Tax debt may be the result of forgetfulness, inexperience with the system, hard economic times, illness or the filing of improper forms. A tax means the taxpayer owes the tax system a specific amount of money. This money will accrue with late payments, interest and other penalties added as time goes on. The longer you ignore the problem, the more serious it will become. The only solution is to arrange some form of tax debt settlement. If the matter requires specialized treatment, an in depth understanding of the taxation system and intense meeting and negotiations with the tax agency, you will require some type of tax specialist. You may need to hire a lawyer or tax attorney to talk with the IRS or comparable tax agency to arrange for a workable tax debt settlement. This may involve an agreement to make payments. You may be able to reach an Offer in Compromise - a compromise payment. If you choose this option, you can pay back in a lump sum, arrange for monthly payments over the next 24 month period or pay a monthly sum that stretches over the remaining time of the applicable statute of limitations.