Individual taxpayers can benefit from the IRS Fresh Start program if they are happy to repay debts in a series or installments through a direct pay structure. The IRS Fresh Start Program is a program that allows eligible individuals to pay their taxes in smaller, more manageable installments over a period of time with minimal penalties.
The Fresh Start Program expanded in 2012, shortly after its creation, so that more taxpayers could apply for tax relief. The most relevant change to the program is that now, when the IRS considers a taxpayer for an Offer in Compromise, they ease their calculation for the taxpayer’s future income.Since 2012, there have been no significant changes to the program. Nevertheless, the rate at which IRS examiners qualify taxpayers for tax relief has fluctuated throughout recent years.In 2020, the Fresh Start Tax Program saw record numbers of qualifications. The large increase in accepted offers for Fresh Start tax relief, and the IRS’ leniency for approving cases, was due primarily to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in financial hardship for millions of Americans.However, plenty of taxpayers are still experiencing financial hardships in 2021, especially students, parents, and small-business owners. Tax experts predict that the IRS Fresh Start Program qualifications could remain loose for a little while longer, but it is unlikely the IRS will continue to relax their strict application requirements for an extended period of time. The best way to know if you qualify for tax debt relief in 2021 is to check your eligibility as soon as possible for the 2021 IRS Fresh Start Initiative Program.
The American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17. All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household).