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What Is a Tax Underpayment Penalty?

By Adam Levy – Updated Feb 26, 2025 at 3:28PM

Key Points

  • Tax underpayment penalty applies if taxes aren't withheld properly from paychecks or estimated taxes are late.
  • IRS Form 2210 helps taxpayers determine if they owe a penalty, often calculated automatically by most tax software.
  • To avoid penalties, ensure withholdings and estimated taxes meet the required percentages of past or current year's tax liability.

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