If you meet the criteria for financial hardship, you might just be a candidate for an IRS Offer in Compromise or "Currently Not Collectible" to satisfy your IRS tax debt. The biggest question, though, IS which one of these two resolutions is better for you and your tax situation?
Offer in Compromise ("OIC")
PROS
Removes the tax lien against you.
The debt goes away - allowing you to earn more money in the future without having to pay the back taxes.
You pay much less than what you owe - "pennies on the dollar."
CONS
You will have to pay a $186 filing fee to process your Offer.
You will have to pay a certain amount to settle your debt (depending on what you qualify for) within about 11 to 24 months.
Your Offer might very well be REJECTED.
If you submit an Offer - you "freeze" the statute of limitations clock on your tax debt. In other words, if you fail to get your Offer accepted, you will lose the time
You will need to be perfectly tax compliant - filing and paying for FIVE YEARS - after your Offer is accepted.
Currently Not Collectible ("CNC" or "Uncollectible Status")
PROS
You pay zero.
You are taken out of collections. You do NOT need to fear being levied or garnished anymore.
You are taking a vacation from paying your debt (one, two years sometimes until debt expires).
CONS
You still owe the IRS and a tax lien might be filed against you.
You might be taken out of CNC if you don't file returns.
You could be taken out of CNC if you show a dramatic increase in income.
The IRS re-reviews CNC to see if you still meet the criteria.
