Late 5500

[goldtpa]

Anyone else seen a bunch of penalty letters for late 5500s with a 12/2/13 date? Got three last week. All were filed on time with extensions.

[Hojo]

I've had two.

[Guest kpension]

Back in September, I received two notices one for each of my own plans that I filed timely the last week of July 2013. This also occurred on my 2011 filings. I provided the proof of mailing, which took care of the issue, I also had to respond on behalf of a couple of clients this year and was just advised yesterday by a client that filed by October 15, 2013 that they just received a notice dated 12/20/2013. It seems that the IRS does not check the postmarks and send out notices hoping to collect on filers that cannot produce evidence. It is likely that they collect enough to cover the cost of the mailings. However, it obviously unfair that timely filers have to constantly provide proof just because they file near the due date.

[Guest MrsJones]

We've also received the penalty notice on several Plans. They were all filed on extension. The clients have provided us with a copy of the Form 5558 receipt confirmation.

[GMK]

We who read these boards know that this is a widespread problem that could be avoided, because so many people post about it here.

But the IRS doesn't have to deal with what's posted here. Perhaps it's time to write instead to the IRS, the President, the congressional oversight committees, your senators, and your congressperson. If they get too much mail about this, they may be motivated to fix it. OK, maybe not, but it could improve the odds. Merry Christmas.