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CP162 notice: what it means and what to do
Got an IRS CP162 notice? Here is what it means, your deadline, what to check before you answer, and how to reply. Check your own letter free: it stays on your phone.
Check my CP162 notice freeWhat the IRS says this notice is about
We charged you a penalty because you didn't file it your return electronically, as required.
In the case of a small partnership that hasn’t designated a tax-matters partner, any partner can call us. Otherwise, only the tax matters partner or someone who the tax matters partner authorizes using Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative PDF .
In the case of a corporation, any corporate officer authorized to bind the corporation with his or her signature or anyone who the corporation’s chief officer authorizes using Form 2848 may call.
What you need to do
- If you agree with the penalties, mail your full payment to us by the date shown on your letter to avoid additional interest charges.
- If you think we incorrectly charged a penalty and you meet any of the criteria below, an authorized officer or partner can call us at 800-829-0922 to discuss the account: We charged a penalty against the partnership for failure to file electronically and it has fewer than 101 partners or it received a waiver of the requirement to file electronically for the year in question. Be prepared to provide a copy of the waiver or evidence of the number of partners in the partnership at any time during the year.
- Note: For the purpose of this penalty a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) is treated as a partnership, and a REMIC return (Form 1066) is treated as a partnership return.
Your deadline
Answer by the date printed on your notice. If there is no date, answer as soon as you can, and call the number on the notice if you need more time.
What to check before you answer
File the missing return, or explain why you did not have to
If you already filed, send a copy and the date you filed. If you were not required to file, say why. Otherwise file now: the IRS may prepare a return for you without your deductions.
Is this letter really from the IRS?
The IRS writes first by mail. A real letter shows a notice or letter number, your name and part of your tax ID number. The IRS does not ask for payment by gift card, crypto or wire transfer. If in doubt, sign in to your IRS online account, where many notices are listed.
You may want to
Take necessary steps to prevent a similar penalty in future years.
Common questions
What information am I required to include in the return?
If it’s listed in the instructions for the return as required information, you must include it.
What if I can’t get the missing information, due to no fault of my own?
If you can’t get the missing information, you can submit a written explanation and ask for a waiver of the penalty for reasonable cause.
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