How To Eliminate IRS Penalties

To request an abatement or reduction of IRS penalties, you’ll need to prepare a Form 843, called Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement and submit it to the IRS. The form requires that you indicate, among other things, the type of penalty that you’re asking to be abated by identifying the actual law for which the penalty applies.

Some penalties can also be abated if you have a reasonable cause for not complying and can show that you exercised ordinary business care and prudence. To get an abatement of penalties due to reasonable cause, you must have an excuse or reason that indicates you had no control over the situation. For instance, you were unable to file your tax return timely because you were seriously ill.

We strongly recommend that you don’t attempt to request penalty abatement yourself. IRS’ penalty abatement review procedures are very strict. One wrong word or statement will be cause for automatic denial of your request.

The IRS threatens imposing heavy penalties as a deterrent for taxpayers who file tax returns late and pay taxes late. The IRS wants taxpayers to fear these huge penalties, much like the people who are financing a car purchase fear swift repossession, if they don’t make timely car payments.

Although you have a right to request abatement of penalties, it’s important to know that the IRS doesn’t easily agree to reduce or eliminate penalties against you.

Beware of inexperienced or unprofessional firms who promise you that they will definitely get your penalty abatement approved. No one can guarantee that the IRS will approve your request to abate penalties. Approval or denial is solely in the hands of the IRS, and their decision can take months.

However, if the IRS denies your request to abate penalties, you should know that you have a right to request that the IRS’ Appeals Division perform an administrative review of IRS’ decision. This process requires a separate request and meetings with an IRS Appeals employee. Because of our former IRS experience, including our work in the IRS’ Appeals Division, we can defend you in Appeals if the IRS does reject your request for penalty abatement.

Hiring Tax Litigation Associates to prepare your request to abate penalties will give you a distinct advantage over doing it yourself or having a less qualified firm helping you. We know the tax laws and use your personal circumstances to put together the best penalty abatement request possible. There are strict guidelines that must be followed when dealing with the IRS and filing penalty abatements. Filing an abatement request too early or late in the resolution process can result in its rejection. Tax Litigation Associates has the experience that enables us to successfully get though the “mine field” known as the penalty abatement claim procedure.

Whatever you do, it’s in your best interest to contact Tax Litigation Associates to discuss your unique situation. Your circumstances may fall into a category, not shown above, that will still allow us to help you. Penalties can accrue and get larger each day. The faster you call us, the faster we can help you by taking the necessary steps to get these penalties eliminated, and getting you back on your feet.