Understanding Forms 433 A, B, F, & H.
When you can’t afford to pay your tax debt, the IRS relies on collection statement forms to determine if you are able to pay and, if so, what options are available to you. At present, it uses four forms:
While all of them provide the IRS with insight into your financial situation, they are not identical. We’ll review the differences between them, which will help you determine the appropriate form to use with the IRS.
IRS Form 433-A
This form is intended for individual wage earners and those who are self-employed. It requires the following information from you:
Your name, date of birth, and social security number
Your driver’s license number
Employment information for you and your spouse
Any lawsuits against you
Details about any life insurance policies or trust funds you may benefit from
Your personal assets, such as real estate, motor vehicles, and bank accounts
Your gross monthly business income and expenses (if self-employed)
Business assets (if self-employed)
Paycheck stubs and bank statements
Credit card statements
Your monthly living expenses, which includes rent, utilities, food, clothing, vehicle costs, health insurance, any out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and public transportation fees
The taxes you owe for the current year
Any court-ordered payment obligations you may have
Secured and unsecured debts
Miscellaneous expenses, such as tuition fees and student loan payments
If you want to resolve your tax situation with an Offer in Compromise (OIC), you will have to complete and submit Form 433-A (OIC), which is designed to collect the information the IRS needs to consider your offer. It is important to note that OICs are complicated to prepare and present, so you should work with a tax attorney to maximize your chances of success.
IRS Form 433-B
If your business owes a tax debt that you want to pay via an installment plan or you want to temporarily delay payment due to hardship, you will likely be asked to complete Form 433-B. Like Form 433-A, it requires detailed financial information, except the IRS is investigating your business.
Requested details include:
The name of your business
The date it was established
Type of industry
Contact information
Number of employees
The names, phone numbers, and social security numbers of any key parties, such as board members, major shareholders, and partners
Any impending lawsuits against the business
Any impending bankruptcy proceedings
Debts owed by the business
Company bank accounts and available credit
Assets, such as equipment and motor vehicles
Total monthly income and expenses
If you intend to make an Offer in Compromise, use Form 433-B (OIC).
IRS Form 433-F
This two-page form is a simplified version of Form 433-A. It is the most commonly-seen collection statement. If you do not qualify for a streamlined installment agreement (such as when you owe more than $50,000) or can’t afford to pay anything at all, the IRS may ask you to complete this form, so it can determine whether you are eligible for a payment plan or Currently Non-Collectible status. You will have to provide the following information:
Your social security number
Contact information
Information about your business (if you own one)
Financial details, including your bank accounts and lines of credit
Assets, such as real estate and motor vehicles
Number of credit cards you have and how much you owe on each
Employment information
Any household income not earned via wages
Your monthly living expenses
Form 433-H
Form 433-H is used for wage earners who are requesting an installment agreement and have a tax liability that is either greater than $50,000 or cannot be paid within 72 months. You have to provide financial information like the following:
How much money you have in your various personal bank accounts
Investment and cryptocurrency details
Real estate holdings
Other property, such as cars and life insurance policies
Credit card balances
Wage and non-wage income
Household expenses