§ 31.109 - Penalty for failure to file return or to pay tax.  


Latest version.
  • (a) Failure to file return. Except during the suspension period described in § 31.21(b), any person required by this part to file a return on Form 5630.5 who fails to file the return on or before the last date prescribed in § 31.104 shall pay, as an addition to the tax, a delinquency penalty, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. The delinquency penalty for failure to file the return on or before the last date prescribed shall be 5 percent of the amount required to be shown as tax on the return if the failure is for not more than one month; with an additional 5 percent for each additional month or fraction thereof during which such delinquency continues, but not more than 25 percent in the aggregate. During the suspension period, a failure to file a return may result in a penalty under 26 U.S.C. 5603(b).

    (b) Failure to pay tax. Any person who files a return on Form 5630.5 under the provisions of this part and who fails to pay the amount shown as tax on the return on or before the date prescribed in § 31.104 for payment of such tax, shall pay, as an addition to the tax, a penalty, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. The penalty for failure to pay the tax on or before the date prescribed for payment shall be 0.5 percent of the amount shown as tax on the return if the failure is not more than one month; with an additional 0.5 percent for each additional month or fraction thereof during which the failure continues, but not exceeding 25 percent in the aggregate.

    (c) Limitations. With respect to any return on Form 5630.5, the amount of the addition under paragraph (a) of this section shall be reduced by the amount of the addition under paragraph (b) of this section for any month to which an addition to tax applies under both paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. If the amount of tax required to be shown as tax on the return is less than the amount shown as tax on such return, the penalties prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall be applied by substituting such lower amount.