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Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement for Vessel Registration

IRC §6718(c)

Taxpayers can avoid the $500 monthly penalty for failing to display vessel tax registration by demonstrating the failure was due to reasonable cause.

Eligibility

Applies to vessel operators who failed to display proof of registration under section 4101(a)(3) but can provide a valid justification for the oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement for Vessel Registration?

Applies to vessel operators who failed to display proof of registration under section 4101(a)(3) but can provide a valid justification for the oversight.

How does the Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement for Vessel Registration work?

Taxpayers can avoid the $500 monthly penalty for failing to display vessel tax registration by demonstrating the failure was due to reasonable cause.

What law authorizes the Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement for Vessel Registration?

The Reasonable Cause Penalty Abatement for Vessel Registration is authorized under IRC §6718(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26, United States Code).

Statutory Text — IRC §6718

Source: Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code

§ 6718. Failure to display tax registration on vessels(a) Failure to display registrationEvery operator of a vessel who fails to display proof of registration pursuant to section 4101(a)(3) shall pay a penalty of $500 for each such failure. With respect to any vessel, only one penalty shall be imposed by this section during any calendar month. (b) Multiple violationsIn determining the penalty under subsection (a) on any person, subsection (a) shall be applied by increasing the amount in subsection (a) by the product of such amount and the aggregate number of penalties (if any) imposed with respect to prior months by this section on such person (or a related person or any predecessor of such person or related person). (c) Reasonable cause exceptionNo penalty shall be imposed under this section with respect to any failure if it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause. (Added and amended Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, §§ 861(b)(1), 862(b), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1618, 1619.) Editorial Notes Amendments2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–357, § 862(b), substituted “section 4101(a)(3)” for “section 4101(a)(2)”. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by section 862(b) of Pub. L. 108–357 effective Jan. 1, 2005, see section 862(c) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 4101 of this title. Effective DatePub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 861(c)(2), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1619, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (b) [enacting this section] shall apply to penalties imposed after December 31, 2004.”