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Level 1
posted Sep 17, 2025 9:36:25 AM

Penalty

Hello, I filed taxes this year and was garnished for a penalty. However, I was sent another letter stating I have another penalty for the same year for a different amount of $5,000. How can they penalize me twice? 

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1 Replies
Employee Tax Expert
Sep 17, 2025 10:11:04 AM

Yes, the IRS can and often does assess multiple penalties for the same year if different types of mistakes were made. They aren't penalizing you twice for the same error; they are penalizing you for different, separate issues. The IRS has several distinct penalties, and it's common for more than one to apply in a single tax year.

 

  • Failure-to-File Penalty
  • Failure-to-Pay Penalty
  • Accuracy-Related Penalty

So, if you were garnished for one penalty (say, failure to pay), and later received a notice for another (Accuracy-related), it’s not a duplicate—it’s a separate issue.

 

 

  • Review the IRS Notice Carefully

    • Each notice should specify the type of penalty, the amount, and the reason.
    • Look for the CP or LTR number on the top right corner of the letter.

  • Dispute If You Believe it’s an Error

    • You can call the IRS or send a written dispute with supporting documents.
    • If you believe the penalty is a duplicate or incorrect, request a review.

@Jasminc88  Thanks for the question!!