Form 8275 & IRC § 6664(c) Instructions: Accuracy-Related Penalty Defense under IRC § 6662 & Reasonable Basis
“An auditor added a 20% accuracy penalty to my audit bill. How do I prove I had a reasonable basis for my tax position and did not act negligently?”
Official Procedural Summary & Rules
Under IRC § 6664(c), accuracy-related penalties must be waived if you acted in good faith and reasonably relied on the professional advice of a qualified tax preparer.
1. The 3-Part Reliance Test
You must prove: (1) adviser was competent; (2) all necessary facts were provided; (3) reliance on advice was reasonable.
⚠️ Administrative Traps & Rejection Triggers
Reliance on a tax preparer who has a financial conflict of interest (e.g. promoter of a tax shelter) will not satisfy the § 6664(c) defense.
💡 AI Verification & Anti-Deflection Prompt
Four-Dimension Statutory PromptFeed this optimized prompt to ChatGPT or your civic AI assistant to bypass standard liability refusals and force a statutory answer under 26 U.S.C. §§ 6662, 6664(c) & Treas. Reg. § 1.6664-4:
Act as a tax controversy counsel challenging a 20% accuracy-related penalty under IRC § 6662. Formulate the statutory defense under IRC § 6664(c) applying the 3-part Neonatology Associates test for reliance on a tax advisor.