Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement

Instructions for Form 843

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

(Rev. December 2010)

Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless
otherwise noted.

General Instructions
Purpose of Form
Use Form 843 to claim a refund or request an abatement of
certain taxes, interest, penalties, and additions to tax.
Do not use Form 843 to request a refund of income tax.
Employers cannot use Form 843 to request a refund of FICA
tax, RRTA tax, or income tax withholding. Also do not use
Form 843 to amend a previously filed income or non-FUTA
employment tax return.
Note. You cannot use Form 843 to request an abatement
of income, estate, or gift taxes. Employers cannot use Form
843 to request abatement of FICA tax, RRTA tax, or income
tax withholding overpayments.
Use Form 843 to claim or request the following.
• A refund of tax, other than a tax for which a different form
must be used.
• An abatement of tax, other than income, estate, or gift tax.
Employers cannot use Form 843 to request an abatement of
FICA tax, RRTA tax, or income tax withholding
overpayments.
• A refund to an employee of excess social security or
railroad retirement (RRTA) tax withheld by any one
employer, but only if your employer will not adjust the
overcollection. See the instructions for line 6.
• A refund to an employee of social security or Medicare
taxes that were withheld in error. If you are a nonresident
alien student, see Pub. 519 for specific instructions.
• A refund of excess tier 2 RRTA tax when you had more
than one railroad employer for the year and your total tier 2
RRTA tax withheld or paid for the year was more than the
tier 2 limit. See the instructions for line 3.
• A refund or abatement of interest, penalties, or additions
to tax caused by certain IRS errors or delays, or certain
erroneous written advice from the IRS.
• A refund or abatement of a penalty or addition to tax due
to reasonable cause or other reason (other than erroneous
written advice provided by the IRS) allowed under the law.
• A refund of the penalty imposed under section 6715 for
misuse of dyed fuel.
• A refund or abatement of tier 1 RRTA tax for an employee
representative.
If you received an IRS notice notifying you of a
change to an item on your tax return, or that you owe
interest, a penalty, or addition to tax, follow the
instructions on the notice. You may not have to file Form
843.
TIP

Do not use Form 843 when you must use a different tax
form.
• Use Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax
Return, to change any amounts reported on Form 1040,
1040A, 1040EZ, 1040EZ-T, 1040NR, or 1040NR-EZ, to
change amounts previously adjusted by the IRS, or to make
certain elections after the prescribed deadline (see
Regulations sections 301.9100-1 through -3).

• Use Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, to claim your

portion of a joint refund used to offset your spouse’s past
due obligations.
• Individuals, estates, and trusts filing within 1 year after the
end of the year in which a claim of right adjustment under
section 1341(b)(1), a net operating loss (NOL), a general
business credit, or net section 1256 contracts loss arose,
can use Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, to
apply for a refund resulting from any overpayment of tax due
to the claim of right adjustment or the carryback of the loss
or unused credit. Individuals also can get a refund by filing
Form 1040X instead of Form 1045. An estate or trust can
file an amended Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for
Estates and Trusts.
• Employers must use the tax form that corresponds to the
tax return previously filed to make an adjustment or claim a
refund or abatement of FICA tax, RRTA tax, or income tax
withholding overpayments.
IF you filed...

CORRECT using...

Form 941 or Form 941-SS

Form 941-X

Form 943

Form 943-X

Form 944 or Form 944-SS

Form 944-X

Form 945

Form 945-X

Form CT-1

Form CT-1 X

Formulario 941-PR

Formulario 941-X (PR)

Formulario 943-PR

Formulario 943-X (PR)

Formulario 944-PR

Formulario 944-X (PR)

Formulario 944(SP)

Formulario 944-X (SP)

If you filed Schedule H (Form 1040) or Anexo H-PR (Formulario
1040-PR), see Pub. 926, Household Employer’s Tax Guide on how to
correct that form.

For more information, see Treasury Decision 9405 at
www.irs.gov/irb/2008-32_irb/ar13.html.
• Use Form 1120X, Amended U.S. Corporation Income Tax
Return, to correct Form 1120 or 1120-A as originally filed, or
as later adjusted by an amended return, a claim for refund,
or an examination, or to make certain elections after the
prescribed deadline (see Regulations sections 301.9100-1
through -3).
• Use Form 720X, Amended Quarterly Federal Excise Tax
Return, to make adjustments to liability reported on Forms
720 you have filed for previous quarters. Do not use Form
720X to make changes to claims made on Schedule C
(Form 720), except for the section 4051(d) tire credit and
section 6426 fuel credits.
• Use Form 730, Monthly Tax Return for Wagers, to claim a
credit or refund of wagering tax.
• Use Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels, to
claim a credit against your income tax for certain nontaxable
uses (or sales) of fuel during the income tax year. Also, use
Form 4136 if you are a producer claiming a credit for alcohol
fuel mixtures or biodiesel mixtures. However, you can use
Form 8849, Claim for Refund of Excise Taxes, to claim a
periodic refund instead of waiting to claim an annual credit
on Form 4136.

Cat. No. 11200I

• Use Form 8849, Claim for Refund of Excise Taxes, to

Line 3

claim a refund of excise taxes other than those resulting
from adjustments to your reported liabilities. See IRS Pub.
510, Excise Taxes, for the appropriate forms to use to claim
excise tax refunds.
• Corporations (other than S corporations) can use Form
1139, Corporation Application for Tentative Refund, to apply
for a quick refund of taxes from an overpayment of tax due
to a claim of right adjustment under section 1341(b)(1), or
the carryback of a net operating loss (NOL), a net capital
loss, or an unused general business credit.

Check the appropriate box to show the type of tax for which
you are claiming a refund or requesting an abatement. If the
claim relates to interest, a penalty, or addition to tax, check
the box to indicate the type of tax to which the claim or
request relates. Do not use Form 843 to claim a refund or
request an abatement of income tax or taxes noted under
Purpose of Form on page 1.
Excess tier 2 RRTA tax. Complete lines 1 and 2. On line
3, check the box for “Employment” tax. Skip lines 4, 5, and
6. In the space for line 7, identify the claim as “Excess tier 2
RRTA” and show your computation of the refund. You must
also attach copies of your Forms W-2 for the year to Form
843. See the worksheet in Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and
Estimated Tax, to help you figure the excess amount.

Separate Form for Each Period
Generally, you must file a separate Form 843 for each tax
period and each type of tax. There are exceptions for certain
claims. See the instructions for line 5.

Line 4

Who Can File

If you are requesting a refund or abatement of an assessed
penalty, enter the applicable Internal Revenue Code (IRC)
section. Generally, you can find the IRC section on the
Notice of Assessment you received from the IRS.

You can file Form 843 or your authorized representative can
file it for you. If your authorized representative files Form
843, the original or copy of Form 2848, Power of Attorney
and Declaration of Representative, must be attached. You
must sign Form 2848 and authorize the representative to act
on your behalf for the purposes of the request. See the
Instructions for Form 2848 for more information.
If you are filing as a legal representative for a decedent
whose return you filed, attach to Form 843 a statement that
you filed the return and you are still acting as the decedent’s
representative. If you did not file the decedent’s return,
attach certified copies of letters testamentary, letters of
administration, or similar evidence to show your authority.
File Form 1310, Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due
a Deceased Taxpayer, with Form 843 if you are the legal
representative of a decedent.

Line 5
Requesting Abatement or Refund of Interest
Due to IRS Error or Delay
The IRS can abate interest if the interest is caused by IRS
errors or delays.
The IRS will abate the interest only if there was an
unreasonable error or delay in performing a managerial or
ministerial act (defined on this page). The taxpayer cannot
have caused any significant aspect of the error or delay. In
addition, the interest can be abated only if it relates to taxes
for which a notice of deficiency is required. This includes
income taxes, generation-skipping transfer taxes, estate and
gift taxes, and certain excise taxes. Interest related to
employment taxes or other excise taxes cannot be abated.
See Pub. 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and
Claims for Refund, for more information.
Managerial act. The term “managerial act” means an
administrative act that occurs during the processing of your
case involving the temporary or permanent loss of records
or the exercise of judgment or discretion relating to
management of personnel. A decision regarding the proper
application of federal tax law is not a managerial act. See
Regulations section 301.6404-2 for more information.
Ministerial act. The term “ministerial act” means a
procedural or mechanical act that does not involve the
exercise of judgment or discretion and that occurs during the
processing of your case after all prerequisites of the act,
such as conferences and review by supervisors, have taken
place. A decision regarding the proper application of federal
tax law is not a ministerial act. See Regulations section
301.6404-2 for more information.

Where To File
If you are filing Form 843 in response to an IRS notice, send
it to the address shown in the notice. Otherwise, file Form
843 with the service center where you would be required to
file a current tax return for the tax to which your claim or
request relates. For more information, see the most recent
instructions for that tax return.

Penalty for Erroneous Claim for
Refund
If you claim an excessive amount of tax refund or credit
relating to income tax (other than a claim relating to the
earned income credit), you may be liable for a penalty of
20% of the amount determined to be excessive. An
excessive amount is the amount of the claim for refund or
credit that is more than the amount of claim allowable for the
tax year. The penalty may be waived if you can show that
you had a reasonable basis for making the claim.

Paid Tax Return Preparer

How To Request an Abatement of Interest

A paid tax return preparer who files Form 843 for you must
sign the form and fill in the identifying information at the
bottom of the form. The tax preparer must give you a copy
of the completed Form 843 for your records. These rules
apply to claims related to income taxes, employment taxes,
estate and gift taxes, and other types of taxes.

Request an abatement of interest by writing “Request for
Abatement of Interest Under Section 6404(e)” at the top of
Form 843.
Complete lines 1 through 3. Check the first box on line
5a. On line 5b, show the dates of any payment of interest or
tax liability for the tax period involved.
On line 7 state:
• The type of tax involved,
• When you were first notified by the IRS in writing about
the deficiency or payment,
• The specific period for which you are requesting
abatement of interest,

Specific Instructions
Social security number. Enter your social security
number (SSN). If you are filing Form 843 relating to a joint
return, enter the SSNs for both you and your spouse.

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• The circumstances of your case, and
• The reasons why you believe that failure to abate the

Check the box labeled “Other” if your claim relates to
Form 944, Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return. Enter
“944” (or “944-SS”) in the space provided. Also check
“Other” if your claim relates to Form CT-2, Employee
Representative’s QUARTERLY Railroad Tax Return and
enter “CT-2” in the space provided.

interest would result in grossly unfair treatment.
Multiple tax years or types of tax. File only one Form 843
if the interest assessment resulted from the IRS’s error or
delay in performing a single managerial or ministerial act
affecting a tax assessment for multiple tax years or types of
tax (for example, where 2 or more tax years were under
examination). Check the applicable box(es) on line 3 and
provide a detailed explanation on line 7.

Refund of excess social security taxes. If you are
claiming a refund of excess social security or RRTA tax
withheld by one employer, you must, if possible, attach a
statement from the employer. The statement should indicate
the following.
• The amount, if any, the employer has reimbursed you for
any excess taxes withheld.
• The amount, if any, of credit or refund claimed by the
employer or authorized by you to be claimed by the
employer.
The employer should include in the statement the fact that it
is made in support of your claim for refund of employee tax
paid by the employer to the IRS.

Requesting Abatement or Refund of a
Penalty or Addition to Tax as a Result of
Written Advice
The IRS can abate or refund any portion of a penalty or
addition to tax caused by erroneous advice furnished to you
in writing by an officer or employee of the IRS acting in his
or her official capacity.
The IRS will abate the penalty or addition to tax only if:
1. You reasonably relied on the written advice,
2. The written advice was in response to a specific
written request for advice made by you (or your
representative who is allowed to practice before the IRS),
and
3. The penalty or addition to tax did not result from your
failure to provide the IRS with adequate or accurate
information.

If you cannot obtain a statement from the employer, you
should attach a statement with the same information to the
best of your knowledge and belief and include in the
statement an explanation of why you could not obtain a
statement from the employer.

Line 7
Explain in detail your reasons for filing this claim and show
your computation for the credit, refund, or abatement. If you
attach an additional sheet(s), include your name and SSN or
employer identification number (EIN) on it. Also attach
appropriate supporting evidence.

How To Request an Abatement or Refund of a
Penalty or an Addition to Tax as a Result of
Written Advice
Request an abatement or refund of a penalty or addition to
tax because of erroneous written advice by writing “Request
for Abatement of Penalty or Addition to Tax Under Section
6404(f)” at the top of Form 843.
Complete lines 1 through 4. Check the second box on
line 5a. On line 5b, enter the date of payment if the penalty
or addition to tax has been paid.
You must attach copies of the following information to
Form 843.
1. Your written request for advice.
2. The erroneous written advice you relied on that was
furnished to you by the IRS.
3. The report, if any, of tax adjustments identifying the
penalty or addition to tax, and the item(s) relating to the
erroneous advice.

Requesting Net Interest Rate of Zero
on Overlapping Tax Underpayments
and Overpayments
If you have paid or are liable for interest on a tax
underpayment and have received or are due interest on a
tax overpayment for the same period of time, you can
request that the IRS compute the interest using the net
interest rate of zero.

How To Request a Net Interest Rate of Zero
You can request a net interest rate of zero by writing on top
of Form 843 “Request for Net Interest Rate of Zero under
Rev. Proc. 2000-26.” You must provide documentation to
substantiate that you are the taxpayer entitled to receive the
interest due on the overpayment.

When to file. An abatement of any penalty or addition to
tax as a result of written advice will be allowed only if:
• You submit the request for abatement within the period
allowed for collection of the penalty or addition to tax, or
• You paid the penalty or addition to tax, within the period
allowed for claiming a credit or refund of such penalty or
addition to tax.

Leave line 1 blank. You can enter a dollar amount on line
2 or leave it blank. Complete line 3 to indicate the type of
tax. More than one box can be checked.
Do not complete lines 4 and 5. Complete line 6 to
indicate the type of return filed. More than one box can be
checked.

Line 6

On line 7, provide all of the following information.
1. The tax periods for which you overpaid and underpaid
your tax liability.
2. When you paid the tax underpayment.
3. When you received your tax refund.
4. The periods that your overpayment and underpayment
overlapped and the overlapping amount.
5. A computation, to the extent possible, of the amount
of interest to be credited, refunded, or abated.
6. If your claim involves more than one tax identification
number, please describe the relationship between each of
the parties listed in the claim during the overlapping
period(s).

Check the appropriate box to show the type of return, if any,
to which your claim or request relates. Check the box
labeled “1040” to indicate other individual income tax returns
(such as Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ).
You can use Form 843 to request a refund or an
abatement of interest, penalties, and additions to tax
CAUTION
that relate to your income tax return. However, you
cannot use Form 843 to request a refund or an abatement of
income tax. If you are an employer, you cannot use it to
request abatement of FICA tax, RRTA tax, or income tax
withholding overpayments.

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or records relating to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents may become material in
the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally,
tax returns and return information are confidential, as
required by section 6103.
The time needed to complete and file this form will vary
depending on individual circumstances. The estimated
average time is:

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We
ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal
Revenue laws of the United States. Sections 6402 and 6404
state the conditions under which you may file a claim for
refund and request for abatement of certain taxes, penalties,
and interest. Form 843 may be used to file your claim.
Section 6109 requires that you disclose your taxpayer
identification number (TIN). Routine uses of this information
include providing it to the Department of Justice for civil and
criminal litigation and to cities, states, U.S. commonwealths
or possessions and territories, and the District of Columbia
for use in administering their tax laws. We may also give this
information to Federal and state agencies to enforce Federal
nontax criminal laws and to combat terrorism. You are not
required to claim a refund or request an abatement;
however, if you choose to do so you are required to provide
the information requested on this form. Failure to provide all
of the requested information may delay or prevent
processing your claim or request; providing false or
fraudulent information may subject you to civil or criminal
penalties.
You are not required to provide the information requested
on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books

Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learning about the law or the form . . . . . . . . .
Preparing the form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying, assembling, and sending the form to
the IRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26 min.
18 min.
28 min.
20 min.

If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these
time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler,
we would be happy to hear from you. You can write to the
Internal Revenue Service, Tax Products Coordinating
Committee, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, 1111 Constitution Ave.
NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224. Do not send the form
to this address. Instead, see Where To File on page 2.

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