Form 433-A: Financial Disclosure for Individuals
The most important form in IRS tax resolution — your entire Offer in Compromise, Installment Agreement, or hardship claim depends on getting this form right. Every asset, every expense, every dollar of income must be documented. Mistakes delay your case by months.
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A specialist will review your case and outline your options — completely free.
What Is Form 433-A?
IRS Form 433-A — the Collection Information Statement (CIS) for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals — is the financial disclosure form the IRS uses to evaluate your ability to pay. When you owe the IRS and cannot pay in full, the IRS needs to understand your complete financial picture before granting any resolution. Form 433-A is the primary tool for that evaluation.
This form determines your financial fate with the IRS. The numbers you enter on Form 433-A are used to calculate your Reasonable Collection Potential (RCP) — the IRS's estimate of what you can afford to pay after reasonable living expenses. Your RCP is the single most important number in any IRS resolution case. If your RCP is higher than your Offer in Compromise amount, the offer is rejected. If your RCP shows you can pay $500/month but you propose $200/month, your Installment Agreement is denied. Getting this form right — with accurate numbers, proper documentation, and allowable expenses maximized — is essential.
Form 433-A Section-by-Section Guide
Section 1 — Personal Information
Basic contact info, Social Security number, filing status, and dependents. Accuracy here matters because your household size directly affects allowable expense calculations.
Section 2 — Employment Information
Current employer details for wage earners OR business details for self-employed individuals. Include all employers if you work multiple jobs.
Section 3 — Other Financial Information
Court-ordered payments (child support, alimony), bankruptcy history, and any pending lawsuits or claims.
Section 4 — Personal Asset Information
The most scrutinized section. List ALL assets: cash, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, vehicles (with make/model/year/mileage/loan balance), real estate, and personal property. The IRS looks for assets that could be liquidated to pay the tax debt.
Section 5 — Personal Monthly Income and Expenses
Your monthly income from ALL sources vs. your monthly living expenses. The IRS allows certain national and local standard expenses for housing, transportation, food, and miscellaneous. Expenses exceeding standards require documentation.
Section 6 — Calculate Your Offer Amount
For Offer in Compromise applicants only. This section computes your proposed offer amount based on equity in assets plus future disposable income.
Form 433-A vs. 433-F: Which Do You Need?
| Aspect | Form 433-A | Form 433-F |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 6 pages, comprehensive | 2 pages, simplified |
| When Required | Offer in Compromise, all individual OICs | Streamlined Installment Agreements, some CNC requests |
| Asset Detail | Full asset-by-asset breakdown with values | Summary-level asset disclosure |
| Documentation | Extensive: bank statements, pay stubs, appraisals, property records | Limited: general financial overview with basic verification |
| IRS Scrutiny | High — every line item verified | Moderate — used for simpler cases |
| Who Files | Individuals with complex finances, businesses, OIC applicants | Simultaneously with 433-A or for simplified cases under $50,000 |
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