04/07/2026
Just Announced!
💰 FIRST THINGS FIRST — OVER $1.2 BILLION IS BEING REFUNDED
Did the IRS fine you for paying your taxes late? You might be able to get that money back — for FREE!
Starting with the 2025 tax year, if you got hit with a fine in 2019, 2020, 2021, for:
• Filing your taxes late
• Paying your taxes late
• Missing a payroll tax deposit (business owners)
..that fine could be ERASED automatically. No phone calls. No paperwork. It just goes away on its own! ✅
This is called "First-Time Abatement" (FTA for short).
✅ DO YOU QUALIFY?
You probably do IF:
1. You didn't have any IRS penalties in the last 3 years
2. You filed your tax returns on time (or got an extension) for those same 3 years
🖥️ THE FASTEST WAY TO CHECK IS TO SET UP YOUR FREE IRS ONLINE ACCOUNT OR LOGIN TO YOUR IRS.GOV ACCOUNT.
The fastest way to check if you have any penalties — or money owed back to you — is through your FREE IRS online account. Here's how to set it up. It only takes about 10–15 minutes!
BEFORE YOU START, have these ready:
• Your Social Security Number (SSN)
• A valid email address you can access
• A photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
• Your smartphone or computer with a camera
• Your most recently filed tax return (for reference)
STEP-BY-STEP SETUP:
Step 1: Go to www.IRS.gov/payments/your-online-account
Step 2: Click the button that says "Sign in or Create an Online Account"
Step 3: Click "ID.me Create an Account"
(ID.me is a secure, government-approved identity verification service — it is safe and official)
Step 4: Enter your email address and create a password, then confirm your email by clicking the link ID.me sends you
Step 5: Set up two-step security (they will text or call your phone with a code — just enter it when prompted)
Step 6: Verify your identity by uploading a photo of the front and back of your driver's license or ID, then take a quick video selfie so it can match your face to your ID
(Don't worry — ID.me deletes all selfie and video data after verification)
Step 7: Enter your Social Security Number when asked
Step 8: Review your information, confirm it's correct, and click "Authorize" to allow ID.me to share your verified info with the IRS
Step 9: You're in! 🎉 You now have full access to your IRS account.
ONCE YOU'RE LOGGED IN, YOU CAN:
✔️ See if you have any penalties on your record
✔️ Check your tax balance for each year
✔️ View your payment history
✔️ See IRS notices sent to you
✔️ Check your refund status
✔️ Make payments or set up a payment plan
💡 TIP: If you filed jointly with a spouse, the account should be created by the person listed FIRST on your tax return.
💡 TIP: If you don't want to do the video selfie, you can request a video call with a live ID.me agent instead.
📋 WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU LOG IN
Step 1: Check your account for any penalties — especially from 2019–2021.
Step 2: If you see a COVID-era penalty, contact the IRS before July 10, 2026 to request your refund.
Step 3: If you have a recent penalty (2025 or later), make sure First-Time Abatement was applied. If not, call the IRS and ask for it!
Step 4: Already paid a penalty? Mail Form 843 (Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement) and ask for "First-Time Abatement" relief.
Bottom line: You may have money coming back to you — but you have to check! Please share this with friends and family who might need to know.
