Before you contact us, please see the information in the drop-down menus above and the IMPORTANT NOTICE below. If you don’t find answers to your questions, our contact information appears near the bottom of this page.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The IRS sends notices and letters when it needs to ask a question about your federal tax return, let you know about a change to their account or request a payment. Don’t panic if something comes in the mail from the IRS – just be alert to identity thieves who may try to contact you through fraudulent calls, emails, texts and social media messages pretending to be the IRS.
If you receive mail from the IRS, you should:
Watch for scams
The IRS will never contact a taxpayer using social media or text message. The first contact from the IRS usually comes in the mail. Taxpayers who are unsure whether they owe money to the IRS can view their tax account information on IRS.gov.
If you receive an unexpected letter, email or text that claims to be from the IRS or another trusted source – like a bank, a credit company or a tax software provider – here are some tell-tale signs that it’s a scam:
- Spelling errors or incorrect grammar.
- A link or attachment that with a slightly misspelled URL or an unusual one such as irs.com. All IRS links go to irs.gov.
- A threatening or urgent request to pay now, to follow a link or to open an attachment.
If you receive a request from IRS in the mail or by phone, you can always contact IRS customer service to authenticate it.
Read the letter carefully. Most IRS letters and notices are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Each notice deals with a specific issue and includes any steps you need to take. A notice may reference changes to your IRS account, taxes owed, a payment request or a specific issue on your tax return. Taking prompt action could minimize additional interest and penalty charges.
Review the information. If a letter is about a changed or corrected tax return, you should review the information and compare it with your original return. If you agree, you should make notes about the corrections on your personal copy of your tax return and keep it for your records. Typically, you will need to act only if you don’t agree with the information, if the IRS asked for more information or if you have a balance due.
Take any requested action, including making a payment. The IRS and authorized private debt collection agencies do send letters by mail. You can also view digital copies of select IRS notices by logging into your IRS Online Account. The IRS offers several options to help taxpayers struggling to pay a tax bill.
Reply only if instructed to do so. You don’t need to reply to a notice unless specifically told to do so. There is usually no need to call the IRS. If a taxpayer does need to call the IRS, they should use the number in the upper right-hand corner of the notice and have a copy of their tax return and letter.
Let the IRS know of a disputed notice. If a taxpayer doesn’t agree with the IRS, they should follow the instructions in the notice to dispute what the notice says. The taxpayer should include information and documents for the IRS to review when considering the dispute.
Keep the letter or notice for your records. Taxpayers should keep notices or letters they receive from the IRS. These include adjustment notices when the IRS takes action on a taxpayer’s account. Taxpayers should keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return.
More information:
• Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter
• Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts