Skip to main content
Level 7
February 11, 2026
Solved

FORM 2220 FOR 1120

  • February 11, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 4 views

Corporation owes $500 in taxes; underpayment penalty is $20. Seems high. Last year their tax was zero. Is there a way to negate the $20 penalty?

Best answer by sjrcpa

Yes if next year's tax is expected to be >0.

1 reply

abctax55
Level 15
February 11, 2026

Zero tax prior year means you can't rely on that safe harbor.

You 'might' be able to ask for "1st time abatement" (I'm not even sure an underpayment penalty qualifies).

BUT... using that one-time-get-out-of-jail card for just $ 20 isn't wise.  And asking for it would easily eat up $ 20 of time spent.  IMHO anyway.

HumanKind... Be Both
GretaAuthor
Level 7
February 11, 2026

If prior year's zero tax is not a safe harbor, does that mean that a C-corporation must make estimated quarterly taxes even when a small tax ($500) is due at year's end?

sjrcpa
sjrcpaAnswer
Level 15
February 11, 2026

Yes if next year's tax is expected to be >0.

The more I know the more I don’t know.