Guide to Settling & Resolving Ohio Back Tax Problems

When you owe unpaid or unfiled federal taxes, it’s no surprise that you can expect a call from the Internal Revenue Service. At the state level, it’s up to individual state tax agencies to collect outstanding tax obligations. In Ohio, the Department of Taxation is responsible for processing tax returns, issuing refunds and notifying residents when they have an unpaid taxes owed. If you owe back taxes in the state of Ohio, you need to know what your options are for resolving the liability.

Establishing an Ohio Payment Agreement

If you owe federal taxes, you may have the option of establishing an installment agreement to pay off the liability over time. In the state of Ohio, the Department of Taxation is not legally authorized to approve any type of payment plan. You can still make partial payments towards your outstanding balance; however, this does not stop penalties and interest from accruing. It also doesn’t prevent the Department of Taxation from referring your account for collection.

In Ohio, the Attorney General is responsible for collecting unpaid liabilitys owed to the state. Once your account is sent collection, the Attorney General will send you a notice regarding the taxes owed. You can then request an installment agreement. In Ohio, payment agreements are granted for no more than one year. In order to set up a payment plan, you’ll be required to meet with a representative from the Attorney General’s Office and you’ll have to sign a contract outlining the repayment terms.

Ohio Offer in Compromise

When the amount of your taxes owed is more than you believe you can reasonably pay off, it may be beneficial to consider an Offer in Compromise. An Offer in Compromise means that you pay the Department of Taxation a lump sum amount to satisfy the taxes owed and the remaining balance is forgiven. Generally, you’re eligible to ask for an Offer in Compromise if any of the following three conditions apply:

1. You have a severe economic hardship that prevents you from the tax bill.
2. You do not believe you’re liable for the full amount owed.
3. There’s a significant likelihood that if the back taxes owed were collected, the amount would be subject to refund under state law.

In order to apply, you’ll need to complete an Offer in Compromise form and submit it to the Attorney General’s Office. You’ll need to provide information about the type and amount of tax owed, the reason why you’re requesting the compromise agreement and information about your current income and assets. You’ll also need to provide documentation, such as bank statements or tax records, to support claim. The completed application can be mailed to:

Office of the Attorney General
Collection Enforcement Section
Offer in Compromise Program
150 East Gay Street, 21st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

If your offer is accepted, you’ll have 60 days to make your payment to the Attorney General’s Office.

Penalty Abatement

Penalties automatically apply to any unpaid or unfiled taxes owed to the Ohio Department of Taxation. These penalties can only be reduced by asking for a penalty abatement. According to the Department of Taxation website, a request for abatement will only be granted “if unique circumstances exist” and in most cases, only a partial penalty abatement will be approved.

Our Simple Tax Relief Process