Did you receive a letter or notice from the IRS?

Each year, the Internal Revenue Service sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers for a variety of reasons, but that doesn’t mean you need to worry. Here are eight things you should know about IRS notices — just in case one shows up in your mailbox.

• Don’t panic. Many of these letters and notices can be dealt with simply and painlessly.
•  There are a number of reasons the IRS sends notices to taxpayers. The notice may request payment of taxes, notify you of a change to your account or request additional information. The notice you receive normally covers a very specific issue about your account or tax return.
• Each letter and notice includes specific instructions if you need to take any action in response.
• If you receive a correction notice, you should review the correspondence and compare it with the information on your return.
• Generally, no reply is necessary if you agree with the correction to your account, unless a payment is due.
• If you do not agree with the correction the IRS made, it’s important that you respond as requested. Write to explain why you disagree and include any documents and information you wish the IRS to consider, along with the bottom tear-off portion of the notice. Mail the information to the IRS address shown in the lower left part of the notice. Allow at least 30 days for a response. 
• Usually, you don’t have to call or visit an IRS office to handle this correspondence. However, if you have questions, call the telephone number in the upper right corner of the notice 
• Have a copy of your tax return and the correspondence available when you call.

• It’s important that you keep copies of any IRS correspondence with your records.

For more information about IRS notices and bills, see Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process. Information about penalties and interest is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals). Both publications are available at

IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). 

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure

Pursuant to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, we inform you that, to the extent any advice relating to a Federal tax issue is contained in this communication, including in any attachments, it was not written or intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (a) avoiding any tax related penalties that may be imposed on you or any other person under the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed in this communication