{"id":1135,"date":"2025-08-05T13:42:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/?p=1135"},"modified":"2026-03-26T20:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T20:41:31","slug":"avoid-irs-penalties-therapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why IRS Penalties Matter for Therapists<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>IRS penalties can drain your finances and your focus. They&#8217;re an extra bill, and they steal time and energy you could spend on client sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many mental health professionals, a penalty starts small but snowballs with interest and unpaid assessments. Avoiding them keeps your therapy practice stress\u2011free and lets you focus on your work instead of tax headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common IRS Penalties for Private Practice Therapists<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Therapists in private practice most often encounter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Late filing penalties \u2013 missing your income tax return deadline during tax season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Late payment penalties \u2013 filing but not paying the full amount owed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Underpayment penalties \u2013 skipping or shortchanging quarterly taxes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Incorrect reporting penalties \u2013 mistakes on forms like Schedule C or Form 1099\u2011K.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With solid tax planning and accurate record\u2011keeping, most of these can be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding Your Tax Obligations as a Self\u2011Employed Therapist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a self\u2011employed therapist, you\u2019re responsible for income tax on all earnings and for self\u2011employment taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most private practice therapists file Schedule C with Form 1040 and send quarterly payments using Form 1040\u2011ES through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you operate from a home office, <a href=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/telehealth-private-practice\/\">use telehealth software<\/a>, or bill through online platforms, you\u2019ll have additional deductions and record\u2011keeping needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choosing the Right Business Structure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your business structure affects how you pay taxes and which forms you file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A sole proprietorship is straightforward but offers no liability protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An S Corporation can help reduce self\u2011employment tax liability by splitting earnings into salary and distributions, but it requires filing Form 1120\u2011S and often Form 2553.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C Corporations file Form 1120 and pay corporate tax rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) allow flexibility in taxation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For some private practice therapists, a pass\u2011through business structure also makes them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/taxes\/qualified-business-income-deduction\">eligible for the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction<\/a>, sometimes referred to as the Qualified Business Income Deduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Setting Up Smart Tax Planning Habits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Staying organized all year is the best way to avoid mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accounting software can manage your general ledger and financial statements. Practice management software helps keep billing and scheduling for client sessions on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A mileage tracking app makes travel deductions simple, and reviewing financial reports regularly ensures you\u2019re prepared for quarterly taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Staying Ahead of Quarterly Taxes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most common causes of penalties is underpaying estimated taxes. Avoid this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Using Form 1040\u2011ES to calculate your quarterly payments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paying through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Checking your resident state\u2019s rules for additional requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setting reminders ahead of each due date<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Quarterly taxes apply whether you operate as a sole proprietor, S Corporation, or C Corporation, so don\u2019t overlook them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tracking Business Expenses the Right Way<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Therapists have a range of deductible business expenses, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teletherapy equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home office improvements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Telehealth software subscriptions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Professional liability insurance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office rent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Membership fees for professional groups like the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/\"> American Psychological Association<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialworkers.org\/\">National Association of Social Workers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even continuing education in areas like Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or the Gottman Method Couples Therapy can be deductible if it\u2019s directly related to your practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Maximizing Deductions for Your Therapy Practice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The home office deduction is one of the most valuable for therapists working from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also qualify to deduct <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/mortgage-rates-plunge-to-10-month-low-opening-window-of-opportunity-for-house-hunters-a245bcaf\">mortgage interest<\/a>, rent for your office, mileage for client visits, and training costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping detailed receipts for <a href=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/tax-deductions-therapists\/\">these tax deductions helps<\/a> if you ever need to back up your claims during an audit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Handling Self\u2011Employment Taxes and Social Security Contributions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Self\u2011employment taxes can be substantial if you\u2019re not prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For pass\u2011through businesses, these taxes are calculated on net income. An S Corporation can sometimes reduce the amount owed, but you must pay yourself a reasonable salary and follow payroll requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/oact\/cola\/cbb.html\">Social Security contributions<\/a> also impact your future benefits, making accuracy important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Staying Updated on Tax Law Changes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tax laws change frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act altered how many deductions work, while the Inflation Reduction Act brought updates to the QBI deduction and other rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Staying aware of tax law changes or working with a tax professional who does helps you avoid costly errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Special Considerations for Therapists with Student Debt or Grants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve received Pell Grants or other educational funding, the way you use the funds matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Portions used for non\u2011qualified expenses may be taxable, and failing to report them correctly could lead to underpayment penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially important for newer therapists balancing education costs with building a private practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dealing with IRS Notices and Unpaid Assessments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you receive an IRS notice, address it promptly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read it carefully, respond within the timeframe, and contact the IRS if you need clarification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If paying in full isn\u2019t possible, you can request a payment plan using Form 9465. Handling unpaid assessments early prevents them from growing with added interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Knowing Your Penalty Abatement Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Therapists may qualify for a penalty abatement request if they meet certain conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First\u2011time abatement \u2013 available if you\u2019ve been compliant for the past three years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reasonable cause abatement \u2013 applies if circumstances beyond your control, like illness or natural disasters, caused the penalty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review by an appeals officer \u2013 for complex situations that don\u2019t fit standard relief rules.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueprint.ai\/blog\/a-therapists-cheat-sheet-to-writing-therapy-notes-examples-templates-and-best-practices\">Clear documentation<\/a> makes approval more likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Life Events and Disasters Can Work in Your Favor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Major life events can sometimes justify penalty relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Family emergencies, serious illness, or natural disasters affecting your area may qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Detailed documentation strengthens your case for relief and increases your chances of approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Staying Penalty\u2011Free with Year\u2011Round Discipline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoiding IRS penalties is less about scrambling at <a href=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/how-to-stay-organized-for-tax-season-as-a-therapist\/\">tax season<\/a> and more about consistent discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviewing financial reports quarterly, keeping accounting software updated, and tracking deductible expenses throughout the year makes April far less stressful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning for quarterly taxes ensures you\u2019re never caught short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a mental health professional, you\u2019d rather focus on helping clients than on IRS letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you select the right business structure and stay informed about tax law changes while documenting every deduction and making timely payments, you can keep your therapy practice penalty\u2011free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re already dealing with IRS penalties \u2014 or want to make sure you never get one \u2014 you don\u2019t have to handle it alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leichtercpa.com\/irs-problem-resolution.htm\">Learn more about IRS problem resolution and how to protect your practice here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leichtercpa.com\/consult-form.htm\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/46394011\/interactive-180500043653.png\" alt=\"2026 CTA\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why IRS Penalties Matter for Therapists IRS penalties can drain your finances and your focus. They&#8217;re an extra bill, and they steal time and energy you could spend on client sessions. For many mental health professionals, a penalty starts small but snowballs with interest and unpaid assessments. Avoiding them keeps your therapy practice stress\u2011free and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tax-strategies"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist - Leichter Accounting Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist - Leichter Accounting Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why IRS Penalties Matter for Therapists IRS penalties can drain your finances and your focus. They&#8217;re an extra bill, and they steal time and energy you could spend on client sessions. For many mental health professionals, a penalty starts small but snowballs with interest and unpaid assessments. Avoiding them keeps your therapy practice stress\u2011free and [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Leichter Accounting Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/leichteraccounting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-05T13:42:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-26T20:41:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1919\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Leichter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Leichter\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"David Leichter\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2b7847adf8f9208b03c36ed207fb9f2e\"},\"headline\":\"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-05T13:42:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-26T20:41:31+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\"},\"wordCount\":1083,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1024x576.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Tax Strategies\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\",\"name\":\"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist - Leichter Accounting Services\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1024x576.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-05T13:42:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-26T20:41:31+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg\",\"width\":1919,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Leichter Accounting Services\",\"description\":\"CPA Firm for Mental Health Professionals\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Leichter Accounting Services\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LAS-Logo5-1-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LAS-Logo5-1-1.png\",\"width\":360,\"height\":130,\"caption\":\"Leichter Accounting Services\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/leichteraccounting\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/leichter-accounting-services\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2b7847adf8f9208b03c36ed207fb9f2e\",\"name\":\"David Leichter\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7f9325e559c929c3556157aed0f346b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7f9325e559c929c3556157aed0f346b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"David Leichter\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.leichtercpa.com\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/author\/davidleichter\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist - Leichter Accounting Services","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist - Leichter Accounting Services","og_description":"Why IRS Penalties Matter for Therapists IRS penalties can drain your finances and your focus. They&#8217;re an extra bill, and they steal time and energy you could spend on client sessions. For many mental health professionals, a penalty starts small but snowballs with interest and unpaid assessments. Avoiding them keeps your therapy practice stress\u2011free and [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/","og_site_name":"Leichter Accounting Services","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/leichteraccounting\/","article_published_time":"2025-08-05T13:42:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-26T20:41:31+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1919,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"David Leichter","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"David Leichter","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/"},"author":{"name":"David Leichter","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2b7847adf8f9208b03c36ed207fb9f2e"},"headline":"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist","datePublished":"2025-08-05T13:42:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-26T20:41:31+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/"},"wordCount":1083,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1024x576.jpg","articleSection":["Tax Strategies"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/","url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/","name":"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist - Leichter Accounting Services","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist-1024x576.jpg","datePublished":"2025-08-05T13:42:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-26T20:41:31+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-Avoid-IRS-Penalties-as-a-Therapist.jpg","width":1919,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/avoid-irs-penalties-therapist\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Avoid IRS Penalties as a Therapist"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/","name":"Leichter Accounting Services","description":"CPA Firm for Mental Health Professionals","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Leichter Accounting Services","url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LAS-Logo5-1-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LAS-Logo5-1-1.png","width":360,"height":130,"caption":"Leichter Accounting Services"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/leichteraccounting\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/leichter-accounting-services"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2b7847adf8f9208b03c36ed207fb9f2e","name":"David Leichter","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7f9325e559c929c3556157aed0f346b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7f9325e559c929c3556157aed0f346b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"David Leichter"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.leichtercpa.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/author\/davidleichter\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1135"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1313,"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135\/revisions\/1313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leichtercpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}