What types of IRS installment agreements are available?

The IRS offers several types of installment agreements based on the amount you owe. Guaranteed Installment Agreement: if you owe $10,000 or less (not counting penalties and interest), the IRS must grant you an installment agreement if you can pay within 3 years. Streamlined Installment Agreement: for debts up to $50,000, you can set up payments over up to 72 months without submitting detailed financial information (Form 433-F). Direct Debit Installment Agreement (DDIA): same as streamlined but payments auto-debit from your bank account, which qualifies you for reduced penalties (0.25% vs 0.5% per month) and potential lien withdrawal under $25,000. Non-Streamlined Installment Agreement: for debts over $50,000, requires full financial disclosure on Form 433-A or 433-F. The IRS determines your payment based on ability to pay. Partial Pay Installment Agreement (PPIA): allows you to make payments that won't fully satisfy the debt before the collection statute expires. The remaining balance is written off when the statute expires. For most taxpayers owing under $50,000, the streamlined DDIA is the best option due to simplicity and reduced penalties.