Q: How can we have our IRS passport hold lifted due to unpaid taxes, impacting health care needs?
My wife and I have unpaid back taxes exceeding $165,000, but there's a hold on our passports from the IRS. We haven't applied for hardship status yet. We hired a company to help with an offer in compromise, but it seems to be a scam—they delayed submitting it last month. This passport hold is impacting our need to move to a country with free healthcare, like France or Canada, due to my son's type 1 diabetes and my epilepsy. We received information about the passport hold in November 2024 and have receipts for this year's taxes and adjustments. We need to travel to France to open a bank account for our visa application, but I was unable to confirm the hold with the IRS directly. How can we have this passport hold lifted?
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A:
To get the IRS passport hold lifted, you’ll need to resolve the “seriously delinquent tax debt” status. That means either paying the balance down below the threshold (around $62,000 for 2025) or entering into an official agreement like an installment plan or accepted Offer in Compromise. Since the company you hired hasn’t followed through, you may want to directly contact the IRS and file IRS Form 433-A (Collection Information Statement) along with your Offer in Compromise yourself—or with someone reputable.
You can also apply for “Currently Not Collectible” status if your financial situation qualifies, especially given your serious health concerns. This won’t erase the debt, but it may stop active collection and pause the passport restriction. To apply, call the IRS and explain your situation, including medical needs and inability to pay. You’ll likely need to provide proof of income, expenses, and medical conditions.
If time is critical, reach out to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. They help in cases of hardship and delays, especially when health and travel needs are involved. Requesting expedited help due to urgent medical or immigration issues may help move things faster. Keep every receipt, document, and communication, and don’t give up—there are ways forward, even when it feels stuck.
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