Understanding IRS Collection Standards in Codington County
When the IRS assesses your ability to pay a tax debt in Codington County, South Dakota, they utilize a detailed financial analysis based on Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement. This crucial form helps the IRS determine your disposable income by comparing your gross income against allowable living expenses, which are categorized into National and Local Standards. For a single individual in Codington County, the monthly National Standard for Food, Clothing, and Other necessities is $812. While specific IRS local housing allowances for Codington County are not published, the IRS relies on these established benchmarks, derived from data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau. If your allowable expenses exceed your income, the IRS may determine that collection would create an economic hardship, potentially leading to a levy release under IRC §6343(a)(1)(D). This meticulous data-driven approach ensures an accurate assessment of your financial capacity.
Codington County Housing & Utilities Allowance vs. HUD Fair Market Rent
For taxpayers in Codington County, South Dakota, the IRS Collection Financial Standards do not provide a specific local housing and utilities allowance. In such cases, the IRS may consider actual necessary expenses, but taxpayers must be prepared to substantiate them. For context, the HUD FY2025 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a 2-bedroom residence in Codington County is $930.0 per month. If your actual housing expenses exceed the general allowances or FMR amounts, you may argue for a deviation from standard allowances. Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.15.1.10 outlines the process for requesting such a deviation, emphasizing that expenses must be reasonable and necessary. Presenting evidence that your rent, such as the $930.0 for a 2-bedroom home, is a necessary and unavoidable expense significantly strengthens your case. Unfortunately, regional shelter CPI data is not available for Codington County to provide year-over-year comparison.
Food, Healthcare & Transportation Allowances
Beyond housing, the IRS provides specific National and Local Standards for other essential living expenses in Codington County, South Dakota. The National Standards for Food, Clothing, and Other categories, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, provide a monthly allowance ranging from $812 for a single person to $1983 for a family of four. Healthcare allowances, derived from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, permit $75 per month for individuals under 65 and $153 per month for those 65 and over. For transportation, Codington County residents are subject to the IRS Local Standards. For one vehicle, the monthly ownership cost is $588, and the operating cost for the region is $270, totaling $858 per month. These figures, based on BLS data and American Automobile Association operating costs, are critical in determining your allowable expenses for IRS collection purposes.
Qualifying for Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status in South Dakota
Achieving Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status in Codington County, South Dakota, offers a temporary reprieve from IRS enforced collection actions like wage and bank levies. To qualify, you must demonstrate to the IRS that your income is insufficient to cover your necessary living expenses, leaving no disposable income to pay your tax debt. This process begins by submitting a comprehensive Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement, detailing all your income, assets, and expenses. For a single filer in Codington County, allowable monthly expenses could include a practical housing estimate like the HUD FMR for a 1-bedroom at $850.0, plus $812 for food/clothing/other, $75 for healthcare (under 65), and $858 for transportation. This totals $2595.0. If your income falls below this threshold, the IRS may grant CNC status. IRM 5.16.1 outlines the procedures for CNC, and under IRC §6343, the IRS must release a levy if it creates economic hardship. While in CNC, the 10-year Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) under IRC §6502 continues to run, meaning CNC status does not extend the time the IRS has to collect your debt.