TY 2021 ReasonableCauseExplanation
Name:
SOCIETA MUTUO SOCORSO ENRICO CARUSO IN MANVILLE RI
Explanation:
My name is Renee Garrahan and I am the President of the Societa Mutuo Soccorso Enrico Caruso in Manville, RI, hereinafter referred to as Enrico Caruso Society. We are a nonprofit organization (501(c)4) that was created to promote community welfare for charitable, educational and recreational purposes. On April 14, 2023, we received a rejection notification for the 2021 tax period, due to submitting the taxes via mail and not via the mandatory e-file required for the 2021 tax period. On April 10, 2023, we received a penalty notice (CP141L) from the IRS for the sum of $6137.20, for failure to file the 990 EZ form for the December 31, 2020 tax period. I submitted a reasonable cause statement for 2020. The Enrico Caruso Society holds annual elections for officers and I was recently elected as President, effective January 1, 2023. I did not serve on the Directive Council during the 2020 or 2021 tax periods. It was brought to my attention that there were no public records available for the 2020 or 2021 tax filings. In speaking with the previous administration, I was informed that there was a trusted member of the Enrico Caruso Society, who was on the Directive Council, that has accounting experience and filed the 2020 and 2021 taxes. This member also indicated that extensions were filed and said that the IRS lost the returns. He was repeatedly asked for copies of the returns, extensions and supporting documentation, which he did not provide, while continuing to insist they had been filed. After multiple requests, the member in question finally provided the council with the 2020 tax return copy which was then sent to the IRS via certified mail in February, 2023. The council was still under assumption that the IRS had not received the original and we were under extension. At the same time, we also learned that the 2021 tax period was not received by the IRS and demanded a copy from the member in question, which was also sent via certified mail and was not e-filed by the officer who prepared the tax return. The Enrico Caruso Society Council believed this individual had acted in good faith towards the society, and had properly filed both of 2020 and 2021 tax returns with extensions. The council had no reason to doubt him until the letter was received from the IRS. Due to the annual turnover of officers and the continuous deceit of the officer that was trusted to file the 2020 and 2021 tax periods, I respectfully request that you accept this explanation as a reasonable cause and provide the Enrico Caruso Society penalty relief. Disciplinary actions have been taken against the officer and we are currently analyzing our finances to determine if legal action is required. The Enrico Caruso Society is just starting to recover, due to the Covid19 pandemic, and penalties incurred will force us to shut our doors, preventing us from continuing our mission of serving the community. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. Sincerely, Renee Garrahan Enrico Caruso Society, President (401) 651-3009