The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) sends official notices and letters via mail regarding federal tax returns or accounts, typically notifying taxpayers of balances due, changes to tax returns, requests for more information, or identity verification. These letters often require specific, timely actions to resolve issues and minimize penalties.
It may be about a specific issue on your federal tax return or account, or may tell you about changes to your account, ask you for more information, or request a payment. You can handle most of this correspondence without calling or visiting an IRS office if you follow the instructions in the document.
The IRS mails letters or notices to taxpayers for a variety of reasons including:
We may send you a notice or letter if: You have a balance due. Your refund has changed. We have a question about your return.
An IRS audit letter typically contains the taxpayer's name, tax ID number, contact information, and a request for additional documentation to support claims on the tax return. It may also include the name of the IRS officer handling the case and invite the taxpayer to a meeting.
Remember, you will be contacted initially by mail. The IRS will provide all contact information and instructions in the letter you receive. If we conduct your audit by mail, our letter will request additional information about certain items shown on the tax return such as income, expenses, and itemized deductions.
Verifying the Letter
Real IRS letters will include your tax identification or Social Security number, and a specific reason for the correspondence such as a balance due, a refund adjustment, or a request for additional information. Always check the letterhead and the contact information provided.
You know the IRS might be investigating you through official mail (first contact), phone calls (often with automated messages to IRS.gov), or in-person visits, but signs of a criminal probe include contact with IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) agents, subpoenas to you or your bank, questions to your accountant/bank, unusual account activity (freezing/refusing transactions), or agents suddenly going silent after an audit. Key indicators are official IRS letters, contact from CI special agents, third-party inquiries, and formal summonses for records, signaling serious scrutiny beyond a simple audit.
You can find digital copies of most IRS notices in your online account, under the 'Notices and Letters' section.
A notice may reference changes to a taxpayer's account, taxes owed, a payment request or a specific issue on a tax return. Taking prompt action could minimize additional interest and penalty charges.
What happens if you ignore it: After the deadline passes, the IRS can levy bank accounts, garnish wages, and seize property without further notice. You lose critical appeal rights that would have stopped these actions.
How to Respond to a Letter From the IRS
Common Reasons You Might Receive a Certified Letter From the IRS. Most certified IRS mail falls into one of these buckets: Unpaid balances & collections. Final levy warnings (LT11/Letter 1058), lien filings (Letter 3172), or “final reminder” CP504 notices before the IRS takes more aggressive action.
The IRS waits to record most tax liens until after it has sent all five notices in the collection notice stream and hasn't received payment. You'll want to avoid a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. Liens can affect your ability to attract new business clients, secure and maintain credit, and obtain employment.
The IRS is a government agency and the audit letter is sent by certified mail.
Most IRS letters and notices are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Each notice deals with a specific issue and includes specific instructions on what to do. Don't panic. The IRS and its authorized private collection agencies do send letters by mail.
Get started here. Notice of Tax Due and Demand for Payment, Notice CP14, Balance Due $5 or More, No Math Error, is the first and most common notice sent to taxpayers.
Types of notices
Not reporting all of your income is an easy-to-avoid red flag that can lead to an audit. Taking excessive business tax deductions and mixing business and personal expenses can lead to an audit. The IRS mostly audits tax returns of those earning more than $200,000 and corporations with more than $10 million in assets.
The government has no legal obligation to notify you that you're under investigation. There is no constitutional right to know that prosecutors are building a case against you.
Check which tax year the notice is for and follow the instructions provided; you usually have 30 days to respond. Compare the IRS adjustments to your records and tax return. If you agree with the notice, indicate that on the response form and send a check or money order for any additional taxes due.
unfamiliar branding – do you know this company? not using your name – do they really know who you are? bad spelling and grammar. poor quality logos, design and photography.
Look for the official IRS logo and letterhead, including the correct address and phone number. Dates should be recent, accurate, and accurately formatted (month spelled out), and they should include official IRS security or file numbers you can refer to for more information. A fake letter won't have this information.
If you can't verify online
Call us at the phone number on your notice. The number is for identity and tax return verification only. Other tax information, such as refund status, is not available.