DTF-4.1 (3/19) Page 3 of 4
Use the correct form
•
Use Form DTF-4.1, Offer in Compromise: For Fixed and Final
Liabilities, to submit your request to compromise liabilities,
where you do not have any formal protest or appeal rights.
You do not have these rights if you:
• owe tax, interest, or penalties due to: a math or clerical
error on a return, a change the IRS made to your federal
return, or your failure to pay on time the tax that you
reported due on your return, or
• received a Statement of Proposed Audit Changes.
Your liabilities are xed and nal, and may be established by a
valid warrant.
• Use Form DTF-4, Offer in Compromise: For Liabilities Not
Fixed and Final, and Subject to Administrative Review, where
you still have formal protest or appeal rights.
Considerations for using Form DTF-4.1
You must be in compliance with all paying and ling
requirements for periods not included in your offer. This includes
estimated payments, tax deposits, and similar requirements.
Generally, we may consider offers in compromise from the
following taxpayers:
• individuals and businesses discharged from bankruptcy
• individuals and businesses that are insolvent (liabilities,
including tax liabilities, exceed the fair market value of assets)
• individuals (not businesses) for whom paying the debt in full
would cause undue economic hardship
Submitting Form DTF-4.1 does not automatically suspend
collection of a warrant, nor does it suspend the time for you to
take any action about an assessment.
Also, submitting Form DTF-4.1 does not affect the interest and
penalties that continue to accrue on your liabilities. Interest is
due at the rate set by the Tax Law, from the date of the notice or
agreement until we receive full payment.
We may require a written collateral agreement or other security,
to protect the Tax Department’s interest.
Generally, a taxpayer may make only one offer in compromise
for a particular liability for a particular period.
Basis for compromise
To be eligible, you must show that you have been discharged
in bankruptcy, you are insolvent, or (for individuals only) that
collection in full would cause you undue economic hardship. You
are considered insolvent if all your liabilities (including your tax
debt) exceed the fair market value of your assets.
Undue economic hardship generally means that you are unable
to pay reasonable basic living expenses, which are those
providing for the health, welfare, and production of income for
your family. We use IRS standards to help determine allowable
living expenses.
We also consider other factors, including the taxpayer’s age,
employment status, and employment history; any inability to
earn income because of long-term illness, medical condition, or
disability; and any obligation to dependents.
All offers must include:
• a completed Form DTF-5, Statement of Financial Condition
(available at www.tax.ny.gov), including copies of:
• your last three federal income tax returns,
• a credit report less than 30 days old, and
• your last 12 months of statements from your bank or
nancial institution.
If we accept your offer
If the Tax Department accepts your offer, and you satisfy all the
terms of the offer (for example, you paid in full the offer and
complied with the terms of any collateral agreement), we will
eliminate the remaining balance of your liabilities included in this
offer, satisfying any warrants.
Taxpayer’s representative
If you have a representative, you must include a completed
power of attorney. We recommend POA-1, Power of Attorney,
available at www.tax.ny.gov. If you use another power of
attorney, it must include the same information as the POA-1.
Estates
When Form DTF-4.1 is submitted by an estate duciary
(executor or administrator), the duciary must submit a copy
of the appropriate court appointment (for example, letters
testamentary or letters of administration) or, if there is no court
appointment, appropriate documents as requested by the Tax
Department. If the offer in compromise will be handled by the
duciary’s duly authorized representative, and the representative
will sign on page 2 on behalf of the duciary, the duciary
must also submit a completed power of attorney along with the
appropriate documents. We recommend Form ET-14, Estate Tax
Power of Attorney. If you use another power of attorney form, it
must include the same information as the ET-14.
Specic instructions
Section 1. Taxpayer information
Enter the full name and phone number of the taxpayer(s). If the
taxpayer is a business, enter the name of the business or its
trade name (or both). If this is a joint income tax liability, both
spouses may submit one application and enter both names.
However, for any other type of joint liability, such as a
partnership, each must submit separate DTF-4.1 forms.
Enter the taxpayer’s Social Security number, or, for a business,
the EIN.
Enter the taxpayer’s physical home address, mailing address if
different or a PO Box, and business address (if applicable).
Mark an X in a box to indicate entity type(s). If Other, ll in the
blank.
If the taxpayer has a representative, enter the name, phone
number, and address of the representative, and attach a
completed power of attorney.
Section 2. Amount offered
Enter the total amount you intend to offer. You must offer more
than $0, and you cannot include any amounts previously paid or
collected against the liabilities.
Instructions