Get Your Free Consultation
Free tool

Can your IRS penalties be removed?

Answer five quick questions to see whether you may qualify for first-time penalty relief, or for relief based on circumstances outside your control.

Built by Jonathan Samuel, EA · Updated October 18, 2026
1. Which penalty is on your account?

Your IRS notice lists each penalty by name.

2. In the three tax years before that, did you have any IRS penalties?

Don't count the estimated tax penalty. It doesn't affect eligibility.

3. Have you filed every return that's currently due?

A filed extension counts.

4. Have you paid the tax, or set up a way to pay it?
5. Did something outside your control get in the way?

For example, a serious illness, a death in the family, a natural disaster, or records that were destroyed.

The rules behind the checker

First-time reliefCovers late-filing, late-payment and late-deposit penalties for one tax period, if you had no significant penalties in the three years before, have filed all currently required returns, and have paid or arranged to pay the tax.
Reasonable causeCovers situations where you acted responsibly but something outside your control, like illness or disaster, kept you from filing or paying. It needs documentation.
Interest comes off tooWhen a penalty is removed, the interest charged on that penalty is removed with it.

This checker gives a general idea, not tax advice. The IRS decides every request based on your records.

Helpful reading

ServicePenalty abatementWe make the request for you. ToolWhich relief option fits me?Five quick questions. GuideCan't pay your taxes?How penalties grow, and how to stop them.