Summary of What This Blog Covers:
- Steps to take if you’re behind on taxes
- How to reduce IRS penalties
- What to do while waiting on missing documents
- How proactive CPA support turns stress into strategy
It’s late at night, and your mind won’t stop running through what you haven’t done yet. Somewhere on that list after the client deliverables, team decisions, and marketing plans, is a lingering truth you’ve been trying to push aside: you’re behind on taxes.
Maybe you missed the filing deadline. Maybe you’ve filed, but you know you still owe more than you can pay. Or maybe you filed for an extension, hoping that six extra months would make things feel easier and now it’s almost October, and you’re still not ready.
We see you. And more importantly, we’re here to guide you without shame, without judgment, and with a clear plan.
At Insogna, we specialize in supporting women entrepreneurs through the full financial lifecycle: growth, setbacks, pivots, and everything in between. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by tax pressure, know this:
Behind doesn’t mean broken. It just means it’s time to realign.
Here are six smart, grounded moves you can make right now to stop the spiral and take control on your terms, with the kind of support that brings both emotional relief and financial confidence.
1. Take a Deep Breath and Start With What You Do Know
The first step is deceptively simple: pause. Let go of the idea that you need everything perfectly organized before you can start fixing the situation.
Instead, begin with what you do have:
- Your business income (even a rough estimate)
- Any tax documents you received (1099s, W-2s, K-1s, etc.)
- Records of payments already made to the IRS or your state
- Business expenses you’ve tracked even if it’s just a spreadsheet or credit card statements
Don’t worry if it’s incomplete. When we work with clients at our firm with CPAs in Austin, Texas, one of the first things we do is create order from the mess. You don’t need perfection to move forward. You just need momentum and a team that knows how to guide you through it.
2. Send a Payment Even a Small One Helps
Many women delay taking action because they think, “I can’t pay all of it, so why bother?” But here’s the truth: partial payments reduce penalties and interest from the IRS. Every dollar you send now reduces your overall tax burden.
Let’s say you owe $15,000 but can only send $3,000 today. That still puts you in a better position than doing nothing.
Our role as your tax advisor in Austin is to help you estimate what’s realistic, prioritize the most time-sensitive obligations, and create a strategy that supports your cash flow, not drains it.
3. Know the Penalties (and How to Reduce Them)
Understanding what you’re up against can take the fear out of the unknown. The IRS assesses several types of penalties:
- Failure-to-file penalty: If you miss a filing deadline, the IRS charges 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month you’re late (up to 25%).
- Failure-to-pay penalty: If you filed but didn’t pay in full, it’s 0.5% per month of the unpaid taxes.
- Underpayment penalty: If you didn’t pay enough throughout the year via estimated payments, you may owe more especially if you’re self-employed.
This is why we always encourage our clients to file on time, even if they can’t pay in full. Filing stops one penalty from growing, and allows us to work on a payment solution for the rest.
A thoughtful, experienced certified public accountant near you can assess which penalties apply, how to reduce them, and what relief programs may be available to you.
4. Request Missing Information Now. Don’t Wait.
If you’re waiting on a Schedule K-1 from a partnership, an updated P&L from your bookkeeper, or corrected forms from a client, don’t wait for others to get organized.
Request the documents now and follow up.
Proactive communication shows initiative. And the sooner you have your documents, the sooner you (or your CPA) can complete the return and reduce your risk of more interest or late penalties.
At Insogna, we often serve as the go-between for clients and their partners, bookkeepers, or vendors. Removing friction and giving you space to focus on your business, not your inbox.
5. Consider an Extension or Set Up a Payment Plan
If you haven’t yet filed and the deadline hasn’t passed, you may be able to request an extension. If you’ve already filed and owe more than you can pay, the IRS offers payment plans that can ease the financial pressure without escalating the problem.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Short-term payment plans (less than 180 days) don’t require a setup fee.
- Long-term installment agreements are available for larger balances.
- Your eligibility depends on how much you owe, and whether you’ve had issues before.
Having a licensed CPA or tax consultant near you prepare the paperwork for you removes guesswork and ensures you’re choosing the plan that minimizes interest while protecting your credit and your business reputation.
6. Work With a CPA Who Helps You Stay Ahead Not Just Catch Up
Most people don’t fall behind on taxes because they’re careless. They fall behind because they’re busy, overwhelmed, or stuck in a reactive cycle with a tax professional who only appears once a year.
You deserve better.
At Insogna, we offer a year-round, proactive tax strategy designed for entrepreneurs who need clarity, structure, and confidence. Whether we’re helping with estimated quarterly payments, improving your accounting systems, or forecasting next year’s tax position, our goal is the same:
To keep you calm, compliant, and empowered always.
When you work with a proactive small business CPA in Austin, you stop feeling like taxes are chasing you. Instead, you start leading the process with purpose and direction.
Let’s Talk About Why This Matters
For many women, falling behind on taxes doesn’t just feel like a financial problem. It can feel like a personal failure. We want you to hear this clearly:
Being behind doesn’t mean you’re broken.
Life happens. Revenue fluctuates. Family needs come up. Sometimes your business evolves faster than your systems. That’s not shameful. It’s normal. And it’s fixable.
You’re not behind because you’re irresponsible. You’re behind because you’ve been building, leading, and showing up for others. Now it’s time to show up for yourself and your financial future.
How Insogna Supports Women Reclaiming Their Financial Power
We work exclusively with business owners who want more from their CPA. More guidance, more clarity, and more connection. When we say we’re your financial partner, we mean it.
Here’s what working with Insogna looks like:
- No judgment. Just partnership. We listen first, then guide.
- Custom catch-up plans. We help you move step-by-step out of tax stress.
- Year-round strategy. We don’t disappear after April. We plan ahead with you.
- Modern, tech-enabled systems. Paperwork shouldn’t slow you down.
- Woman-centered service. We understand the real-life demands you’re managing, and we build our support around your lifestyle.
Whether you’re looking for a tax preparer near you, a strategic CPA in Austin, Texas, or a forward-thinking tax advisor near you who speaks your language and sees your vision, we’re here.
Behind Doesn’t Mean Broken. It Means It’s Time for a New Way Forward.
This isn’t just about filing a return. It’s about rewriting your relationship with your taxes and your future financial decisions.
At Insogna, we help women stop dreading tax season and start using it as a powerful tool for growth, stability, and confidence. We guide, we plan, and we walk alongside you.
Let’s catch up together and build forward with clarity, purpose, and strength.
Schedule your consultation with Insogna today. Let’s turn your tax stress into strategic momentum.