IRS Court Ruling May Entitle Taxpayers to COVID-Era Refunds
A recent court ruling in the case of Kwong v. United States has opened the possibility for millions of taxpayers to claim refunds or abatements on penalties and interest charged during the COVID-19 federal disaster period. The IRS has not widely publicized this potential refund, as it disagrees with the ruling and anticipates an appeal by the Department of Justice. Taxpayers who were charged interest or penalties between January 20, 2020, and July 11, 2023, may be eligible for a refund. To claim this, taxpayers must file IRS Form 843 by July 10, 2026, specifying the claim is based on the Kwong decision. This ruling affects a wide range of taxpayers, including individuals, businesses, and estates, who may have faced penalties on various tax obligations.