Penalty abatement is a technique that tax practitioners can utilize to help their clients reduce penalties and interest they owe to the IRS if the taxpayer can prove “reasonable cause.”
This informative and insightful course will provide you with some insider tips, practical steps and effective strategies to help your client manage IRS tax penalties and interest. Learn about various types of penalties that you may face and the various forms and procedures used for requesting penalty and interest abatement, including First Time and Reasonable Cause abatement. Plus, learn about the procedure to follow when requesting refund of paid penalties.
Per the IRS Education Provider Standards this course must be COMPLETED by 12/31/2029 to receive credits. NOTE: Go to My Professional Profile in your CCH CPELink account settings to ensure your name, and PTIN number; matches your PTIN card
Publication Date: July 2026
Designed For
This program is ideal for CPAs, tax advisors, enrolled agents, compliance officers, and financial professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of IRS penalty structures and relief options. It is also recommended for firm leaders and managers responsible for tax compliance and client representation.
Topics Covered
- Various types of penalties:
- Accuracy related
- Fraud
- Understatement of valuation
- Reporting requirement
- Failure to pay
- Pay or deposit penalties
- Rules on waiver of penalties and interests
- Various forms and procedures for requesting relief
- First Time Abatement: Requirements and procedures
- How an individual taxpayer qualifies for Reasonable Cause abatement
- Procedures for requesting refund of paid penalties
- Available administrative options
Learning Objectives
- Identify situations where penalties can be imposed
- Demonstrate techniques for preventing or reducing any penalty assessments
- Explain when the First Time Abatement can be used
- Develop a working knowledge of the procedure governing the request for refund
Level
Basic
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Allison McLeod
Professor McLeod, LL.M., JD, CPA, is currently a full-time Senior Lecturer at the University of North Texas, where she has taught classes in Corporate Income Taxes, Multi-jurisdictional Taxes, Individual Taxes, Tax Research, Ethics and Financial Accounting. She has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas College of Law.
Prior to Professor McLeod going into academia, she worked for 18 years in industry and in a Big Four accounting firm. Professor McLeod earned a law degree from Baylor School of Law, and an LL.M. degree in Taxation from Southern Methodist School of Law. She has been a licensed CPA since 1993 and has been licensed to practice law since 1992. Professor McLeod has enjoyed teaching live ethics course to CPAs since 2011 and is the owner of
www.cpaethicsonline.com, which offers on-line self-study courses to CPAs. She currently serves on the Professional Ethics Committee of the Texas Society of CPAs.which offers on-line self-study courses to CPAs. She served on the Professional Ethics Committee of the Texas Society of CPAs and the AICPA CPA Exam Committee (REG).