IRS Letters
What Are IRS Letters?
According to the IRS website an information letter provides general statements of well-defined law without applying them to a specific set of facts. They are furnished by the IRS National Office in response to requests for general information by taxpayers, by congress-persons on behalf of constituents, or by congress-persons on their own behalf.
About Your Notice
If you receive a letter or notice from the IRS, it will explain the reason for the correspondence and provide instructions. Many of these letters and notices can be dealt with simply, without having to call or visit an IRS office.
The notice you receive covers a very specific issue about your account or tax return. Generally, the IRS will send a notice if it believes you owe additional tax, are due a larger refund, if there is a question about your tax return or a need for additional information.
What Should I Do If I Receive An IRS Letter?
You generally have 30 days to respond to an IRS notice, so there’s no reason to ignore it. Always check which tax year the notice relates to. Do not assume that it relates to your most recent tax return.
Follow the instructions. It may request more information or ask a specific question. If it’s a minor issue and you are confident of the facts, you can respond to the notice yourself. But sometimes, you may need to seek help from a tax professional. The IRS says in its article “Eight Things to Know if You Receive an IRS Notice” that “most correspondence can be handled without calling or visiting an IRS office.”
What If I Do Not Agree With The Letter?
If you do not agree with the notice, then respond as soon as possible with a written explanation. Explain your reasons for disagreeing and enclose copies of all relevant documents. Mail it to the address on the top left corner, along with the tear-off stub for reference. Start a new folder and keep all correspondence in one place (including copies of your responses to the IRS) for ease of reference. Allow at least one month for the response.