How the tool decides
It follows the same order a good tax pro would:
- Unfiled returns come first. The IRS won't grant any relief until you're caught up on filing — and filing often lowers what you owe, so that's always step one.
- A one-off penalty on an otherwise clean record can often be removed for free through First-Time Abatement — no company needed.
- Can pay soon? A direct payment or a free short-term plan beats paying a percentage of your balance to a third party.
- Genuine hardship? Currently Not Collectible status pauses collection — and the free Taxpayer Advocate Service can help.
- $50,000 or less, can pay monthly? A streamlined installment agreement you set up yourself usually fits.
- Larger balances you can't pay in full are where a specialist earns their fee — a larger agreement, testing an Offer in Compromise, or handling liens and levies.
The point is to be honest about when the answer isn't a paid program. For most people with smaller, straightforward balances, the free IRS route is the right call — and this tool says so.
What to do with your result
Treat the result as a starting point, not a ruling — only the IRS (or your state) can approve you, on your specific facts. If it points to a free IRS option, start there before paying anyone. If it points to a specialist, the next step is a no-obligation review of your actual finances to see whether an Offer in Compromise or a negotiated agreement is realistic.