Tag: Debt

debt management

Debt Management: Why It Pays To Seek Help From The Experts?

Debt usually begins with a single loan that you think will be quite manageable, then another purchase adds to the monthly outgoings, and very often an unexpected expense arrives, which you naturally charge to your credit card. It only takes a little bit of bad luck to find yourself in a position where you are struggling to make ends meet, and if expected income increases do not materialise, you can quickly find yourself heavily in debt, with seemingly no way out.Debt management providers are highly skilled and can offer you the very best advice. Hoping It Will Go Away For many people in debt, the natural reaction is to ignore it, and after a while, you get used to throwing away the final demands and not answering the phone when you think it is a creditor. Yet this approach is not only putting off the obvious, you are incurring more interest by refusing to deal with an escalating situation, which you will have to deal with eventually. Seeking Professional Help Being in debt can be extremely stressful, and rather than doing nothing, you are much better off approaching Debt Fix, an experienced debt management company. They can really help you to become debt-free. They have special debt consolidation programs and other solutions that can help you to pay off your outstanding debts, and their experienced staff have helped thousands of Australians to become debt-free. Bad Debt Management Can Affect Your Credit Score   If at any time in the future you wish to take out a mortgage or another type of loan, having a bad credit score will certainly not help, and even if you have a less than perfect credit score now, the debt specialists can still manage to find a lender who will take you on. What Is A Debt Consolidation Loan? If a person has 3 or 4 monthly repayments that are due at different times of the month, it can be a real struggle to make the payments, and for many people, taking out a debt consolidation loan is the best solution. This would involve borrowing enough money to clear all outstanding debts, leaving you with a single, affordable monthly repayment. You can say goodbye to the red-letter final demands and the persistent phone calls from concerned creditors, as your slate will be wiped clean, and it is advisable to terminate all credit avenues that could lead you back to the same state. Working With Professionals Those who work for debt management providers are highly skilled and can offer you the very best advice, and rather than keeping it to yourself in the hope that somehow your debts will magically vanish, discussing all of your options with a debt management specialist is a far better solution. The sooner you begin to address the problem, the quicker you will be debt-free and can start looking at investment options. Debt consolidation is not a solution for every case, and it is only by discussing your circumstances with a trained debt management person that you can discover the best way to deal with the issue. Read Also : Eight Essential Tips For Getting Out Of Debt Debt Consolidation Plans For Your Debt Relief Are Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended For Credit Card Consolidation Revolving Debt Vs Installment Debt – Which Impacts Your Credit Score The Most?

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Tax Debt

6 Tips on How to Pay Off Your Tax Debt

For the tax year 2015, the IRS reported that taxpayers filed 150.5 million individual income tax returns, which is an increase of 1.3 percent compared to the previous year. This yielded $10.4 trillion income for the said tax year and also a 4.5 percent increase from 2014. Here’s the thing: not everyone is able to file and pay taxes for the income earned. If you happen to be one of them, then you need to read this post to find out how you can pay off your tax debt and prevent penalties, possible jail time, and garnishment of your assets: 1. Know how much you owe :  You can’t just pay any amount just to “lower” your tax debt. Paying the amount stated on the letter from IRS doesn’t automatically mean it reflects the actual tax debt since you could be eligible for a tax credit (or IRS could be wrong too). Therefore, find out first how much you actually owe for each tax year. This will give you a summary of your tax situation, thereby making it easier for you and your tax debt lawyers to come up with strategies that lower your debt. You can also use a tax calculator online to give you an idea of your total tax debt. 2. Consolidate the tax debt with your credit card :  First things first, it is not advisable to pay off one debt using another debt. If you owe something especially taxes, then you might want to break this rule. IRS accepts all major credit cards like MasterCard or Visa to pay off your tax debt. Simply go to the payment page of the IRS to make a payment. Keep in mind that IRS doesn’t charge a fee for doing such transaction, although processing companies who process the payment charge up to as much as 2.35 percent. Nevertheless, make sure to pay your credit card in time. 3. Try refinancing your home :  Why not? Believe it or not, the IRS could recommend re-financing depending on the situation. If you happen to have equity such as a house and you can afford it, then you can use your assets to pay off your existing tax debt. The good thing about this movie is that mortgage rates are typically lower compared to the rate charged by credit card companies. Also, you can take away home mortgage interest on your income tax return – and how can you say no to that? 4. Apply for Short-Term Extension to Pay :  This is only applicable if you can pay your tax debt in 120 days or less. The good thing about this arrangement is that there is no set-up fee and you can apply either online by filling out the Online Payment Agreement application or by phone. Penalties and interest fees are likewise lower, so make sure you pay within the given period granted to you. 5. Enter into an installment agreement : Ideally, you would be able to pay off your tax debt at once. On the other hand, there are instances when you need a little more time to pay it off. In that case, consider entering into an installment agreement with the IRS. The good thing about installment agreement is that you can apply either online or by mail. You don’t have to worry about reminders and missed payments, especially if you sign up for the monthly payment plan. You can apply for the installment agreement if you owe $50,000 or less, which already includes combined individual income tax, interest, and penalties. When you apply for this, make sure that you filed all of your returns in order to qualify for this agreement. How does installment agreement work? A direct debit payment plan is highly recommended because of the lower cost, hassle-free payment, and the cost for a set-up fee is more affordable compared to other payment plans. What if you have more than $50,000 tax debt? In that case, the next tip would be your most feasible option. 6. Consider an Officer in Compromise :  Also known as OIC, this strategy could also be helpful if you want to pay off your tax debt. Unlike the Installment Agreement, Officer in Compromise is more applicable for a larger amount of tax debt. How does this work? OIC will allow you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you actually owe. Filing of an income tax return and payment requirements must also be updated. Nonetheless, there are several factors IRS looks into before they agree to this kind of arrangement. This includes, but not limited to: Income Expenses Asset equity Ability to pay Aside from this, it is IRS who will determine whether you are qualified for OIC or not. If they see that they won’t be able to collect the entire amount within a reasonable time, then you could be qualified. Check out their website to determine whether you can be qualified for this or not. At the end of the day, it is important that you file and pay on time to avoid hassle come due date. In case there was a delay, take note of these tips and prevent the government from taking what was yours. Read Also : Eight Essential Tips For Getting Out Of Debt Are Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended For Credit Card Consolidation Dealing With A Debt Relief Officer For A Better Assistance

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Out Of Debt

Eight Essential Tips For Getting Out Of Debt

Do you feel like debt is slowly ruining your life? If so, you should know you're not alone. Although the road to getting out of debt is a long one, it's not impossible to do so. We've put together a list of 8 tips for you to get started and live a debt-free life. Let's get started. 1. Find Out How Much You Owe : This is a step that you probably have avoided for some time because you fear to know the number. But if you are serious about getting out of debt, you must know exactly what you owe. Start by making a spreadsheet listing every single debt you have. It might also be helpful to specify if those debts are outstanding, so you know which ones need attention. Once you know exactly what you owe, you'll be able to see the bigger picture and not be blindsided by unknown debts. The spreadsheet will help you keep track of your progress, and you will feel more motivated watching the numbers go down. 2. Stop Adding More Debt : This might sound like an obvious step, but if you're trying to get out of debt, you shouldn't create new ones. While it might be difficult to avoid temptation, you must do so in order to pay off your debts. If you pay off your debts, only to use them again, you will never finish. Start paying for large purchases using cash, and not buy anything you cannot afford. This will keep you on track to paying off your debts faster. If having your credit cards around is too much temptation, try cutting them up or freezing them. That way you won't feel tempted to walk into a department store when you see a sale. 3. Try to Negotiate Lower Interests Rates : It's no secret credit cards come with really high interests rates, which makes it so difficult for people to pay them off. If you signed up to enjoy the introductory 0% APR and now you have to pay more interest than you can handle, it's time to renegotiate. It's possible to talk to your credit card company and try to negotiate a lower interest rate. You can start by calling and simply asking them to lower your interest rates. But before you call, you might want to have a strategy. Begin by calling your oldest credit card and using your loyalty to open up negotiations. Being a loyal card member might provide you with some extra benefits. Don't forget to always be polite. 4. Find Ways to Make More Money : We understand it might be difficult to pay off your debts when you're living paycheck to paycheck. In fact, this might be one of the reasons why you got into debt in the first place. In order to help speed up the process, it might be a good idea to start making more money. Try to get creative and find ways to earn more cash. Why not get a part-time job, talk to your boss about getting a raise, or find a side hustle. Then you can put that extra money into paying off your debt. 5. Focus on Building an Emergency Fund : You might want to put all of your efforts into paying all your debt, but it's also important to have a little saved up for a rainy day. Even though you need to pay off your debt, you also need to build your emergency fund, both are just as important. The reason is if an unexpected expense comes up, you will have enough saved up to cover it without needing to use your credit cards. Having money saved up will help with the process along so you stay on track. 6. Sell Items You Don't Need : If you want to look for other ways to make a dent in your debt, then look around your house. Sometimes we accumulate things of value without even knowing it. You might be able to get some extra cash by selling items you have laying around the house. You might be able to sell old broken gold jewelry and get some money out of it. You might also be able to also sell electronics, art, and furniture. There are many ways to sell your old stuff. You can have a garage sale, post on Craig's list, or even sell on eBay. 7. Create a Budget and Stick With It : If you want to have enough money to pay your bills and pay off your debt, you should make a budget. Creating a budget will help you allocate where all of your money goes, so you don't have to wonder where your money goes each month. If you stick to your budget, you'd be surprised how much you could have leftover at the end of the month. Any money left over will be used to put towards your debt. Having a budget will also be good practice for life after all your debts are paid off. Sticking to a budget will secure your financial future. 8. Decide which Debts to Start Paying First : Even if you want to pay off your debt, you might not know where to start. This could be a confusing process for many people. If you have student loans, car loans, mortgages, and credit card debt, you might want to start tackling your credit card debt. Credit cards have the highest interest rates out of all your other lenders. Once you're done paying off your credit cards, you can put that money towards paying off your other debts. You can start paying off the credit card with the highest interest rate and highest balance. Once you do, you can move on to the next. If you want to learn more about which debt to prioritize, request more info here. Getting out of Debt is Possible : Getting out of debt might seem like an impossible thing to do. However, it's not as difficult as you think. Get started by making a list of all your debts, create a budget, and even try to find ways to make more money. If you want to learn more finance tips, visit our blog. Read Also : Are Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended For Credit Card Consolidation Dealing With A Debt Relief Officer For A Better Assistance Proper Management Of Tech Debt Is Necessary For Successful Business

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