How do I dispute an estimated tax penalty?

Asked by: Izaiah Bernier  |  Last update: December 25, 2025
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Review the Form 2210 instructions for the year you have an estimated tax penalty. If you qualify for a waiver, send Form 843 or a letter with a full explanation about why the IRS should remove your estimated tax penalty, and attach any supporting documentation. You must sign and send in a written request to the IRS.

How do I waive my estimated tax penalty?

Penalty waiver

A waiver can be filed by filling out Part II of Form 2210 and attaching the required documentation detailed in the Form 2210 instructions.

How do I dispute an underpayment penalty?

If you disagree you must first notify the IRS supervisor, within 30 days, by completing Form 12009, Request for an Informal Conference and Appeals Review. If you are unable to resolve the issue with the supervisor, you may request that your case be forwarded to the Appeals Office.

How do I appeal IRS accuracy related penalty?

If you disagree with the amount you owe, you may dispute the penalty. Call us at the toll-free number at the top right corner of your notice or letter or write us a letter stating why we should reconsider the penalty. Sign and send your letter along with any supporting documents to the address on your notice.

What is the exception to the estimated tax penalty?

Generally, most taxpayers will avoid this penalty if they either owe less than $1,000 in tax after subtracting their withholding and refundable credits, or if they paid withholding and estimated tax of at least 90% of the tax for the current year or 100% of the tax shown on the return for the prior year, whichever is ...

IRS Underpayment Penalty | Tax Answers in 90 seconds | Mickle & Associates, P.A.

22 related questions found

Why am I being charged an estimated tax penalty?

The penalty is charged when taxpayers don't pay enough through payroll withholding or fail to pay enough when filing quarterly. Taxpayers who pay late also are fined. The usual penalty is the amount owed plus 5% of the underpayment amount. It's capped at 25%.

How do you avoid the underpayment penalty?

If you paid at least 90% of the tax on your current-year return or 100% of the tax shown on the prior year's return, you can avoid the underpayment penalty for estimated taxes. Another way to avoid an underpayment penalty in the future is to adjust your withholdings on your W-4, if you have an employer.

What is a reasonable cause to waive the IRS penalty?

Examples of valid reasons for failing to file or pay on time may include: Fires, natural disasters or civil disturbances. Inability to get records. Death, serious illness or unavoidable absence of the taxpayer or immediate family.

How to remove accuracy-related penalties?

You can also get the penalty abated by submitting a written penalty abatement request or filing a claim for a refund for the penalty. The penalty abatement letter and refund claim denial should entitle you to have the IRS Office of Appeals consider the penalty. Appeals will often agree to remove or reduce the penalty.

Can you get the IRS to reduce penalties?

We may be able to remove or reduce some penalties if you acted in good faith and can show reasonable cause for why you weren't able to meet your tax obligations. By law we cannot remove or reduce interest unless the penalty is removed or reduced. For more information, see penalty relief.

How to write a tax penalty waiver letter?

Write the Request Letter: Craft a detailed letter to the IRS that includes:
  1. The taxpayer's identification information (name, address, Social Security number, or tax ID number).
  2. A statement requesting the First Time Abatement.
  3. An explanation of each penalty notice received, including the date and the type of penalty.

How to write a letter to the IRS to appeal?

In your formal protest, include a statement that you want to appeal the changes proposed by the IRS and include all of the following: ∎ Your name, address, and a daytime telephone number. ∎ List of all disputed issues, tax periods or years involved, proposed changes, and reasons you disagree with each issue.

Does first time abatement apply to estimated tax penalty?

You may receive relief from one or more of these penalties on a tax return during a single tax period. We consider First Time Abate relief regardless of the penalty amount.

How do I get rid of underpayment penalty on TurboTax?

To possibly reduce or eliminate your underpayment penalty:
  1. Open or continue your return.
  2. Navigate to the underpayment penalty section: TurboTax Online/Mobile: Go to annualizing your tax. TurboTax Desktop: Select Search Topics. ...
  3. We'll take you through the steps to possibly reduce what you owe.

Is the IRS waiving penalties in 2024?

In June 2024, the IRS waived the penalty for the installment due on or before August 15, 2024, for a tax year beginning in 2024 (see Tax Alert 2024-1179).

Is underpayment of estimated tax penalty deductible?

The estimated tax penalty is a whopping 8 percent from October 1, 2023, through March 31, 20242—the highest it has been since 2007. As we explain later, the penalty is not deductible, so your effective penalty rate is much higher than the 8 percent.

How do I get my underpayment penalty waived?

While the penalty for underpayment of estimated tax generally cannot be waived due to reasonable cause, the penalty may be removed or reduced if the underpayment is the result of a casualty, local disaster, or other unusual circumstance when it would not be fair to impose the penalty.

What is the 6 year rule for IRS?

6 years - If you don't report income that you should have reported, and it's more than 25% of the gross income shown on the return, or it's attributable to foreign financial assets and is more than $5,000, the time to assess tax is 6 years from the date you filed the return.

What is the IRS one time forgiveness?

Also called first-time abatement, one-time forgiveness is when the IRS waives penalties for taxpayers with a history of compliance.

How to dispute a tax penalty?

To dispute an IRS penalty due to statutory exceptions, you will need to file Form 843: Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. You can call the toll-free number listed on your IRS notice to speak with an agent.

What are the reasons for estimated tax penalty waiver?

Don't stress the IRS.

Sound reasons, if established, include: Fire, casualty, natural disaster or other disturbances. Inability to obtain records. Death, serious illness, incapacitation or unavoidable absence of the taxpayer or a member of the taxpayer's immediate family.

Does the IRS have a tax amnesty program?

Taxpayers who are eligible for IRS tax amnesty programs may include individuals and businesses who have failed to file tax returns, report foreign financial assets, or pay taxes owed. These programs are designed to help taxpayers resolve their tax issues and come into compliance with the IRS.

Does the IRS forgive underpayment penalty?

The IRS can provide administrative relief from a penalty under certain conditions. The most widely available administrative waiver is first-time penalty abatement (FTA).

What is the 110% rule for estimated tax payments?

Individuals who are required to make estimated tax payments, and whose 2023 California adjusted gross income is more than $150,000 (or $75,000 if married/RDP filing separately) must figure estimated tax based on the lesser of 90% of their tax for 2024 or 110% of their tax for 2023 including AMT.

Can I pay estimated taxes all at once?

Answer: Generally, if you determine you need to make estimated tax payments for estimated income tax and estimated self-employment tax, you can make quarterly estimated tax payments or pay all of the amount due on the first quarterly payment due date. Special rules apply to farmers and fishers.