How to Handle an IRS Dishonored Payment Penalty Under Code Section 6657
I just got a CP14 notice for my 2023 taxes with two penalties slapped on me: 1. Failure to Pay (code section 6651) 2. Dishonored Check or other form of payment (code section 6657) Here's what's driving me crazy - I filed on time using TurboTax and set up direct debit from my checking account. I've checked my bank statements and I definitely had more than enough money in my account when the payment was supposed to go through! For some reason, the payment never processed, so I went straight to the IRS website and paid everything using the same account (which worked fine that time). I called the IRS and they were actually helpful with removing the Failure to Pay penalty over the phone. But for the Dishonored Check penalty, they said I can't get that removed over the phone and need to send a written letter. I'm confused about how to write this letter and where to send it. Does anyone have experience with this? Should I pay the penalty now and then send the dispute letter, or should I wait to see if they approve my request first? Any help would be super appreciated!
20 comments

Ravi Kapoor
Having dealt with these issues before, I can help walk you through the process. For a dishonored payment penalty under Section 6657, you'll need to submit a penalty abatement request letter with supporting documentation. First, you should definitely include a copy of your bank statement showing sufficient funds were available when the payment was supposed to process. Address your letter to the same IRS address shown on your CP14 notice. In your letter, clearly explain that you had sufficient funds, include your bank statement as proof, and reference that you promptly paid the full amount once you discovered the issue. As for whether to pay the penalty first - I generally recommend paying it to stop additional interest from accruing. The IRS will refund the amount if they approve your abatement request. Make sure you reference your tax year, Social Security number, and the specific notice (CP14) in your letter.
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Freya Nielsen
Thanks for the detailed info! How long does the IRS typically take to process these types of requests? And do you know if there's a specific form I need to use or can I just write a regular letter explaining what happened?
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Ravi Kapoor
The IRS typically takes 30-60 days to process penalty abatement requests, but it can sometimes take longer during busy periods like tax season. You don't need a specific form for this type of request. A regular letter clearly explaining the situation is sufficient. Just make sure to include your identifying information (name, address, SSN, tax year), reference the CP14 notice number, cite the penalty code section (6657), explain that you had sufficient funds, and include your bank statement as evidence. I'd also mention that you've already paid the full tax amount promptly once you discovered the issue.
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Omar Mahmoud
After dealing with a similar situation last year, I found a service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful with my penalty abatement letter. I was also hit with a dishonored payment penalty even though I had funds in my account. I uploaded my CP14 notice and bank statements to taxr.ai and they generated a professional abatement request letter specifically addressing the Section 6657 penalty. What I liked was that they highlighted exactly what parts of my bank statement proved I had sufficient funds. My penalty was removed within about 5 weeks. Much easier than trying to figure out all the legal terminology myself!
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Chloe Harris
Does this service also help with other types of penalties? I got hit with a late filing penalty even though I mailed my return a week before the deadline. Would something like that work with this service too?
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Diego Vargas
I'm always skeptical of these services. How much does it cost? And do they actually have qualified tax professionals reviewing the documents or is it just some automated system spitting out form letters?
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Omar Mahmoud
The service helps with most common IRS penalties - late filing, late payment, estimated tax penalties, and definitely dishonored payment situations like yours. They have templates specifically designed for each penalty type and the documentation needed. They use a combination of technology and tax professionals. The system analyzes your documents first, but then a tax pro reviews everything before generating the letter. It's not just a basic template - mine included specific references to my bank statement dates and transaction details which really helped prove my case. They don't charge unless your penalty is successfully removed, and I found it to be very reasonable for the headache it saved me.
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Chloe Harris
I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it worked amazingly well! I was stressed about writing a formal letter for my dishonored payment penalty under Section 6657, especially since I'm terrible with legal jargon. The process was super easy - I uploaded my CP14 notice and my bank statements showing I had enough funds when the payment was supposed to process. Within a day, they provided a professionally written letter that cited relevant IRS regulations and highlighted the exact evidence from my bank statements. I sent it to the address on my notice, and 4 weeks later got confirmation that my penalty was removed! The letter was much more detailed and convincing than anything I could have written myself. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the same situation.
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NeonNinja
If you're still struggling to get through to the IRS about your Section 6657 penalty, I had a similar situation and discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) after waiting on hold for hours. I was trying to get more information about exactly why my payment was marked as dishonored when I had plenty of funds. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I was experiencing before. They have a cool demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly what happened with my payment (turns out my bank's routing number was recorded incorrectly) and gave me specific instructions for my abatement letter.
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Anastasia Popov
Wait, how does this even work? I thought the IRS phone system was just a nightmare for everyone. How can a third-party service get you through faster? Seems fishy.
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Sean Murphy
Yeah right. There's no way this actually works. I've spent literal DAYS of my life on hold with the IRS and you're telling me some random service can magically get me through? I'll believe it when I see it.
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NeonNinja
It works by using their callback system. Basically, they navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold so you don't have to. When they reach an agent, they call you and connect you directly. It's not some magical trick - they're just doing the waiting for you. The reason it's so effective is they have systems set up to dial multiple lines simultaneously and connect to the first available agent. I was skeptical too but the alternative was sitting on hold for another 2+ hours. When they connected me, I was speaking to a real IRS agent who answered all my questions about the dishonored payment and gave me great advice for my abatement letter.
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Sean Murphy
I need to apologize and correct myself. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation because I'd been trying to reach the IRS for DAYS about my Section 6657 penalty. I was absolutely shocked when they got me through to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes. The agent was able to explain that my dishonored payment happened because of a digit transposition in my account number (completely my fault). She walked me through exactly what to include in my abatement request letter and where to send it. I would have spent another day on hold without this service. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing! Already sent in my letter with the information the agent provided.
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Zara Khan
Don't forget to include IRS Form 843 (Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement) with your letter! I had a similar issue with a dishonored payment penalty and my first attempt was rejected because I didn't include this form. The letter alone isn't always enough for Section 6657 penalties.
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CosmicVoyager
AuthorThanks for mentioning this! I didn't know about Form 843. Is there anything specific I need to fill out on this form? And do I still need to write a separate letter explaining the situation or does the form replace the need for a letter?
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Zara Khan
You'll still need to write the letter explaining your situation in detail, but Form 843 is the official request mechanism. On the form, check box 4a for "Interest caused by IRS errors or delays" and 4b for "Penalty or addition to tax." In section 5, write "Dishonored Payment Penalty under IRC 6657" and briefly explain that your account had sufficient funds. The letter should accompany the form as supporting documentation where you can provide all the details and include copies of your bank statements. Make sure to fill out the taxpayer information section completely and sign/date the form. Without this official form, they often just file your letter without processing it as a formal abatement request.
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Luca Ferrari
Has anyone successfully had this penalty removed? I'm in the same boat with a Section 6657 penalty. My payment was rejected because my bank was doing system maintenance during the exact window when the IRS tried to process it (just my luck). I've already mailed my letter with bank statements 3 weeks ago but haven't heard anything back.
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Nia Davis
I got a Section 6657 penalty removed last year! My letter included bank statements showing sufficient funds and an explanation letter. Took about 8 weeks to get a response, but they removed the penalty completely. Be patient - the IRS is slooooow with correspondence.
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Mateo Martinez
Pro tip: If you decide to pay the penalty while waiting for abatement (which I recommend to stop interest), make sure to clearly mark your payment as "Section 6657 Penalty Payment" so it doesn't get applied to next year's taxes or something else. I learned this the hard way when my penalty payment got misapplied and created another headache.
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Giovanni Rossi
I went through this exact same situation last year and successfully got my Section 6657 penalty removed! Here's what worked for me: 1. **Write a clear, professional letter** explaining that you had sufficient funds when the payment was supposed to process. Include your name, SSN, tax year, and the CP14 notice number. 2. **Attach bank statements** showing your account balance on the date the payment was supposed to be processed. Highlight the relevant dates and amounts. 3. **Include Form 843** as others mentioned - this is crucial for the formal abatement request. 4. **Send everything to the address on your CP14 notice** via certified mail so you have proof of delivery. 5. **Consider paying the penalty now** to stop interest from accruing. If approved, they'll refund it with interest. In my case, it took about 6 weeks to get a response, but they removed the penalty completely. The key is showing you had sufficient funds and that the payment failure wasn't due to your negligence. Since you can prove you had adequate funds and immediately paid when you discovered the issue, you have a strong case. Don't give up - these penalties can definitely be removed with proper documentation!
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