“I’ve been getting aggressive collection notices from the IRS recently. I think can pay the tax due but would like these ridiculous penalties and interest charges waived.  Does the IRS waive penalties? What can I do to get these removed from my account?”

“I’ve been getting aggressive collection notices from the IRS recently. I think can pay the tax due but would like these ridiculous penalties and interest charges waived.  Does the IRS waive penalties? What can I do to get these removed from my account?”

There are several different ways the IRS removes or reduces penalties. One option is called First Time Penalty Abatement (” FTA”). This is generally requested verbally over the phone, but you must have a “clean record” for the previous 3 years prior to the year your...
“I’m currently separated from my spouse, who owns his own business, and we are in the midst of getting a divorce.  I have always filed jointly with my husband and now the IRS is sending me notices stating I owe $87,000.  I have no idea how they are coming up with this amount as my spouse always took care of paying the IRS what was owed.”

“I’m currently separated from my spouse, who owns his own business, and we are in the midst of getting a divorce.  I have always filed jointly with my husband and now the IRS is sending me notices stating I owe $87,000.  I have no idea how they are coming up with this amount as my spouse always took care of paying the IRS what was owed.”

You may be able to avoid this liability entirely under the IRS’s Innocent Spouse Relief rules.  Under federal law if an income tax return is signed by both husband and wife, both spouses are 100% responsible for the taxes owed.  However, the law permits...