Tax preparer filed extension without my authorization - can they do that if I owe?

Thanks for that explanation. So even if they had told me earlier, I still would have been on the hook for the interest since I couldn't pay the full amount by the deadline anyway? Is there any circumstances where I could get that interest/penalty waived?

You're right that you would still owe interest on any unpaid tax regardless of when you were notified about the extension. Interest on unpaid taxes is essentially unavoidable - the IRS views it as compensation for the "loan" you're getting by paying late. For the failure-to-pay penalty portion (separate from interest), you might qualify for abatement under the IRS First Time Penalty Abatement policy if you have a clean compliance history for the previous three years. You'd need to call the IRS directly or have your preparer request this for you. It doesn't apply to interest, but could reduce some of the penalty amount.

How does this actually work? Do I just upload my tax documents and it tells me if there are mistakes? I'm pretty suspicious of these kinds of services since they usually just try to sell you something else.

Does it actually review the work your preparer did? My guy charges me almost $500 for a return and I've always wondered if he's doing everything right. Can this thing catch if he's missing stuff or making errors?

You upload your tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and any tax return drafts, and it uses AI to analyze everything. It looks for inconsistencies, missed deductions, and errors, then explains issues in simple language. Nothing to be suspicious about - it's just a document review tool. It absolutely reviews your preparer's work - that's exactly what it's designed for. It can identify missed deductions, incorrect calculations, and even suggest tax strategies your preparer might have overlooked. Many users find it pays for itself by catching errors their expensive preparers missed. It's like having a second opinion on your taxes.

How does this actually work? I've called the IRS like 20 times this month and can never get through. Do they just keep calling for you or something?

I call BS on this. There's no way anyone is getting through to the IRS in 15 minutes when their own reports say hold times are 3+ hours on average. Sounds like a scam to me.

They use a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When an agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. They're basically waiting on hold so you don't have to. It's definitely not a scam - I was skeptical too until I tried it. The system works by constantly redialing and navigating the IRS menu system, which is why it succeeds when individual callers fail. The IRS's own reports reflect the average for people trying to call directly, but this service has figured out how to optimize the process. I was connected in 17 minutes, but I've heard others got through even faster.

Thanks for mentioning this. I had no idea there was a payment section on the extension form. I'll definitely check that. If they didn't complete that part correctly, does that strengthen my case for getting the penalties reduced?

It definitely strengthens your case for penalty abatement. If your preparer filed the extension but didn't indicate your payment intentions or estimated tax due, you can argue this was preparer error. This falls under "reasonable cause" for penalty abatement. The IRS understands that you relied on a professional who didn't fulfill their obligations properly. Make sure to get a copy of the actual Form 4868 they filed - you're entitled to this. If the payment section is blank or incorrect, include that in your penalty abatement request along with a timeline showing their late communication with you.

This is good advice. I'm a tax office manager and we have explicit policies about client communication before extensions. The fact they didn't contact you until 4 days before deadline AND only after you reached out is completely unprofessional. Most firms have written policies about this - ask to see theirs!

This is really helpful insight, thank you! I never thought to ask for a copy of the actual Form 4868 they filed. That's a great point about checking whether they estimated my payment correctly or just left it blank. I've been keeping notes of all our interactions since this started, but I wish I had documented things better from the beginning. The timeline really does show how poor their communication was - no contact for months until I reached out, then suddenly they need more info just days before the deadline. Do you happen to know what the process looks like for requesting penalty abatement based on reasonable cause? Is this something I can do myself or do I need to go through the preparer who caused the issue in the first place?

You can absolutely request penalty abatement yourself - you don't need to go through your preparer, and honestly I'd recommend handling it directly since they're part of the problem here. For reasonable cause penalty abatement, you'll want to write a letter to the IRS explaining the circumstances. Include your timeline showing the preparer's lack of communication, when you first contacted them versus when they finally responded, and how their delayed response contributed to the filing extension. Attach copies of your email correspondence as evidence. You can either mail this letter to the address on your tax notice, or if you get connected to an IRS agent through phone (which others have mentioned services for), you can request it during that call. The agent can often process simple penalty abatement requests immediately. The key is showing that you exercised ordinary business care but were prevented from meeting your obligations due to circumstances beyond your reasonable control - in this case, your preparer's poor communication and late notification about needing additional information.

You can absolutely file for penalty abatement yourself - you don't need to go through your preparer at all. In fact, given their poor communication, I'd recommend handling this directly with the IRS. You'll want to use Form 843 (Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement) and include a detailed letter explaining the reasonable cause. Focus on the timeline: your preparer's failure to communicate for months, their last-minute request for information, and how this prevented you from making informed decisions about payment arrangements. The IRS considers "reliance on professional advice" as potential reasonable cause, but the key is showing that the professional failed in their duties. Your documentation of the communication breakdown will be crucial here. Include copies of emails, dates of calls, and the timeline showing they only contacted you after you reached out first. You can also call the IRS directly to discuss penalty abatement over the phone - sometimes they can process simple requests immediately. If you need help getting through to them quickly, some people in this thread mentioned services that help with IRS wait times.

You can absolutely request penalty abatement yourself - you don't need to go through your preparer. In fact, given the circumstances, you might want to handle this directly with the IRS. For reasonable cause penalty abatement, you'll need to write a letter to the IRS explaining the situation. Include: 1) Timeline showing your preparer's lack of communication, 2) Copy of the Form 4868 if it shows errors or omissions, 3) Documentation of when you first contacted them vs. when they responded, 4) Any evidence that you relied on their professional advice in good faith. You can mail this to the address on your tax notice, or if you use a service like Claimyr that others mentioned, you could discuss it directly with an IRS agent over the phone. The key is showing that the penalty resulted from circumstances beyond your reasonable control - which poor communication from a tax professional definitely qualifies as. Just remember this only applies to penalties, not interest. Interest will continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full, but getting the penalties removed can still save you a significant amount.

You can absolutely request penalty abatement yourself - you don't need to go through your preparer at all. In fact, given their communication issues, you might be better off handling this directly. For reasonable cause penalty abatement, you'll need to write a letter to the IRS explaining the circumstances. Include your timeline showing the preparer's late communication, copies of emails/messages between you, and emphasize that you relied on their professional expertise in good faith. If the Form 4868 shows they didn't properly estimate your payment, definitely include that too. You can send this letter to the address on your tax notice, or if you use one of those services mentioned earlier to get through to an IRS agent, they can often process the request during your call. The key is showing that the delay wasn't due to your negligence but rather your reasonable reliance on a tax professional who failed to communicate properly.

You can absolutely request penalty abatement yourself - you don't need to go through your preparer, and honestly I'd recommend handling it directly given their poor communication track record. For reasonable cause penalty abatement, you'll want to call the IRS or write a letter explaining the circumstances. Include your timeline of events showing the preparer's lack of communication, copies of emails/texts if you have them, and emphasize that you relied on a professional who failed to meet their obligations. If the Form 4868 shows they didn't properly estimate your payment, include that as evidence too. The IRS Form 843 is specifically for requesting abatement of penalties, or you can call the number on your penalty notice. Be prepared to explain exactly how the preparer's actions (or lack thereof) led to the late payment. The key is showing you acted reasonably based on what your professional advisor told you - or in this case, didn't tell you. Given that this preparer also missed claiming one of your kids as a dependent, you might want to consider finding someone new for next year. That's a pretty basic error that could have cost you significant money.