We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
Margaret Wentworth on
Allesandro,
Our club received a similar, very scary letter also. We did not file late and could prove it. Here is what I did.
1. Panicked and emailed Laurie at Bivio.
2. Collected proof from my files that we were not late. I had the green return form showing that it had been received. I had a tracking form showing it had been delivered ahead if the deadline.
3. I called the IRS number listed on the penalty letter and put the charger on my phone while I waited on hold. After several hours, a real person answered, listened to my explanation, and told me that Covid had shut down processing where our forms are sent. He said we would not be charged.
4. Several weeks later I got written confirmation that we were cleared with no penalties.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
ijh ijhill.com on
This happened to us a few years ago - we filed on time but they claim to have received it late. As it was the first time in 20 years they waived the penalty in full. I called and spoke to them direct and would recommend you do the same. That was the one
year we did not have the mail certified by the Post Office
Ivor J Hill
Sirius Investment Club
Pueblo, CO
From: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> on behalf of Alessandro Squeo via bivio.com <user*8340400001@bivio.com> Sent: Friday, July 2, 2021 3:31 PM To: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> Subject: [club_cafe] Form 843 Request for Abatement
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
Alessandro Squeo on
Thank you
Regards,
Alessandro
On Jul 2, 2021, at 4:42 PM, Margaret Wentworth via bivio.com <user*25964300001@bivio.com> wrote:

Allesandro,
Our club received a similar, very scary letter also. We did not file late and could prove it. Here is what I did.
1. Panicked and emailed Laurie at Bivio.
2. Collected proof from my files that we were not late. I had the green return form showing that it had been received. I had a tracking form showing it had been delivered ahead if the deadline.
3. I called the IRS number listed on the penalty letter and put the charger on my phone while I waited on hold. After several hours, a real person answered, listened to my explanation, and told me that Covid had shut down processing where our forms are sent. He said we would not be charged.
4. Several weeks later I got written confirmation that we were cleared with no penalties.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
Alessandro Squeo on
Thank you
Regards,
Alessandro
On Jul 2, 2021, at 4:43 PM, ijh ijhill.com via bivio.com <user*27804200001@bivio.com> wrote:
This happened to us a few years ago - we filed on time but they claim to have received it late. As it was the first time in 20 years they waived the penalty in full. I called and spoke to them direct and would recommend you do the same. That was the one
year we did not have the mail certified by the Post Office
Ivor J Hill
Sirius Investment Club
Pueblo, CO
From: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> on behalf of Alessandro Squeo via bivio.com <user*8340400001@bivio.com> Sent: Friday, July 2, 2021 3:31 PM To: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> Subject: [club_cafe] Form 843 Request for Abatement
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
ira smilovitz on
Alessandro,
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
Margaret Wentworth on
Dear Ira,
In my notes about my conversation with Mr. Chiseck of the IRS about our late penalty, he said the Kansas processing center was hit hard by Covid and had to shut down for two weeks in March. They were therefore extending the deadline. I did not take note of how long since we were not late. This may not help Allesandro.
Incidentally, the first letter I got was the second notice on Dec. 22. The first notice, dated Nov. 16, arrived on January 5, the same day as the letter clearing penalty.
I sympathize and say thank you to Bivio for your advice to send certified return receipt.
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
ijh ijhill.com on
I know of two clubs who did as I did and both were successful
From: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> on behalf of Margaret Wentworth via bivio.com <user*25964300001@bivio.com> Sent: Friday, July 2, 2021 8:48 PM To: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> Subject: Re: [club_cafe] Form 843 Request for Abatement
Dear Ira,
In my notes about my conversation with Mr. Chiseck of the IRS about our late penalty, he said the Kansas processing center was hit hard by Covid and had to shut down for two weeks in March. They were therefore extending the deadline. I did not
take note of how long since we were not late. This may not help Allesandro.
Incidentally, the first letter I got was the second notice on Dec. 22. The first notice, dated Nov. 16, arrived on January 5, the same day as the letter clearing penalty.
I sympathize and say thank you to Bivio for your advice to send certified return receipt.
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was
April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the
request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
ira smilovitz on
You were granted the FTA. It only takes a phone call, as long as your previous returns were timely filed and not adjusted by the IRS.
In my notes about my conversation with Mr. Chiseck of the IRS about our late penalty, he said the Kansas processing center was hit hard by Covid and had to shut down for two weeks in March. They were therefore extending the deadline. I did not
take note of how long since we were not late. This may not help Allesandro.
Incidentally, the first letter I got was the second notice on Dec. 22. The first notice, dated Nov. 16, arrived on January 5, the same day as the letter clearing penalty.
I sympathize and say thank you to Bivio for your advice to send certified return receipt.
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was
April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the
request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
ijh ijhill.com on
Exactly correct
From: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> on behalf of ira smilovitz via bivio.com <user*2883400001@bivio.com> Sent: Friday, July 2, 2021 11:04 PM To: club_cafe@bivio.com <club_cafe@bivio.com> Subject: Re: [club_cafe] Form 843 Request for Abatement
You were granted the FTA. It only takes a phone call, as long as your previous returns were timely filed and not adjusted by the IRS.
In my notes about my conversation with Mr. Chiseck of the IRS about our late penalty, he said the Kansas processing center was hit hard by Covid and had to shut down for two weeks in March. They were therefore extending the deadline. I did not
take note of how long since we were not late. This may not help Allesandro.
Incidentally, the first letter I got was the second notice on Dec. 22. The first notice, dated Nov. 16, arrived on January 5, the same day as the letter clearing penalty.
I sympathize and say thank you to Bivio for your advice to send certified return receipt.
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was
April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the
request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
DrDave on
My club was also hit with that late penalty for tax year 2019. The funny thing was that we did file on time, before March 15th 2020. But the IRS did not log our return for several weeks. Here's how I fixed it.
I had to call the phone number on the penalty letter and say that I know I filed on time, and I have a post office receipt for mailing it. I did not mail it certified, but I did buy postage that day & the receipt showed that I mailed 2 letters one to my state tax board, and one to the IRS hq. They were fine with that as proof. The faded thermal paper postal receipt was difficult to read especially after faxing, but the date & zip codes were legible and that was all that really mattered. I suggest faxing it to yourself & see how it looks. I had to scan my postal receipt, then play with the contrast & brightness to make it readable.
The IRS was extremely difficult to get through their voice mail. I had to call every 15 minutes all day until connecting & being allowed to wait on hold 30-60 minutes for a human. Usually the vm just said they can not handle my call & hung up.
Here's the trick though; you must be prepared to FAX your postal receipt or other proof of file on time while you are on the phone with them. My fax machine was not set up, so I need to call back when that was all ready to go. Which btw took another 2 days of constant calling to get through. I'm told that is just part of the current politics, as the IRS is angling for a budget increase. The IRS rep kindly offered to stay on the line & wait for me to set up my fax machine, even if it was 20-40 minutes. So that might be part of the reason it is so difficult to get through? She said they are so backed up with work that they will not accept fax unless they are on the phone with you at the time.
The IRS person said she was not sure what was going on, but a lot of people were calling in saying they got a late penalty letter but they had filed on time. She also said that even if I had already used my FTA recently, it was ok to ask for it again(!). Since I really did file on time and had proof, I chose not to go that route, but to show that I had filed on time instead. YMMV.
Anyway, the IRS cost me 3 days of calling, punching in my FEIN each time, then telling me they couldn't handle my call before they hung up on me. Annoying. But I won in the end, and recently got a confirmation letter saying they accepted our club return as on time. Yay.
I will be mailing future returns certified mail, but it is clear that any proof of mailing on time was acceptable.
In my notes about my conversation with Mr. Chiseck of the IRS about our late penalty, he said the Kansas processing center was hit hard by Covid and had to shut down for two weeks in March. They were therefore extending the deadline. I did not
take note of how long since we were not late. This may not help Allesandro.
Incidentally, the first letter I got was the second notice on Dec. 22. The first notice, dated Nov. 16, arrived on January 5, the same day as the letter clearing penalty.
I sympathize and say thank you to Bivio for your advice to send certified return receipt.
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was
April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the
request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
Alessandro Squeo on
Thanks Ira
Regards,
Alessandro
On Jul 2, 2021, at 9:32 PM, ira smilovitz via bivio.com <user*2883400001@bivio.com> wrote:
Alessandro,
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?
Regards,
Alessandro
Alessandro Squeo on
Thanks. Very helpful tips
Regards,
Alessandro
On Jul 3, 2021, at 12:54 AM, DrDave via bivio.com <user*34979900001@bivio.com> wrote:
My club was also hit with that late penalty for tax year 2019. The funny thing was that we did file on time, before March 15th 2020. But the IRS did not log our return for several weeks. Here's how I fixed it.
I had to call the phone number on the penalty letter and say that I know I filed on time, and I have a post office receipt for mailing it. I did not mail it certified, but I did buy postage that day & the receipt showed that I mailed 2 letters one to my state tax board, and one to the IRS hq. They were fine with that as proof. The faded thermal paper postal receipt was difficult to read especially after faxing, but the date & zip codes were legible and that was all that really mattered. I suggest faxing it to yourself & see how it looks. I had to scan my postal receipt, then play with the contrast & brightness to make it readable.
The IRS was extremely difficult to get through their voice mail. I had to call every 15 minutes all day until connecting & being allowed to wait on hold 30-60 minutes for a human. Usually the vm just said they can not handle my call & hung up.
Here's the trick though; you must be prepared to FAX your postal receipt or other proof of file on time while you are on the phone with them. My fax machine was not set up, so I need to call back when that was all ready to go. Which btw took another 2 days of constant calling to get through. I'm told that is just part of the current politics, as the IRS is angling for a budget increase. The IRS rep kindly offered to stay on the line & wait for me to set up my fax machine, even if it was 20-40 minutes. So that might be part of the reason it is so difficult to get through? She said they are so backed up with work that they will not accept fax unless they are on the phone with you at the time.
The IRS person said she was not sure what was going on, but a lot of people were calling in saying they got a late penalty letter but they had filed on time. She also said that even if I had already used my FTA recently, it was ok to ask for it again(!). Since I really did file on time and had proof, I chose not to go that route, but to show that I had filed on time instead. YMMV.
Anyway, the IRS cost me 3 days of calling, punching in my FEIN each time, then telling me they couldn't handle my call before they hung up on me. Annoying. But I won in the end, and recently got a confirmation letter saying they accepted our club return as on time. Yay.
I will be mailing future returns certified mail, but it is clear that any proof of mailing on time was acceptable.
In my notes about my conversation with Mr. Chiseck of the IRS about our late penalty, he said the Kansas processing center was hit hard by Covid and had to shut down for two weeks in March. They were therefore extending the deadline. I did not
take note of how long since we were not late. This may not help Allesandro.
Incidentally, the first letter I got was the second notice on Dec. 22. The first notice, dated Nov. 16, arrived on January 5, the same day as the letter clearing penalty.
I sympathize and say thank you to Bivio for your advice to send certified return receipt.
The automatic COVID extension for 2019 returns applied to any return whose original due date was
April 1 through July 15. Partnership returns normally due on March 15 were unaffected by the extension. Your best course of action is to call the IRS help line and request a "First Time Abatement". If your club filed its 2016-2018 returns on time, the
request will be granted automatically. Note that FTA is only available once every three years, assuming the previous three years were problem free.
If you don't qualify for FTA, you will have to submit a formal request citing compelling reasons why the IRS should abate the penalty. This is not easy to achieve.
We just received a letter from the IRS with a $2460 penalty
for filing late for Tax year 2019.
I remember filling in April during the lockdown. And, we
were 1 month late. Usually, we have to file by March 15th. I
think the penalty is steep.
Anyone has dealt with this situation? I thought the filling
extensions applied to all because of the Pandemic.
What would be a good reason to request an abatement?