delaware**DE](/states/delaware)[**All states**all 50 states](/states) ## More ways to get help [**Lien help**Get a tax lien released, withdrawn or moved off a home sale.](/coverage/lien-withdrawal)[**Wage garnishment**The IRS takes part of every paycheck until you act.](/coverage/wage-garnishment-release)[**Unfiled returns**Catch up on old returns before the IRS files for you.](/coverage/unfiled-tax-returns)[**Audit help**Know what an audit is, what to send and your rights.](/coverage/audit-help)[**Payroll tax debt**Unpaid payroll taxes can become your personal debt.](/coverage/payroll-tax-help)[**State tax debt**State tax debt has its own rules, deals and clocks.](/coverage/state-tax-help) Good to know ## Questions people ask us Straight answers. Not here? Check our guides. [All answers](/answers) Is TaxTruce the IRS? No. TaxTruce is a free service that connects people with private tax resolution firms. We are not the IRS, a state tax agency or any government agency. You can contact the IRS yourself for free at irs.gov. Does it cost anything to use TaxTruce? No. Asking for help is free. If you hire a tax firm, it must tell you its fees in writing first. Firms that work with us pay us for referrals. Why do you text me a code? The code proves the phone number is really yours. That keeps strangers from typing in your number, so only you get the call back. Who will contact me? If you agree on the form, a tax resolution firm that works with TaxTruce may call or text you. Each firm says it has an attorney, CPA or enrolled agent who handles IRS work. You can tell them to stop at any time. Can you settle my tax debt for less? We can't promise that, and no one honest can before they see your numbers. The IRS accepted 5,464 of 38,797 offers in fiscal year 2025. Results depend on your situation. Not every case qualifies. Will you ask for my Social Security number? No. We never ask for your Social Security number, bank or card numbers, or your IRS login. A tax firm may ask for some of this later, once you hire it. What if my paycheck or bank account is being taken? Tell us on the form. We mark it urgent so a tax firm calls you back fast. The IRS must release a levy in some cases, like hardship or a payment plan. Can I fix this with the IRS myself? Often, yes. Many people set up a payment plan online at irs.gov. The IRS also has a free offer pre-qualifier tool. A tax firm can help if it is complex. Do you have Spanish speaking help? Yes. Pick Español on the form and we will ask for a firm that speaks Spanish. Which states do you cover? We work with tax firms that serve all 50 states and Washington, DC. More ways to start ## Not ready to talk yet? [### Free tax tools Penalty and payment plan math with real IRS rules. Open](/tools) [### Plain answers 102 short guides, each one checked against public sources. Open](/answers) [### How it works Who calls you, how we are paid, and how to say stop. Open](/how-it-works)