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Taxpayers who make an effort to comply with the law, but are unable to meet their tax obligations due to circumstances beyond their control may qualify for relief from penalties. After receiving a notice stating the IRS assessed a penalty, taxpayers should check that the information in the notice is correct. Those who can resolve an issue in their notice may get relief from certain penalties, which include failing to:
The IRS offers the following types of penalty relief: This relief is based on all the facts and circumstances in a taxpayer’s situation. The IRS will consider this relief when the taxpayer can show they tried to meet their obligations, but were unable to do so. Situations when this could happen include a house fire, natural disaster and a death in the immediate family. Administrative Waiver and First Time Penalty Abatement A taxpayer may qualify for relief from certain penalties if he or she:
Before asking for First Time Abatement relief, taxpayers can request that the IRS first consider the reasonable cause relief provision. This preserves access to the First Time Abatement, which taxpayers may only use every three years. In certain situations, legislation may provide an exception to a penalty. Taxpayers who received incorrect written advice from the IRS may qualify for a statutory exception. Taxpayers who received a notice or letter saying the IRS didn’t grant the request for penalty relief may use the Penalty Appeal Online Self-help Tool. More Information: Common Penalties for Individuals The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum Share this tip on social media — #IRSTaxTip: Here’s what taxpayers should know about penalty relief https://go.usa.gov/xUazr |