The best way to stay out of trouble with the IRS is to file your taxes every year and pay what you owe. Sounds easy enough, but for many reasons, some people find themselves owing more money to the IRS than they can pay at one time. If you're in this situation, the following tips may help.

• File your return on time. If you can't make the April 15 deadline, file an extension. Even if you can't pay your tax debt, go ahead and file your taxes. The penalty and fines for not filing can be brutal. Think of it this way. It's not a criminal offense not to pay your taxes, but it is a criminal offense not to file a return.

• Once the IRS processes your return, they will send a bill for the amount you owe, plus interest.

• If you have credit at your disposal, use it to pay your IRS debt.

• If you don't have any way to pay the IRS all at once, file a request to make payments via IRS form 9465.

• If you still can't pay, you may be able to ask the IRS for a compromise. This is not an option that's available to everyone, and it's not a way for people to avoid paying their taxes. This option is only available to those with a hardship case.

• Don't avoid the IRS. It's impossible. They know where you live and where you work. If you don't work with them, they have every means at their disposal to get the money you owe them including seizure of future refunds, garnishment of wages, and levy of bank accounts.