Understanding IRS Collection Standards in Coshocton County, OH
When facing IRS collection actions in Coshocton County, Ohio, understanding the IRS's financial standards is crucial for negotiating a resolution. The IRS uses these standards, outlined on Form 433-A (Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals), to determine a taxpayer's ability to pay. These standards encompass National Standards (for food, clothing, and other necessities) and Local Standards (for housing, utilities, and transportation). For a single individual in Coshocton County, the IRS National Standard allows $812 monthly for food, clothing, and other essential expenses. While specific IRS local housing standards are not available for Coshocton County, the IRS relies on data from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the US Census Bureau to establish these benchmarks. The goal is to identify your disposable income, which is paramount in determining if you qualify for an Offer in Compromise, an Installment Agreement, or Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status due to economic hardship, as defined under IRC §6343(a)(1)(D). All this data is derived from official IRS.gov Collection Financial Standards.
Coshocton County Housing & Utilities Allowance vs. HUD Fair Market Rent
For taxpayers in Coshocton County, Ohio, the IRS Collection Financial Standards currently list 'N/A' for the local housing and utilities allowance across all household sizes. This absence of a direct IRS standard can present both a challenge and an opportunity. In such cases, the IRS may refer to other relevant data or allow for actual necessary expenses. For comparison, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Fair Market Rent (FMR) data for Coshocton County, with a 2-bedroom unit costing $1050.0 per month. If your actual housing expenses exceed what the IRS might otherwise allow, you can argue for a deviation from the standard, as permitted under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.15.1.10. This provision allows for reasonable and necessary expenses that exceed the standard amount. The fact that the HUD FMR of $1050.0 for a 2-bedroom unit is a verifiable local cost can significantly strengthen your argument for a higher allowance, especially since regional Shelter CPI data for Coshocton County is not available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to indicate local cost trends.
Food, Healthcare & Transportation Allowances
Beyond housing, the IRS provides specific National and Local Standards for other essential living expenses in Coshocton County, Ohio. For food, clothing, and other necessities, the IRS National Standards, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, provide $812 per month for a single individual, escalating to $1983 for a four-person household. This $812 for a single person breaks down into $449 for food, $44 for housekeeping supplies, $99 for apparel and services, $45 for personal care products, and $175 for miscellaneous items. Healthcare is covered by National Standards for Out-of-Pocket Healthcare, derived from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, allowing $75 per person monthly for those under 65, and $153 per person for those 65 and over. Transportation allowances for Coshocton County are set at a Local Standard of $588 for one car ownership and $270 for operating costs in this region, totaling $858 per month for a single vehicle. For two vehicles, the allowance is $1176 for ownership, plus the operating cost, totaling $1446 monthly. These figures are crucial in calculating your allowable expenses on Form 433-A.
Qualifying for Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status in Ohio
If your allowable living expenses exceed your monthly income, you may qualify for Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status, a temporary hardship designation that halts IRS enforced collection actions like wage levies (Form 668-W) and bank levies (Form 668-A). To qualify in Coshocton County, Ohio, you must file Form 433-A, providing a detailed breakdown of your income and all allowable expenses. For a single taxpayer, this might include a housing expense of $1050.0 (based on HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom unit, potentially requiring a deviation argument), plus $812 for National Standard food/clothing/other, $75 for healthcare (if under 65), and $858 for one-car transportation. This sums to a potential total of $2795.0 in allowable monthly expenses. If your income falls below this, the IRS may place your account in CNC. Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.16.1 outlines the procedures for CNC status, which, once granted, mandates the release of any existing levy under IRC §6343. It's important to remember that CNC status does not forgive the debt; it only pauses collection, and the 10-year Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) under IRC §6502 continues to run, meaning the IRS's time to collect does not extend while you are in CNC.