Free Offer in Compromise Pre-Check 2026
An offer in compromise lets some people settle an IRS balance for less than they owe. But the IRS doesn't pick a number out of the air. It adds up the equity in what you own and the money you have left each month after allowed living expenses, and that total is roughly the lowest offer it will take.
I built this pre-check so you can run that math yourself before you spend money on an application. Enter what you owe, your household, your income and expenses, and what you own, and you'll see an estimated offer, what you'd send with the application, and whether an offer looks realistic at all.
I'm Solomon Grosinger, an IRS-licensed Enrolled Agent in Brooklyn since 2017. I help individuals, businesses and trusts with the IRS, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. If your number looks promising, or doesn't, book a free consultation and we can go over the options that fit your situation.
Offer in Compromise Pre-Check
See roughly what the IRS would expect you to offer, based on your income, allowed living expenses and the equity in what you own. Uses the IRS Collection Financial Standards effective June 29, 2026 and the April 2026 Form 656 booklet.
This is a simplified estimate for individuals, not businesses. It follows the math on Form 433-A (OIC): your equity counts at 80% of market value (quick sale value) minus loans, with $1,000 of bank money left out, $3,450 off one car ($3,450 off a second car on a joint offer) and an $11,980 deduction for personal items and valuables. Monthly leftover income is multiplied by 12 for a lump sum offer or 24 for monthly payments. Allowed expenses use the IRS National Standards for food, clothing and other items, out-of-pocket health care, the county housing and utilities standard (or your actual cost if lower), and transportation standards (car ownership up to $703 per car, operating costs for your area, or $220 for public transportation). The IRS may count things differently after it reviews your documents, including taxes and penalties on retirement withdrawals, special circumstances, and income it expects in the future. Low income figures are from the Form 656 (Rev. 4-2026) table for the 48 states. Every offer needs a $205 application fee unless you qualify as low income.
General info, not advice for your specific case.