Understanding IRS Collection Standards in Jones County
For taxpayers in Jones County, South Dakota, facing IRS collection actions, understanding the IRS Collection Financial Standards is paramount. The IRS uses these standards, outlined on Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement, to determine a taxpayer's ability to pay and calculate disposable income. These standards are derived from comprehensive data sources including IRS.gov, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey, and the US Census Bureau. For instance, a single individual in Jones County is allowed $812 monthly for food, clothing, and other necessities. While Jones County, SD, does not have specific local housing standards, the IRS evaluates actual housing costs for reasonableness. If a taxpayer's income, after accounting for these necessary expenses, leaves no funds to pay the tax debt, the IRS may consider the situation an economic hardship, as defined by IRC §6343(a)(1)(D), potentially leading to levy release or Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status. Accurate reporting on Form 433-A is critical for demonstrating your financial position.
Jones County Housing & Utilities Allowance vs. HUD Fair Market Rent
Residents of Jones County, South Dakota, will find that the IRS Collection Financial Standards do not provide specific local housing and utilities allowances, listing them as $N/A for all household sizes. This means that taxpayers must substantiate their actual, reasonable, and necessary housing expenses on Form 433-A. In such cases, the IRS evaluates these expenses individually, and a common benchmark for reasonableness is the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rent (FMR) data. For FY2025, the HUD FMR for Jones County, SD, indicates a 2-bedroom unit at $960.0 per month. If your actual housing costs exceed what the IRS might consider reasonable, based on local market data, you can request a deviation from the standard under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.15.1.10. Providing documentation to justify higher essential housing expenses, especially when local standards are not provided, strengthens your argument for economic hardship. Unfortunately, regional Shelter CPI data for this specific region is not available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide a year-over-year comparison.
Food, Healthcare & Transportation Allowances
Beyond housing, the IRS provides National Standards for Food, Clothing & Other expenses, which are applicable to taxpayers in Jones County, SD. For a single individual, this allowance is $812 monthly, breaking down to $449 for food, $44 for housekeeping supplies, $99 for apparel and services, $45 for personal care products, and $175 for miscellaneous items. A family of four is allotted $1983 monthly. These figures are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. For healthcare, the IRS National Standards for Out-of-Pocket Healthcare allow $75 per person per month for individuals under 65 and $153 per person per month for those 65 and over, based on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Regarding transportation, Jones County, SD, residents can claim a Local Standard of $588 per month for the ownership costs of one car, or $1176 for two cars. Additionally, an operating cost allowance of $270 per month is provided for the region. Thus, a single car owner can claim a total of $858 per month ($588 ownership + $270 operating) for transportation, based on BLS data and American Automobile Association operating costs.
Qualifying for Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status in South Dakota
Achieving Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status in South Dakota, particularly for taxpayers in Jones County, requires a detailed financial assessment to demonstrate economic hardship. This process involves submitting Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement, to the IRS, detailing your income, assets, and monthly expenses. The IRS then compares your total income against your total allowable expenses, using the National and Local Standards. For example, a single filer in Jones County, SD, might demonstrate necessary expenses including an actual housing cost (potentially benchmarked around the $960.0 HUD FMR for a 2BR), plus $812 for food, clothing, and other items, $75 for healthcare (if under 65), and $858 for one-car transportation. If your allowable expenses exceed your income, leaving no disposable income to pay the tax debt, the IRS may place your account in CNC status under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.16.1. This status temporarily halts enforced collection actions, including wage levies (IRC §6331), and can lead to the release of existing levies under IRC §6343. Importantly, CNC status does not extend the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) under IRC §6502, meaning the 10-year collection window continues to run.