Got an IRS letter? Decode it here.
Quick answer: almost every IRS letter is routine when handled inside its deadline. Find your notice number in the top right corner of the letter, match it below, and see exactly what it means and what to do. Or skip all of it and upload the letter to our office.
CP2000
The IRS thinks income on file does not match your return and is proposing a change. It is a proposal, not a bill.
Decode itCP503
A second reminder. The IRS has received no payment or response and the chain is escalating.
Decode itCP504
Notice of intent to levy. The IRS can now take your state tax refund and is signaling it will pursue other property.
Decode itCP12
The IRS corrected a math or processing error on your return and your refund changed. Often this is money in your favor.
Decode itCP49
The IRS took some or all of your refund and applied it to a tax debt from another year.
Decode itLetter 5071C
The IRS suspects someone may have filed using your identity and wants you to verify before processing your return.
Decode itLetter 4883C
Like the 5071C, an identity check, but this one requires a phone call rather than online verification.
Decode itLT11 / Letter 1058
The final notice of intent to levy. Wages, bank accounts, and property can be seized after the deadline.
Decode itWant it handled for you?
Take a photo of the letter, every page, and send it through our secure portal. Someone from our office reads it, explains it in plain English, and manages the response. Most letters are resolved without you ever waiting on hold with the IRS.
Upload my letterMy notice is not listed here. What now?
Upload it anyway. The notices above cover the most common letters, but our office reads and handles the rare ones too, year-round.
Why did I get an IRS letter at all?
Usually a mismatch between forms the IRS received and your return, a balance question, or an identity check. The notice number in the corner tells the story, and most are resolved with one correct response.
Will responding myself make it worse?
A correct, on-time response never hurts. The damage comes from ignoring deadlines or paying proposals that are simply wrong. When in doubt, have a professional read it first.