| Identifier | Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| REASONABLE CAUSE STATEMENT | THE TAXPAYER'S 2020 FORM 990-PF WAS MAILED TO THE IRS ON FEBRUARY 4, 2021, BUT WAS REJECTED BY THE IRS DUE TO THE REQUIREMENT TO FILE THE TAX RETURN ELECTRONICALLY. THE TAXPAYER RECEIVED A NOTICE CP259B (NOTICE"), WHICH STATES THAT PENALTIES WILL BE ASSESSED DUE TO THE TAX RETURN BEING FILED LATE, UNLESS ITS FAILURE TO FILE TIMELY WAS DUE TO REASONABLE CAUSE. THE TAXPAYER IS ASSERTING THAT IT HAS REASONABLE CAUSE.THE TAXPAYER'S PRESIDENT PRIDES HERSELF ON NOT ONLY MEETING HER TAX OBLIGATIONS TIMELY, BUT ALSO MEETING HER TAX OBLIGATIONS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE EACH YEAR. THE 2020 TAX RETURN WAS FULLY PREPARED AND READY TO FILE BY MID-JANUARY 2021. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE IRS DELAYED THE ABILITY TO ELECTRONICALLY FILE 2020 TAX RETURNS. WHEN THE TAXPAYER WAS READY TO FILE ITS TAX RETURN, IT WAS UNCLEAR WHEN THE IRS WOULD BEGIN ACCEPTING ELECTRONICALLY FILED TAX RETURNS. THE TAXPAYER RELIED ON THE ADVICE OF ITS TAX PREPARER, WHO PREPARED THE TAX RETURN FOR PAPER FILING IN LIEU OF THE ABILITY TO ELECTRONICALLY FILE AT THAT TIME. THEY DID SO WITH THE HOPE THAT THE IRS WOULD BE ACCOMMODATING TO ENTITIES SUCH AS THE TAXPAYER WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED NATIONAL EMERGENCY CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE PANDEMIC IN EFFECT AT THE TIME. THE TAXPAYER HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED COMPLIANCE WITH ALL TAX LAWS AND MADE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO COMPLY WITH THE 2020 FILING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. UPON RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE BY THE IRS, THE TAXPAYER IMMEDIATELY RE-FILED THE TAX RETURN ELECTRONICALLY, AS INSTRUCTED. THUS, THE 2020 TAX RETURN BEING CONSIDERED LATE BY THE IRS IS A RESULT OF AN INADVERTENT ERROR, NOT WILLFUL NEGLECT. DUE TO THE REASONS STATED ABOVE, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU WAIVE ALL PENALTIES, AS THE TAXPAYER HAD REASONABLE CAUSE TO FILE ITS TAX RETURN LATE. |