Waiver of Penalty

The IRS can waive the penalty for underpayment if either of the following applies.

1. You did not make a payment because of a casualty, disaster, or other unusual circumstance and it would be inequitable to impose the penalty.
2. You retired (after reaching age 62) or became disabled in 1999 or 2000 and both the following requirements are met:
   1. You had a reasonable cause for not making the payment, and
   2. Your underpayment was not due to willful neglect.

How to request a waiver. To request a waiver, you must complete Form 2210 as follows.

1. Check the box on line 1a.
2. Complete line 2 through line 20 (or through line 34 if you use the regular method) without regard to the waiver.
3. Write the amount you want waived in parentheses on the dotted line next to line 21 (line 35 for the regular method).
4. Subtract this amount from the total penalty you figured without regard to the waiver. Enter the result on line 21 (line 35 for the regular method).
5. Attach Form 2210 and a statement to your return explaining the reasons you were unable to meet the estimated tax requirements and the time period for which you are requesting a waiver.
6. If you are requesting a penalty waiver due to a casualty, disaster, or other circumstance, include supporting documentation, such as police and insurance company reports.
7. If you are requesting a penalty waiver due to retirement or disability, attach documentation that shows your retirement date (and your age on that date) or the date you became disabled.

The IRS will review the information you provide and will decide whether or not to grant your request for a waiver.

Farmers and fishermen. To request a waiver, you must complete Form 2210-F as follows.

1. Check the box on line 1a.
2. Complete line 2 through line 18 without regard to the waiver.
3. Write the amount you want waived in parentheses on the dotted line next to line 19.
4. Subtract this amount from the total penalty you figured without regard to the waiver. Enter the result on line 19.
5. Attach Form 2210-F and a statement to your return explaining the reasons you were unable to meet the estimated tax requirements.
6. If you are requesting a penalty waiver due to a casualty, disaster, or other circumstance, include supporting documentation, such as police and insurance company reports.
7. If you are requesting a penalty waiver due to retirement or disability, attach documentation that shows your retirement date (and your age on that date) or the date you became disabled.

The IRS will review the information you provide and will decide whether or not to grant your request for a waiver.

Form 2210 for Ivy Fields (Examples 4.4 and 4.5)

Form 2210 for Ben Brown (Example 4.6); Form 2210, page 2 (Example 4.6 continued and Example 4.8)

Form 2210, page 3 (Example 4.7)

Form 2210, page 2 (Examples 4.7 and 4.9)

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