Let’s start with a plot twist worthy of a Netflix crime documentary:
The IRS might actually owe you money.
No, you didn’t fall into a parallel universe. No, you’re not hallucinating from breathing too much kiln dust. And no, I’m not trying to lure you into some financial fan fiction. This is real, legit, IRS-regulated cash we’re talking about — and most studio owners, entrepreneurs, and women building business empires on their own terms have no idea this money is sitting there waiting to be claimed.
At pyop accounting, we see this all the time. Incredible studio owners with huge creative energy… matched only by IRS letters draining that energy right back out. But here’s the thing:
Life is too short for low returns on big energy.
And paying penalties you don’t actually owe? Oh absolutely not.
So, grab your coffee, your favorite mug (bonus points if you made it), and maybe the studio’s emotional-support kiln gnome, because we’re about to walk you through how thousands of dollars in IRS penalties can magically boomerang back into your bank account.
Spoiler: last month alone, I helped two clients recover over $8,000 just by using a little-known IRS loophole that almost no one takes advantage of.
Let’s break it down.
There’s a hidden gem called First-Time Penalty Relief, and it’s the IRS’s version of a “my bad” coupon. If you’ve been a good taxpayer for the past three years — filing on time, paying on time, and generally not causing federal chaos — you might qualify to have certain penalties reversed.
Late filing?
Late payment?
Miscellaneous “you forgot something” fees?
Yep. Those.
This alone can be the difference between unnecessary stress and… you know… breathing again.
You literally have to call the IRS and say the magic words:
“I’m requesting first-time penalty abatement.”
If you don’t, they happily keep your money forever — like a jealous dragon guarding gold.
Once you call, they run your situation through their automated system (which I imagine as a robot holding a clipboard saying, “Yeah, looks fine”). Then, if you qualify, those penalties get wiped out. Vanished. Gone.
Boom: $500, $2,500, $8,000… back to you.
Because when you’re trying to build a profitable studio — one that supports your life, your retirement plan, and your freedom — every dollar matters.
You deserve:
And paying penalties you don’t owe?
That’s the opposite of all of that.
If you’re ready to recover your money, sharpen your studio’s financial systems, and stop donating your hard-earned revenue to the IRS “Just Because” Fund…
👉 You’re going to want to keep reading.
Let’s go get your $8,000 back.
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Donna Bordeaux, CPA with PYOPAccounting.com
Creativity and CPAs don’t generally go together. Most people think of CPAs as nerdy accountants who can’t talk with people. Well, it’s time to break that stereotype. Lively, friendly, and knowledgeable can be a part of your relationship with your CPA, as demonstrated by Donna and Chad Bordeaux. They have over 50 years of combined experience as entrepreneurial CPAs. They’ve owned businesses and helped business owners exceed their wildest dreams. They have been able to help businesses earn many times more profit than the average business in the same industry and are passionate about helping industries that help families build great memories.
