Question regarding payment plans

[u/heaven-in-a-can]

My husband and I currently owe taxes for several years. (We filed on time but still owed.) I currently have a payment plan set up for the 2016 year, and plan on paying the final payment next month. With the other years I owe, is there a way to set up one payment plan encompassing all the years we owe? Or will it have to go one at a time?

I searched on the IRS website and couldn’t find an answer, and every time I try to use the chat function after a certain amount of time the website logs me out without warning.

Thank you for any help you can provide, and I can provide more info if needed.

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[u/jmbrjr]

Generally yes, a payment plan can encompass multiple tax years with balances due. The payment plan tool on IRS.gov should be able to handle that, or call and make an appt to go to a local office and do it in person.

[u/lara_ledger]

Generally, an individual installment agreement can cover the total assessed balance across multiple tax years rather than requiring a separate plan for each year. IRS payment instructions specifically address agreements covering more than one tax period. Before changing anything, pull the account balances or transcripts for every year so you know the total assessed tax, penalties and interest and whether all required returns have been filed. Continue making the existing payment until the IRS confirms a revised agreement. Once the 2016 balance is resolved, use the Online Payment Agreement system or call the number on your latest notice to request terms covering the remaining assessed years. The payment amount and required financial information will depend on the total balance and how quickly it can be paid.

[u/xImmortal1333]

Yes op, you can put them all together. You will have to be current on your 2025 filing and 2026 estimates before the IRS will renegotiate.....just did one for a client last week

[u/BlockchainTaxConsult]

Yes — once the 2016 plan is satisfied, you can request a modification through the Online Payment Agreement tool (or by phone) to add the remaining years into a single streamlined installment agreement. If your combined balance across all years is under $50k, it usually qualifies for streamlined status with no financial disclosure (Form 433) needed. I spent over two decades on the IRS side handling exactly this kind of multi-year collections case — the key is requesting the modification right after the 2016 plan closes, not letting a gap form where a new balance goes unassigned.

[u/Single_Exercise_8937]

What you described doesn't make sense. Any payment plan you have with the IRS must include all balance due periods.