The IRS Fresh Start Tax Program: 2025

The IRS Fresh Start Program is a tax relief program that helps Americans who owe more back taxes than they can reasonably afford to pay. Taxpayers who apply and are considered eligible can significantly reduce their federal tax debt. In some circumstances, they may be able to reduce 90% or more of what they owe, providing a fresh start on taxes.

The Fresh Start Tax Program is not one program, but refers to several options for people in various financial situations to qualify for tax relief. Created in 2011 by the United States Federal Government, the Internal Revenue Service Fresh Start Program provides help with tax debt, either reducing the amount owed or establishing affordable payment plans.

Below, we will discuss the Fresh Start Program requirements and application process to help see if you qualify for fresh start tax relief, which may help you save months or even years of payments to the IRS, giving you the opportunity to use that money to support your family, start a business, complete your education, or improve your community.

Although the different names may understandably cause confusion for some, the IRS Fresh Start Initiative is the same as the Fresh Start Program, or the Fresh Start Tax Relief Program.

The Federal Government created the program, but the Internal Revenue Service is obligated to offer it to eligible American taxpayers who have current tax debt. This is why it is referred to as the IRS Fresh Start Program.

The Fresh Start Program works by providing several relief programs for taxpayers who cannot afford to pay their tax debt in full. Taxpayers can learn about the requirements and benefits of each program and determine which one they qualify for. While some apply directly with the IRS, many need to hire a tax professional—such as an Enrolled Agent— to file missing tax returns, analyze their financial situation, and handle the application and negotiation process.

For example, let’s assume a taxpayer owes the IRS $15,000 due to years of back taxes, plus compounded interest and penalties.

This taxpayer may also be out of work, and barely able to afford utilities and living expenses. They may not have the means to pay the IRS $15,000, and most likely, they will never have the means to repay the IRS the amount they owe.

The Fresh Start Program mandates that the IRS cannot collect more than a taxpayer can pay. This helps the taxpayer reach an agreement with the IRS, and allows the taxpayer to pay an amount they can reasonably afford.

“The financial situation of the taxpayer is the IRS’s primary criteria for evaluation.”

The taxpayer may have to fill out a form on the IRS website, call or email an IRS representative, or make an appointment to visit their local IRS office to determine eligibility before they are approved.

Once they submit the application, and it is received and processed by the IRS, they will find out if they qualify for Fresh Start tax relief.

After approval, the taxpayer will find out what the new amount of their payment will be.

An Installment Agreement is an IRS payment plan offered through the Fresh Start Program. It allows taxpayers to pay an agreed-upon amount every month to the IRS. These payments go directly to the taxpayer’s overall tax debt, and continue until the debt is paid in full.

Once you are on an installment plan, you will no longer receive IRS collection letters or be susceptible to penalties. This plan is also a great way to show the IRS that you are willing to resolve your debt. A downside is that the IRS will continue to apply interest to your total debt, even if the amount you are required to pay monthly changes under the Fresh Start Program. With the ability of the IRS to include interest in your outstanding account amount, you will end up paying more than you originally owed.

While an Installment Agreement is a valid form of Fresh Start tax relief, compromising with the IRS for a reasonable monthly payment is difficult. Your chances of making smaller monthly payments are more likely if you choose a professional tax relief service to represent you on your behalf.

Partial Pay Installment Agreements

Partial Pay Installment Agreements are for taxpayers who can make some payments but cannot pay their full tax debt before the collection statute expires. These agreements require a thorough financial review and are reassessed every two years. They allow taxpayers to make payments based on their current financial ability, even if these payments won’t fully cover the debt within the collection period.

Short-Term Installment Agreements

Short-Term Installment Agreements are designed for taxpayers who can fully pay their tax debt within 180 days. These agreements are straightforward and don’t incur any setup fees. They’re ideal for those who need just a little extra time to gather funds to pay their tax liability in full.

Long-Term Installment Agreements

Long-Term Installment Agreements, also known as regular installment agreements, are for taxpayers who need more than 180 days to pay off their tax debt. These agreements typically last up to 72 months (6 years) and may require more detailed financial information. They often involve a setup fee and may require direct debit payments.

Streamlined Installment Agreements

Streamlined Installment Agreements are a type of long-term agreement designed to simplify the process for taxpayers who owe $50,000 or less. These agreements don’t require detailed financial disclosures and can be set up quickly. There are two subtypes: one for debts under $25,000 and another for debts between $25,001 and $50,000, with slightly different terms and availability based on the taxpayer’s status.

Each of these agreement types serves different needs and financial situations, providing taxpayers with options to address their tax debts responsibly while considering their financial constraints.

An Offer in Compromise, or OIC, is an agreement that allows taxpayers to resolve their tax debt for less than the full amount they owe. It is the best form of Fresh Start tax relief available through the Fresh Start Initiative.

A type of tax settlement, the Offer in Compromise is the best option to reduce your tax debt through the Fresh Start Program, the qualifications are strict. This method is reserved only for taxpayers who are in difficult economic situations, and do not have the financial resources to pay off their federal tax debt in full.

Due to the strict requirements for an OIC, not everyone who owes thousands of dollars to the IRS will qualify for the program.

Your chances of achieving an Offer in Compromise increase tremendously if you have a certified tax resolution provider on your side. Tax experts have a skillful understanding of the IRS Fresh Start Program requirements, and will not be bullied or tricked by the IRS into a less-than-optimal resolution.

Please refer to our “How to Avoid Tax Relief Scams” section to ensure that you stay away from fraudulent tax resolution companies in your search for professional tax relief representation. These companies will promise you an OIC without first analyzing your specific tax situation and preparing the necessary forms for the IRS.

The IRS is the ONLY entity that can approve of an Offer in Compromise.

The right tax relief company will be:

• Transparent about their tax resolution process
• Experienced in negotiating with the IRS and getting results for their clients
• Will center their strategies around you and your financial needs.

Unlike the other three Fresh Start tax programs, Currently Non-Collectible Status is just that: a “status.” While this status does not remove tax debt, it does stop IRS collection activities, including bank levies, wage garnishments, tax liens, and threatening IRS Notice letters. Essentially, Currently Non-Collectible Status allows a taxpayer to put IRS collections on pause until they can pay their tax debt, or the Collection Statute Expiration Date passes.

To qualify for Currently Non-Collectible Status, you will need to meet the program qualifications. We highly recommend that you consult with a tax professional before requesting this status from the IRS. Should you try to apply for the IRS Fresh Start Initiative Program on your own, the IRS may attempt to get you to agree to terms that are more favorable for them.

Additionally, once the time period of your Currently Non-Collectible Status ends, the IRS may begin again in their efforts to collect on payments, with phone calls and letters threatening penalties may continue. A tax relief company can help you stay in Currently Non-Collectible Status for as long as possible, and can help you develop a strategy for when you leave Non-Collectible Status.

Penalty Abatement is the term the IRS uses for wiping out or reducing a penalty. Penalty Abatement can be considered a form of Fresh Start tax relief. However, the IRS will only apply Penalty Abatement for a reasonable cause.

You can request Penalty Abatement at any level of IRS collections: by visiting a federal IRS campus, through an automated collection system, or by speaking to personnel at local IRS offices. Keep in mind that a local IRS office can only grant a Penalty Abatement of up to $100. Requesting Penalty Abatement is free.

Tax lien withdrawal removes the IRS’s public notice of your lien so it no longer shows up on credit checks. Many people qualify after setting up a Direct Debit Installment Agreement (DDIA) for $25,000 or less and making three on-time monthly payments. You must stay current on all tax filings and payments. If you pay the debt in full, you can also ask the IRS to withdraw the notice after they release the lien.

A withdrawal doesn’t erase what you owe—interest and penalties keep adding up until the balance is paid. Still, removing the public notice can make it easier to refinance, borrow, or run a business. A licensed tax professional can help confirm eligibility and submit Form 12277 to request the withdrawal.

Pros and Cons of Tax Lien Withdrawal

Pros: Removes the tax lien from public records, improving borrowing and refinancing options and reducing business and credit friction.
IRS

Cons: Interest and penalties continue until the balance is fully paid; if you default after a withdrawal, the IRS may file a new lien.

Why this exists (Fresh Start background)

The IRS’s 2011 Fresh Start initiative expanded lien-related relief—raising thresholds for filing and making it easier to withdraw liens for taxpayers who pay in full or who keep their Installment Agreement in good standing.

Tip: Many taxpayers handle this directly; others choose professional help to verify compliance, set up the right payment plan, and prepare a strong Form 12277 package. If your situation is urgent or complex, a tax professional can also evaluate alternatives like discharge or subordination when a sale or refinance is on the line.

Each of the IRS Fresh Start Programs has specific requirements to qualify. While most taxpayers may qualify for a simple Installment Agreement, other programs that reduce the amount you owe have more stringent requirements.

To qualify for IRS Fresh Start Programs, like Offer in Compromise or Currently Non Collectible status, you must be able to prove that paying your tax balance would cause significant financial hardship. The severity of your financial hardship determines which Fresh Start Programs are available to you, and to what extent you can have your debt forgiven.

The IRS has guidelines for what constitutes a financial hardship, but the responsibility to prove the hardship falls to you, the taxpayer, or to the tax relief company hired to represent you.

Applying for the Fresh Start Program isn’t filling out a single form—and there are several steps required before you can apply. The process starts with getting back into compliance with the IRS. That means filing all applicable unfiled tax returns and being current on estimated payments or deposits. The IRS won’t consider your Fresh Start application until you take these steps.

Once compliant, you should gather your basic financial records (income, expenses, bank statements, and assets), as you’ll need these later to complete your Fresh Start Program application, including Collection Information Statement (433-F).  Next, research the various options within the Fresh Start Program and choose the relief program that best fits your financial situation. Once you’re certain you meet the program requirements, complete and submit the right paperwork.

Many taxpayers choose to work with a trusted tax professional to apply for the Fresh Start Program, which not only makes the process easier, but increases their chance at acceptance.
The IRS will not accept a request for tax relief through any of the programs in the Fresh Start Initiative without sufficient evidence. When mailing a request, include as much supporting evidence as possible. Documentation is the best form of evidence against the strict IRS Fresh Start Program requirements.

The documentation you will need includes (but is not limited to):

• Doctor/medical statements
• Fire department reports
• Insurance claims
• Student loan statements
• Death certificates of family members

We would also advise including a letter with your Form 843 explaining your personal situation and why you are unable to pay your outstanding tax debt.

In order to meet the additional requirements to obtain tax relief through the Fresh Start Program, you must:

• File all of your missing or unfiled tax returns
• Your estimated tax payments must be current
• Your current withholdings must be correct.
• Finally, all filings for the last six months must be current or correct.

The best way to prevent your request from being denied is to contact a professional tax relief company.

Even if you get denied by the IRS, a tax relief company can help you file a letter of appeal.

If you’re considering the IRS Fresh Start Program, you don’t have to navigate it alone. TaxRise tax professionals help you choose the right relief path, prepare the required forms, and communicate with the IRS from start to finish—so you avoid delays, missed details, and costly mistakes.

We begin with an eligibility review, pulling your IRS account transcripts to confirm compliance and identify the options you’re most likely to qualify for. From there, we help file any missing returns and correct withholdings or estimated payments, then complete the financial analysis and IRS documentation, assembling a complete application. Our team can also negotiate with the IRS on your behalf and monitor the case, respond to notices, and guide you on staying compliant after approval.

Expert help matters because the Fresh Start Program isn’t one-size-fits-all. Choosing the wrong option or submitting incomplete paperwork can lead to denials, higher monthly payments, or renewed collections, while an experienced team improves your odds and helps secure the most favorable, realistic outcome for your finances.

Take our quick survey and complete our free tax consultation to discover if you qualify for the Fresh Start Program, and review your options with a tax relief expert. Get started now and take the first step toward resolving your back taxes with confidence.

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 Federal Tax 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 today, especially students, parents, and small-business owners.

The best way to know if you qualify for tax debt relief in 2025 is to check your eligibility as soon as possible for the 2025 IRS Fresh Start Initiative Program.