The IRS has criteria for removing penalties due to reasonable cause. Death, Serious Illness, or Unavoidable Absence, Fire, Casualty, Natural Disaster are some reasons. Best to outline your reasons in a letter to the IRS outlining your reasons and ask for abatement.
Steps Format a business letter. Add the IRS address. Include your personal information. Insert your salutation. Include a copy of the notice you received from the IRS. Identify the information you are providing. Close the letter on a friendly note. Identify any enclosures.
Write the Request Letter: Craft a detailed letter to the IRS that includes: The taxpayer's identification information (name, address, Social Security number, or tax ID number). A statement requesting the First Time Abatement. An explanation of each penalty notice received, including the date and the type of penalty.
How do I complete abatement form 843? Line 1 is the tax year the abatement is for. Line 2 is the total fees/penalties you are asking the IRS to remove. Line 3 is generally going to be Income (tax). Line 4 is the Internal Revenue Code section. Line 5a is the reason you are requesting the abatement.
In the body of the letter, explain the reason for your request for penalty waiver. Be factual and provide specific details about your circumstances. If you are claiming reasonable cause, provide supporting evidence to back up your claim.
Write to explain why you disagree and include any documents and information you wish the IRS to consider, along with the bottom tear-off portion of the notice. Mail the information to the IRS address shown in the lower left part of the notice. Allow at least 30 days for a response.
Note that New York State also offers penalty abatement under similar circum- stances. However, it does not offer first-time penalty abatement and it does not recognize the statutory exception in the same manner that the IRS does.
In the body of the letter, explain the reason for your request for penalty waiver. Be factual and provide specific details about your circumstances. If you are claiming reasonable cause, provide supporting evidence to back up your claim.
Penalty abatement reasonWritten request Reasonable cause Write a letter requesting reasonable cause abatement, or send Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. The IRS decision usually takes about three to four months.1 more row
If we cannot approve your relief over the phone, you may request relief in writing with Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. To reduce or remove an estimated tax penalty, see: Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals Penalty. Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Corporations Penalty.