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Tax controversy
FTA · reasonable cause · statutory

IRS Penalty Abatement. Remove the penalties, keep the tax.

IRS penalties (late filing, late payment, accuracy-related, failure to deposit) can equal or exceed the underlying tax. Three grounds for abatement: First-Time Abatement (FTA - most reliable, used once per 3-year window), Reasonable Cause (illness, disaster, reliance on professional, unavoidable absence), or Statutory Exception. We file Form 843 or written request, document the basis, and negotiate. Often saves 20-25% of the tax + penalty bill.

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle Conservation Easement, end-to-end.

A conservation easement is a permanent restriction on the use of land, typically donated to a qualified land trust to preserve the land's natural or open-space character.

1

Eligibility review

Land must have conservation value: scenic, ecological, historic, open-space, or recreational. We assess whether your land qualifies. Most rural and undeveloped properties do; urban properties rarely.

2

Land trust selection

Donation must be to a qualified land trust (501(c)(3)). We refer to local and national land trusts (Land Trust Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, regional trusts). They accept the easement and hold the restriction in perpetuity.

3

Engineering + appraisal

Engineering work documents the conservation value. Qualified appraisal determines diminished land value (the deduction amount). IRS scrutinizes appraisals; we use highly credentialed appraisers with conservation easement experience.

4

Legal documentation + closing

Easement document recorded with county recorder. Permanent restriction runs with the land. Donor receives appraisal-supported deduction. Coordination with attorney specializing in conservation easements.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent conservation easement pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Single-year FTA request

$699
First-time abatement

Single-year FTA request. Best for clean compliance history with one missed deadline. High approval rate.

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Complex / business penalty package

$3,499
Trust fund / accuracy

Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) defense, accuracy-related penalty defense, multi-year corporate penalty package. For complex business situations + counsel involvement.

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FAQ

About the Conservation Easement Service.

What is the most common penalty?
Failure to File (5% per month, max 25%): largest single penalty, hits immediately after due date. Combined with Failure to Pay (0.5%/mo): typical late-return situation accumulates 22-47% of tax owed in first year. Penalty Abatement often saves 20-25% of the total bill.
What is FTA and who qualifies?
First-Time Abatement: automatic IRS waiver for taxpayers with clean compliance history (3 prior years without penalties), all required returns filed, current with any installment plans. Used once per 3-year window. Most reliable abatement; we always check first.
Will I get my interest refunded?
No. Interest is not abatable except in extremely narrow circumstances (erroneous IRS advice). Only the penalties are abated. Interest continues accruing on underlying tax until paid.
Can I get a penalty abatement on payroll tax?
Yes - Failure to Deposit penalties on Form 941 are abatable on same grounds (FTA, reasonable cause). For Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP, personal liability), separate appeal procedures apply. We handle both.
How long does penalty abatement take?
FTA: 60-90 days from request to acknowledgment. Reasonable cause: 3-6 months due to documentation review. Appeals (if denied): additional 4-6 months. We track + follow up.
Should I pay first or wait?
Generally pay the tax + then request penalty refund via Form 843. Pre-payment abatement (written request) is also available but does not stop interest accrual on penalty amount. We advise based on cash position + statute considerations.
Why File.Business

Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.

Trust you can verify

SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.

A compliance partner, not a transaction

Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.

Premium experience competitors cannot match

Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

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