IRS Increases Interest Rates for Q1 2023

The IRS announced on Tuesday that interest rates will go up for the calendar quarter beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 7% per year, compounded daily, up from 6% for the quarter that began on Oct. 1. Following is a complete list of the new rates:

• 7% for overpayments (payments made in excess of the amount owed), 6% for corporations.
• 4.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.
• 7% for underpayments (taxes owed but not fully paid).
• 9% for large corporate underpayments.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced on Tuesday were computed from the federal short-term rate determined in October. Revenue Ruling 2022-23 has more details.