Got a Letter from the IRS? Here's Your Response Protocol
By Mr. Liad Goren, CPA · 2026-07-10
The envelope with the IRS return address makes everyone's stomach drop. Most notices are routine — but the deadline on them is not. Here's what to do in the first 48 hours.
Every year the IRS sends millions of notices, and the vast majority are resolved without an audit. The single most important thing to understand: every IRS notice carries a response deadline, and ignoring it is what turns a small issue into penalties and interest.
Step 1: Read the CP number
In the top corner of the letter you'll see a code like CP2000 or CP14. That code identifies exactly what the IRS thinks happened — unreported income, a math error, a missing form, or a balance due. Look it up before reacting.
Step 2: Compare it to your records
Most CP2000 notices are generated by matching third-party forms (W-2s, 1099s) against your return. Sometimes the IRS is right because you forgot a 1099. Sometimes the filer reported it under a different name or the income was actually a rollover. Pull your records before you agree to anything.
Step 3: Respond in writing, before the deadline
If the IRS is wrong, you generally need to respond by the deadline with documentation — never just by phone. If it's right, paying by the deadline stops most additional penalties from compounding.
When to get help
Bring in a CPA if the notice involves more than a simple math correction, if you're being assessed penalties, or if the amount is significant. IRS correspondence has its own language, and a professional translation of what they actually want — versus what they appear to want — is often worth the cost of the whole session.
The worst thing you can do is nothing. The second worst is panicking. Most notices are routine, and the ones that aren't respond well to a calm, documented reply.