IRS Passport Revocation Program: Can Tax Debt Prevent You From Traveling This Tax Season?

Tax season brings more than filing deadlines and also triggers increased Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement. Florida taxpayers are often surprised to learn that unresolved tax debt can impact their ability to travel internationally. Under federal law, the IRS can request that the U.S. State Department deny, revoke, or limit a passport for taxpayers with serious delinquent tax debt.

If you’re planning an overseas trip this spring or summer, or you regularly travel for work, tax season is the time to confirm that IRS issues won’t interfere with your plans. Our experienced Florida tax-IRS attorney explains that ignoring notices during filing season can quickly escalate into consequences that reach far beyond your tax return.

How the IRS Passport Revocation Program Affects Florida Taxpayers

The IRS may certify a taxpayer as having seriously delinquent tax debt if they owe more than a certain threshold in unpaid federal taxes, including penalties and interest. Under IRS guidelines, the State Department is notified once the certification process is complete, and passport action may follow.

During tax season, Florida taxpayers may face passport issues if they:

• Owe more than the IRS delinquent debt threshold and have not resolved the balance;
• Ignored IRS notices requesting payment or response;
• Defaulted on an installment agreement or Offer in Compromise;
• Have active tax liens or levies related to unpaid income taxes;
• Failed to address tax debt before filing their current return.

Florida residents living near international travel hubs like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are especially affected. Passport certification can prevent renewal, delay issuance, or even revoke an existing passport if IRS notices are overlooked.

What Florida Taxpayers Can Do During Tax Season to Avoid Passport Revocation

Tax season is the perfect time to resolve federal tax debts and avoid enforcement actions. Under IRS guidelines, once you take a qualifying action, the IRS can reverse the passport certification. Options available include:

• File all required tax returns, even if you can’t pay immediately.
• Enter into an installment agreement to address taxes owed.
• Make an Offer in Compromise, if you qualify.
• If facing financial hardship, request Currently Not Collectible status.
• Challenge certification if the amount of your tax debt.

Timing matters when it comes to dealing with the IRS. Filing your current return without addressing prior debt may still leave you exposed. Our Florida tax attorney can coordinate filing, negotiation, and enforcement protection at the same time, which is especially important during peak IRS processing season.

To Protect Your Passport, Contact Experienced Florida Tax Attorney Ronald Cutler

Tax season is not the time to discover that IRS debt has grounded your travel plans. If you owe back taxes or received IRS notices you don’t understand, take action now to prevent passport restrictions and other collection actions.

Ronald Cutler is a licensed attorney, Certified Public Accountant, and former FBI Special Agent with over 50 years of experience in complex state and federal tax matters. To prevent tax debts from interrupting travel, contact our office. Schedule a consultation today to speak with our experienced Florida tax-IRS attorney.

Sources:

irs.gov/irm/part5/irm_05-019-025

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/legal-matters/passports-and-seriously-delinquent-tax-debt.html