The Internal Revenue Service announced Wednesday that it will wipe out late fees for taxpayers who struggled to file their tax returns on time during the pandemic.
The IRS estimates that nearly 1.6 million taxpayers will receive more than $1.2 billion worth of penalty relief. The tax agency will automatically issue the refunds or credits for most of the fees by the end of September.
"Throughout the pandemic, the IRS has worked hard to support the nation and provide relief to people in many different ways," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement Wednesday.
"The penalty relief issued today is yet another way the agency is supporting people during this unprecedented time. This penalty relief will be automatic for people or businesses who qualify; there's no need to call."
Tax returns for 2019 and 2020, which were due to the IRS in the 2020 and 2021, will be eligible for the relief. Taxpayers must file any late returns by Sept. 30, 2022, to get the late fees forgiven.
Penalties for failing to file a tax return can be as much as 25% of the unpaid levies. The IRS will not forgive penalties for failing to pay or in situations where fraudulent returns were filed, the agency said.
