IRS Notice

Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter

Why was I notified by the IRS?

The IRS sends notices and letters for the following reasons:

  • You have a balance due.
  • You are due a larger or smaller refund.
  • We have a question about your tax return.
  • IRS needs to verify your identity.IRS needs additional information.
  • IRS changed your return.
  • IRS needs to notify you of delays in processing your return.

Next Steps

Read

Each notice or letter contains a lot of valuable information, so it’s very important that you read it carefully. 

If IRS changed your tax return, compare the information we provided in the notice or letter with the information in your original return. 

Respond

If your notice or letter requires a response by a specific date, there are two main reasons you’ll want to comply:

  • to minimize additional interest and penalty charges.
  • to preserve your appeal rights if you don’t agree.

Pay

Pay as much as you can, even if you can’t pay the full amount you owe. 

You can pay online or apply for an Online Payment Agreement or Offer in Compromise. Contact us for more information.

Keep a copy of your notice or letter

It’s important to keep a copy of all notices or letters with your tax records.

You may need these documents at a later date.

Contact IRS

IRS provides their contact phone number on the top right-hand corner of the notice or letter.

Typically, you only need to contact IRS if you don’t agree with the information, if IRS requested additional information, or if you have a balance due.

You can also write to IRS at the address in the notice or letter.

If you write, allow at least 30 days for IRS response.

The location of the notice or letter number

You can find the notice (CP) or letter (LTR) number on either the top or the bottom right-hand corner of your correspondence.