How to check what you owe the IRS
The IRS has three main ways to tell you what you owe: a notice in the mail, your online account, or a phone call from a revenue agent. The most reliable method is to log into your IRS account at IRS.gov using your Social Security number, date of birth, and filing status. Your account shows any balance due, payment history, and notices the IRS has sent you.
If you do not have an online account yet, you can create one at IRS.gov/account. The process takes about 10 minutes and requires identity verification — you will answer security questions or use a third-party service like ID.me to prove who you are. Once you are logged in, the "Account" tab shows your current balance for any tax year.
If you received a notice from the IRS in the mail, that notice will state exactly what you owe, why you owe it, and the deadline to pay or respond. Keep that notice — you will need the notice number if you contact the IRS later. The notice also explains your right to dispute the amount if you believe it is wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Your IRS online account at IRS.gov shows your current balance, payment history, and any notices sent to you.
- An IRS notice in the mail is an official record of what you owe and includes a deadline and your right to dispute it.
- You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 during business hours to ask about your balance, but wait times are often long.
- If you owe money, the IRS can place a lien on your property or garnish your wages, so addressing the debt early prevents larger problems.
What an IRS notice tells you
An IRS notice is the official way the agency informs you of a debt. The notice includes the tax year in question, the amount owed, the reason for the debt (unpaid tax, penalties, interest), and the date by which you must respond. Common notice types are CP14 (balance due), CP501 (second notice of balance due), and CP503 (final notice before levy).
The notice also includes a phone number you can call to discuss the amount. If you believe the notice is wrong — for example, you already paid, or the IRS made a math error — you have the right to dispute it. The notice will explain how to file a protest or request a hearing with the IRS Office of Appeals. You typically have 30 days from the notice date to respond.
Do not ignore an IRS notice. If you do not respond or pay by the deadline, the IRS can take collection action, including placing a lien on your home or car, garnishing your wages, or seizing your bank account. These actions happen without a court order and can damage your credit.
Using your IRS online account
Your IRS account is updated daily and shows real-time information about your tax account. To view what you owe, log in and select the "Account" tab. You will see a summary of your balance for the current year and any prior years. The account also shows payment arrangements you have set up, recent payments you made, and the status of any refunds.
The account displays your tax transcript, which is a detailed record of your tax return and any changes the IRS made to it. If you want to know why the IRS says you owe money, the transcript often explains it — for example, it will show if the IRS disallowed a deduction or added unreported income.
If you do not see a balance in your account, you do not owe the IRS for that tax year. However, if you have not filed a return for a year, your account may not show a balance yet — the IRS will send you a notice once it processes your unfiled return or once the filing deadline passes.
Calling the IRS directly
You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask about your balance. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and any IRS notice ready. The IRS representative can tell you what you owe, when it is due, and what collection actions the IRS has taken or plans to take.
IRS phone lines are busiest from January through April and on Monday mornings. Wait times can exceed one hour during peak season. If you call outside business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time), you can leave a message and a representative will call you back, though callbacks can take several days.
If you speak with an IRS representative, ask for their name and employee ID number. Write down what they tell you about your balance and any payment arrangements they offer. The IRS representative cannot make a binding agreement unless you set it up through the IRS website or a formal payment plan letter.
What happens if you do not pay
If you owe the IRS and do not pay by the deadline on your notice, the IRS will add penalties and interest to your debt. The failure-to-pay penalty is usually 0.5% of the unpaid tax per month, up to 25% total. Interest accrues daily at a rate set quarterly by the IRS — it was 8% annually as of 2024, but this rate changes.
After penalties and interest accumulate, the IRS can take collection action. The first step is usually a lien, which is a legal claim against your property. A lien does not seize your property, but it prevents you from selling or refinancing your home without paying the IRS first. A lien also damages your credit score.
If you still do not pay after a lien, the IRS can levy your bank account, garnish your wages, or seize and sell your property. These actions happen without a court order. The IRS must give you notice before a levy, but the notice period is short — sometimes as little as 10 days.
Setting up a payment plan or settlement
If you cannot pay the full amount right away, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS. A short-term payment plan lets you pay within 120 days with no setup fee. A long-term installment agreement lets you pay over months or years; the setup fee is usually $31 to $225 depending on how you set it up.
You can set up a payment plan online at IRS.gov, by phone at 1-800-829-1040, or by mail. Online is fastest — you can have a plan in place the same day. The IRS will send you a confirmation letter with your monthly payment amount and due date.
If you owe a large amount and cannot pay even with a plan, you may be able to request an Offer in Compromise, which is a settlement for less than you owe. The IRS only accepts an Offer in Compromise if you can show you cannot pay the full amount and have no assets to sell. The process takes several months and requires detailed financial paperwork.
Disputing what you owe
If you believe the IRS made an error, you have the right to dispute the amount. The first step is to respond to the IRS notice within 30 days. You can request a hearing with the IRS Office of Appeals, which is a separate division from the IRS collection office. At a hearing, you can present evidence that the IRS made a mistake — for example, proof that you already paid, or documentation that a deduction was valid.
You do not need a lawyer to request an appeal, but you can hire one if you want. The appeal process is free. If you disagree with the Appeals decision, you can file a case in Tax Court, but this requires filing within 90 days of the IRS notice and usually requires a lawyer.
While you are disputing the amount, the IRS can still take collection action. However, if you file a formal appeal, the IRS must pause most collection activities while the appeal is pending. This is called a "stay of collection." Ask the IRS for a stay when you file your appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check what I owe without creating an IRS account?
Yes. You can call 1-800-829-1040 and speak with an IRS representative, or you can wait for an IRS notice in the mail. However, creating an account takes 10 minutes and gives you access to your information anytime without waiting on hold.
What if I lost my IRS notice?
Log into your IRS account and view your transcript, which shows the same information as the notice. If you need a copy of the actual notice, call 1-800-829-1040 and ask the IRS to mail you a duplicate. You can also request a transcript by mail using Form 4506-C.
Does owing the IRS affect my credit score?
A tax debt itself does not appear on your credit report. However, if the IRS places a lien on your property, that lien is recorded publicly and can damage your credit. A wage garnish or bank levy also does not directly affect your credit, but the underlying debt may be reported if it is sold to a collection agency.
What if the IRS says I owe money but I filed a return showing a refund?
The IRS may have disallowed deductions, added unreported income, or applied your refund to a prior-year debt. Check your IRS account or the notice to see the reason. If you disagree, you can dispute it by responding to the notice within 30 days or by requesting your tax transcript to see what the IRS changed.
Can the IRS take my Social Security or disability payments?
The IRS can offset your federal tax refund to pay a debt, and it can garnish most types of income. However, Social Security benefits have limited protections — the IRS can offset them only for unpaid federal taxes, not for other debts. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is protected and cannot be offset. Disability payments are treated the same as retirement benefits.