Each year, the IRS sends millions of notices and letters to taxpayers. Here are ten things to know if you receive one of these notices:
- Don’t panic. You often only need to respond to take care of a notice.
- There are many reasons why the IRS may send a letter or notice. It typically is about a specific issue on your federal tax return or tax account. A notice may tell you about changes to your account or ask you for more information. It could also tell you that you must make a payment.
- Each notice has specific instructions about what you need to do.
- You may get a notice that states the IRS has made a change or correction to your tax return. If you do, review the information and compare it with your original return.
- If you agree with the notice, you usually don’t need to reply unless it gives you other instructions or you need to make a payment.
- If you do not agree with the notice, it’s important for you to respond. You should write a letter to explain why you disagree. Include any information and documents you want the IRS to consider. Mail your reply with the bottom tear-off portion of the notice. Send it to the address shown in the upper left-hand corner of the notice. Send your reply by registered mail and allow at least 30 days for a response from the IRS.
- You should not have to call or visit an IRS office for most notices. If you do have questions, call the phone number in the upper right-hand corner of the notice. Have a copy of your tax return and the notice with you when you call. This will help the IRS answer your questions.
- Keep with your other tax records a copy of any notice you receive and any reply you submit to the notice.
- The IRS sends letters and notices by mail and does not contact people by email or social media to ask for personal or financial information.
- If you receive a suspicious e-mail that claims to come from the IRS, you can relay that e-mail to a new IRS mailbox, phishing@irs.gov by following these Instructions for submitting phishing e-mails to IRS .The IRS will not acknowledge receipt or respond to you; however, it will be able to trace the hosting Web site and alert authorities to help shut down the fraudulent sites.
Additional resources about IRS notices from the IRS:
- Responding to a Notice
- Tax Topic 651 – Notices – What to Do
- Tax Topic 652 – Notice of Underreported Income
- Tax Topic 653 – IRS Notices and Bills, Penalties and Interest Charges
- Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process
DISCLAIMER: This information is extracted with permission from IRS regulations and publications. It is general in nature and we are not responsible for the application of this general information to the specific circumstances of a reader unless we have been engaged as the reader’s tax return preparer or consultant.
If you need help to deal with an IRS notice about your tax return you may make an appointment with one of our Directors of Audit and Tax Services by reference to the CONTACTS page above. Standard rates and terms for service will apply. New clients may be required to pay a retainer.
Roy and Associates, PC 