Form 9465
Installment Agreement Request
Ask the IRS to let you pay a tax balance you can't pay in full over time, in monthly installments.
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What is Form 9465?
Form 9465 requests a monthly payment plan for federal tax you owe. You propose a monthly amount and a payment date; the IRS reviews your balance and, for larger debts, your financial information. Interest and the late-payment penalty keep accruing on the unpaid balance until it's gone, so a plan costs more than paying at once — but far less than ignoring the debt.
For most individuals owing $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, you can set up a plan online through the IRS Online Payment Agreement tool in minutes and skip this form entirely. Use Form 9465 when you can't use the online tool — you owe more, you're filing it with a paper return, or you're proposing a payment that won't clear the balance within the standard period.
- Who needs it
- Taxpayers with a balance due they can't pay by the deadline and who want to avoid enforced collection. It can accompany a current-year return or be filed on its own for an existing balance.
- Deadline
- There's no deadline, but request the plan as soon as you know you can't pay — ideally by the filing deadline — to minimize the failure-to-pay penalty and to head off a notice of intent to levy.
- How to submit
- If you're filing it with your paper return, attach it to the front of the return. If you already have a balance and a notice, mail Form 9465 by itself to the address on your notice. There's a setup fee, reduced for direct-debit plans and waived or reimbursed for low-income taxpayers.
Form 9465 — line-by-line
Line 1a — Name(s) and address
Exactly as they appear on the tax return this balance is from.
Lines 2–4 — Identifying numbers
Your SSN (and your spouse's for a joint liability), plus your employer's name and address.
Line 5 — Tax you owe
The amount shown on your return or notice.
Line 6 — Additional balances
Any other tax you owe that isn't on this return or notice but you want included in the plan.
Line 8 — Amount you can pay now
A payment to send with the request reduces the balance, interest and penalties.
Line 11a — Proposed monthly payment
The amount you can pay each month. Ideally enough to clear the balance within 72 months.
Line 11b — Payment date
The day of the month (1st–28th) you want the payment due.
Lines 13a–13c — Direct debit
Bank routing and account number if you want payments withdrawn automatically — required for some balances and it lowers the setup fee.
Form 9465 — frequently asked questions
Do I even need this form?+
Often not. If you owe $50,000 or less total and can pay it off within 72 months, the IRS Online Payment Agreement application sets up the plan instantly without Form 9465.
Does a payment plan stop interest and penalties?+
No — interest and the failure-to-pay penalty continue on the unpaid balance, though the penalty rate is halved while an approved plan is in effect. Pay more than the minimum whenever you can.
Will the IRS accept any monthly amount I propose?+
For small balances, generally yes. For larger balances the IRS may ask for financial details (Form 433-F) and set the payment based on what you can afford.
What happens if I miss a payment?+
The agreement can default. Contact the IRS before you miss one to adjust it — reinstating a defaulted agreement costs another fee.
Related forms
The blank Form 9465 offered here is the version published by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Official page and instructions .
PDFCure is not a government agency and does not provide tax, legal, or immigration advice. This page is general information — for your specific situation, follow the official instructions or consult a qualified professional. Always download the current edition from the agency before filing. Revision referenced: September 2020.