IR-2019-106: IRS warns of higher penalty for some tax returns filed after June 14; and FS-2019-10: IRS explains CP2000 notices sent to taxpayers when their tax return doesn’t match information from 3rd parties

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IRS warns of higher penalty for some tax returns filed after June 14

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IRS Newswire June 7, 2019

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Issue Number:  IR-2019-106 and FS-2019-10

Inside This Issue

  1. IRS warns of higher penalty for some tax returns filed after June 14
  2. IRS explains CP2000 notices sent to taxpayers when their tax return doesn’t match information from 3rd parties

IRS warns of higher penalty for some tax returns filed after June 14

 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers who owe tax and have not filed their 2018 return to act before Friday, June 14, before a larger penalty kicks in.

 

The failure-to-file penalty is assessed if there is unpaid tax and the taxpayer fails to file a tax return or request an extension by the April due date. This penalty is usually 5 percent of tax for the year that’s not paid by the original return due date. The penalty is charged for each month or part of a month that a tax return is late. But, if the return is more than 60 days late, there is a minimum penalty, either $210 or 100 percent of the unpaid tax, whichever is less.

 

Special filing deadline rules

 

Special deadlines affect penalty and interest calculations for those who qualify, such as members of the military serving in combat zones, taxpayers living outside the U.S., and those living in declared disaster areas.

 

Taxpayers in a combat zone may be able to further extend the filing deadline and can find details in Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide. For taxpayers living and working outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, or on military duty, the deadline to file is June 17. They also have until June 17 to file Form 4868 for an extension until October 15. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay any tax due.

 

When the president declares a major disaster, the IRS can postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the impacted area. If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS, and they filed or paid by the deadline stated in the IRS news release of postponement of the deadlines for filing and/or paying, they should call the telephone number on the notice to see if IRS can abate the penalty due to the disaster.

 

Penalty relief may be available

 

Taxpayers who have filed and paid on time and have not been assessed any penalties for the past three years often qualify to have the penalty abated. See the First-Time Penalty Abatement page on IRS.gov. A taxpayer who does not qualify for the first-time penalty relief may still qualify for penalty relief if their failure to file or pay on time was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Taxpayers should read the penalty notice and follow its instructions to request this relief. For more information, see the Penalty Relief page on IRS.gov.

 

The IRS also expanded the penalty waiver for those whose 2018 tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short of their total tax liability for the year. The penalty will generally be waived for any taxpayer who paid at least 80 percent of their total tax liability during the year through federal income tax withholding, quarterly estimated tax payments or a combination of the two. The usual percentage threshold is 90 percent to avoid a penalty.

 

In addition to penalties, interest will be charged on any tax not paid by the regular April due date. For individual taxpayers it is the federal short-term interest rate plus 3 percentage points, currently 6 percent per year, compounded daily. Interest stops accruing as soon as the tax is paid in full. Interest cannot be abated.

 

Payment options

 

Many taxpayers delay filing because they are unable to pay what they owe. Often, these taxpayers qualify for one of the payment options available from the IRS. Taxpayers can use their online account to view the amount they owe, make payments and apply for an online payment agreement. These include:

  • Installment Agreement — Individuals who owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest can request a payment plan using the IRS’s Online Payment Agreement application. Those who have a balance under $100,000 may also qualify for a short-term agreement. An installment agreement, or payment plan can usually be set up in minutes. Requesters receive immediate notification of approval. Visit Payment Plans, Installment Agreements at IRS.gov for more information.
  • Offer in Compromise — Struggling taxpayers may qualify to settle their tax bill for less than the full amount owed by submitting an offer in compromise. To help determine eligibility, use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool.

 

Check withholding

 

Taxpayers who owe tax for 2018 can avoid having the same problem for 2019 by increasing the amount of tax withheld from their paychecks. For help determining the right amount to withhold, use the Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov

 

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IRS explains CP2000 notices sent to taxpayers when their tax return doesn’t match information from 3rd parties

When a tax return’s information doesn’t match data reported to the Internal Revenue Service by employers, banks and other third parties, the IRS will send a letter to the taxpayer. The letter is called an IRS Notice CP2000, and it gives detailed information about issues the IRS identified and provides steps taxpayers should take to resolve those issues.

 

This isn’t a formal audit notification, but a notice to see if the taxpayer agrees or disagrees with the proposed tax changes. Taxpayers should respond to the CP2000, usually within 30 days from the date printed on the notice. If a timely response can’t be made, taxpayers need to call the toll-free number shown on the notice and request additional time to respond.

 

Taxpayers can also call the number on the notice for additional information or assistance, or visit Understanding Your CP2000 Notice on IRS.gov.

 

The IRS will send another notice if the taxpayer doesn’t respond to the initial one, or if the IRS can’t accept the additional information provided. That follow-up notice is called an IRS Notice CP3219A, Statutory Notice of Deficiency. This notice gives detailed information about why the IRS proposes a tax change and how the agency determined the change. The notice tells taxpayers about their right to challenge the decision in Tax Court. Even if they decide not to go to court, the IRS will continue to work with them during the statutory notice timeframe to help resolve the issue. For more information, check out Understanding your CP3219A Notice on IRS.gov.

 

Watch out for tax scams

Be on the lookout for tax scams, which can occur through email, on the phone or through the mail. If taxpayers are uncertain about the validity of a notice received from the IRS, they can visit Tax Scams – How to Report Them, for more information.

 

YouTube videos help explain notices

Two YouTube videos help taxpayers understand what happens when the IRS proposes changes to a tax return. The videos explain the IRS Notices CP2000 and CP3219A and what to do with them. The videos also refer to additional resources at IRS.gov.

 

The IRS Letter CP2000: Proposed Changes to Your Tax Return video tells taxpayers why they received this notice from the IRS and how to respond if they agree or disagree with the proposed changes.

 

The IRS Letter CP3219A: Statutory Notice of Deficiency video provides information about a proposed increase in tax and how the IRS figured this on the tax return. It also gives information about the taxpayer’s right to challenge the decision.

 

The two videos are available in English, Spanish and American Sign Language on the IRS YouTube page. The IRS YouTube channel offers many more topics of interest to taxpayers, including what to do if they think they may be a victim of identity theft as well as understanding their IRS bill.

 

The IRS also embraces taxpayer rights. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights is available on IRS.gov.

 

More information:

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