Failure to Pay Penalty Relief

Get help reducing or eliminating penalties for unpaid taxes

What is the Failure to Pay Penalty?

The IRS charges a Failure to Pay penalty when you don't pay your tax liability by the due date. This penalty accrues monthly until the full balance is paid and is separate from any interest charges.

Penalty Rate:0.5% per month
Maximum Penalty:25% of unpaid tax
Typical Range:$500 - $5,000+

Key Facts:

  • Penalty is 0.5% per month (or part of month)
  • Reduced to 0.25% if installment agreement in place
  • Maximum penalty is 25% of unpaid tax
  • Penalty stops when balance is paid in full

Common IRS Notices for Failure to Pay

CP14

Balance due notice

Medium

CP161

Additional unpaid balance

Medium

CP501

Reminder for unpaid taxes

Medium

CP503

Urgent unpaid notice

High

CP504

Final notice before levy

Urgent

Your Relief Options

Choose the best path based on your situation

1

Check First Time Abatement Eligibility

Complete penalty removal if you have a clean 3-year history

Success: High Rate
Time: 2-8 weeks
2

Reasonable Cause Relief

Penalty reduction based on circumstances beyond your control

Success: Good Rate
Time: 4-12 weeks

Important: Time is Critical

Failure to Pay penalties continue to accrue monthly until your balance is paid. The sooner you address this, the less you'll owe in total penalties.

If you can pay now:

Contact the IRS immediately to stop penalty accrual

If you can't pay now:

Set up a payment plan to reduce penalty rate to 0.25%

Stop Penalties from Growing

Take action today to minimize your penalty burden and explore relief options.