We have provided sample letters that you can use to request waivers of several different types of IRS penalties. You may qualify for penalty relief if you tried to comply with tax laws but were unable due to circumstances beyond your control.If you miss your RMD payment, you'll incur a penalty and need to write a letter to the IRS. You may qualify to have certain penalties removed or reduced if you acted with reasonable cause and in good faith. Taxpayers can request relief from penalties. For the failure to file or pay penalty, taxpayers can request that the IRS "abate" the penalties. The IRS can waive penalties if you demonstrate that your failure to comply with tax requirements was due to reasonable cause. Federal tax penalties have always been an IRS priority. But, perhaps more so today than three decades ago. The IRS assesses about 40 million penalties each year and only 1 out of 10 are abated.