Don't Fear the Tax Man: Handling IRS Letters & Notices
You might receive IRS mail for a variety of reasons–it could be about your tax return, a payment, or a notice of a discrepancy. Make sure you read it carefully and respond if needed. Usually, the notice will include instructions. Unsure what to do? Use this guide to walk you through the process of responding to an IRS letter to ensure you remain in compliance.
Key Takeaways
- If you receive a notice from the IRS, read every part of it to ensure you understand the situation.
- Follow the instructions provided in the notice to take the necessary steps to address the issue.
- Respond to the notice promptly.
- Always retain copies of all correspondence with the IRS. This includes the notices you receive, any responses you send, and proof of mailing.
Don't be alarmed
Regardless of the reason the IRS is contacting you, it's usually not a call for alarm. If action is required on your part, any notice you receive will say so and you'll have ample time to deal with the matter. Generally, most notices can be resolved easily.
Read the notice carefully
Carefully read the notice in order to fully understand why the IRS is contacting you and the importance of the issue.
- Some IRS notices are sent via certified mail, such as the Notice of Intent to Levy, while others are mailed via regular post, like changes made to your tax return.
- Read all IRS letters and notices you receive, both certified and via regular mail. Do not ignore any of them.
- The IRS will not send these notices by email or contact you by phone.
Take the required action
Once you’ve carefully reviewed the letter, you'll know if any action is required on your part. Ignoring it can cause additional steps to be taken by the IRS. For example, a demand for payment notice will progress to a Notice of Intent to Levy, if you ignore it.
You can avoid this by:
- calling the phone number shown on the demand for payment notice
- making a payment or setting up an installment plan with the IRS
- responding within the time frame stated on the notice
If you agree with the notice
You typically don’t need to respond with an explanation if you agree with the notice, though exceptions may apply. For example, if the gross income reported to the IRS by your employer does not match what you put on your return, the agency will send you:
- Notice CP-2000
- a proposal to adjust your income
- credits or deductions
If you agree with the notice, fill out, sign and mail the response form to the IRS. The agency will make the appropriate changes to your tax account.
TurboTax Tip:
The IRS will never contact you via email or phone before sending you a letter. Be wary of any such communications and ensure you're dealing with the official IRS channels.
If you disagree with the notice
Respond exactly as instructed on the notice if you disagree with the IRS assessment. In this case, do not sign the CP-2000 Notice response form. Instead, on a separate document include:
- reason why you disagree
- your phone number
- best time to be reached by the IRS
Sign the statement, attach it to the unsigned response form and mail the documents to the IRS.
Retain copies
Keep copies of all letters and notices that you receive from the IRS as well as documents you send to the agency, in case you need to refer to the information in the future.
Scams to look out for
IRS letters and notices are sent to you by mail through the USPS.
- Do not respond to requests for personal or financial information you may receive via email or social media.
- Don't give out any information to anyone who calls you demanding immediate payment for your tax bill. These callers pretend to work for the IRS and often use fake IRS identification numbers to make you think they are legitimate, when, in reality, they're scammers.
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