The deadline for filing tax returns is fast approaching, and there are many people who will probably miss the deadline. This article discusses some of the more reasonable excuses for not filing on time which the IRS might accept. Whether the IRS will accept the excuse will often depend on the person’s individual circumstances. The IRS might be understanding if the taxpayer is grieving the loss of a family member or recently suffered a health crises or loss of employment. They would probably be less understanding if the person just blew off filing a tax return for no good reason. There is also a first-time penalty abatement waiver, and as a result everyone basically gets one free pass if they forget to file on time. The best thing to do is avoid these issues by filing on time before the deadline.
See Lisa Kiplinger, What late-filing excuses work with the IRS, The Arizona Republic, April 11, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
