Blanche Creek (111 Elm Avenue, Plymouth, IN 46563) has engaged your firm because she has been charged with failure to file her 2017 Federal Form 1040. Blanche maintains that the “reasonable cause” exception should apply. During the entire tax filing season in 2018, she was under a great deal of stress at work and in her personal life. As a result, Blanche developed a sleep disorder, which was treated through a combination of pills and counseling.
Your firm ultimately prepared the 2017 tax return for Blanche, but it was filed far beyond the due date. Blanche is willing to pay the delinquent tax and related interest. However, she believes that the failure to pay penalty is unfair, because she was ill. Consequently, she could not be expected to keep to the usual deadlines for filing. Write a letter to Blanche concerning these matters.