Overview:
Each year, the IRS assesses billions of dollars in penalties, yet millions of taxpayers qualify for relief they never request. This webinar dives into the most common IRS penalties—Failure to File, Failure to Pay, and Accuracy-related—and explores the specific criteria the IRS uses to determine "Reasonable Cause."
Jim Buttonow will guide you through the administrative waivers available, including First-Time Abate (FTA), and provide a strategic framework for drafting successful abatement requests. You will learn how to move beyond simple excuses and build a "facts and circumstances" case that proves your client exercised ordinary business care and prudence.
Areas covered in this Training:
· Identify the most frequently assessed IRS penalties and the specific taxpayer behaviors that trigger them.
· Differentiate between the five primary IRS penalty relief methods and determine the best timing for each.
· Evaluate the "Reasonable Cause" criteria for late-filing, late-payment, and accuracy-related penalties.
· Analyze the "Ordinary Business Care and Prudence" standard as applied by IRS examiners.
· Draft persuasive, compliant penalty abatement requests and navigate the IRS appeals process when a request is denied.
· The IRS Penalty Landscape: A look at current 2026 enforcement trends and "automatic" penalty assessments.
· Reasonable vs. Unreasonable Cause: Real-world examples of what works (e.g., natural disasters, serious illness) versus what doesn't (e.g., reliance on a third party, lack of funds).
· The FTA "Gift": How to utilize First-Time Abate for clients with a clean three-year compliance history.
· Form 843 & Beyond: Mastering the paperwork and the "Practitioner Priority Service" phone line for immediate relief.
· The Penalty Relief Letter: A walkthrough of how to structure a written request to get a "Yes" from the IRS on the first try.
Why attend this training:
IRS penalties can be costly, but many taxpayers qualify for relief they never claim. This webinar will show you how to identify the right penalty relief option, apply the IRS's Reasonable Cause standards, leverage First-Time Abate (FTA), and prepare effective abatement requests that improve your chances of success. Gain practical strategies to secure better outcomes for your clients and confidently navigate the IRS penalty relief process.
Who Should Attend:
This webinar is essential for tax and accounting professionals who want to provide high-value resolution services to their clients:
· CPAs and Enrolled Agents (EAs) managing post-filing notices.
· Tax Attorneys involved in tax controversy and litigation.
· Payroll Professionals dealing with "Failure to Deposit" penalties.
· Tax Staff responsible for responding to IRS CP14, CP161, and CP501 notices.
Jim Buttonow, CPA
NASBA -
CPE Credits = 2.0
“In accordance with the standards of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, CPE credits have been granted based on a 50 minute hour.”
Standeagle is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org.
ACCREDITATIONS
