Installment agreement
An IRS payment plan that lets you pay a tax bill in monthly payments. Interest and a reduced penalty keep adding up until it is paid.
If you can't pay your tax bill in full, you can ask the IRS for more time. A short-term plan gives up to 180 days. A long-term plan, called an installment agreement, spreads the balance over monthly payments.
Most people can apply online in their IRS account. Setup fees are lowest online with automatic bank payments, and they can be waived for people with low income.
Example
A $3,000 balance spread over 6 months is $3,000 ÷ 6 = $500 a month, plus interest and penalty.