Free template — fill in your facts

Reasonable-Cause Letter Template for Form 5472

A starting template for an IRS penalty-abatement request under IRC §6038A. It does not determine eligibility, choose a response address, or replace the notice-specific instructions and professional review.

Your facts

Select the small-corporation provision only if evidence supports all four prerequisites. First-Time Abate is not offered here as a blanket Form 5472 remedy.

Generated letter

Review carefully. Brackets `[ ]` indicate facts you still need to fill in. This is a starting template — every reasonable-cause request is fact-specific.

Fill in your facts on the left, then click 'Preview letter'.

When you're ready to also file the delinquent Form 5472 itself:

Our guided wizard generates Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 for any prior tax year. Print, sign, attach this letter, mail to Ogden via Certified Mail. If you missed multiple years, see our multi-year catch-up overview.

What this tool does NOT do

  • It does not draft a personalized letter — you fill in the facts.
  • It does not assess whether your facts qualify under any pathway.
  • It does not sign, file, or mail the letter on your behalf.
  • It does not represent you in any IRS correspondence or appeal.
  • It is not legal advice. For complex situations, consult an EA or tax attorney — see /services/penalty-abatement for licensed-pro referrals.