Decode your IRS letter.
Type the code printed near the top right corner of your notice. You will see what it means, how much time you have, and where to go next.
The letters we see most.
Every notice has a code and a deadline. Find yours below, then follow the link to the service that handles it.
Showing 18 notices and letters
Balance due
The first bill after you file with a balance still owed.
Pay or arrange by the date on the notice Installment AgreementsBalance due, business
The business version of the first balance due bill.
Pay or arrange by the date on the notice Installment AgreementsReminder
The balance is still unpaid. Interest and penalties keep growing.
Reply by the date on the notice Notice ResponseSecond reminder
Another reminder that the balance remains unpaid.
Reply by the date on the notice Notice ResponseNotice of intent to levy
The IRS may levy your state tax refund and move toward other property.
Act now, before a final notice Lien & Levy ResolutionFinal notice of intent to levy
Your right to a Collection Due Process hearing before a levy.
30 days to request a hearing Lien & Levy ResolutionFinal notice of intent to levy
Your right to a Collection Due Process hearing before a levy.
30 days to request a hearing Lien & Levy ResolutionFinal notice of intent to levy
The IRS intends to levy certain assets and explains your hearing rights.
Request a hearing by the date on the notice Lien & Levy ResolutionFederal tax lien filed
A Notice of Federal Tax Lien was filed, with your right to a hearing.
30 days to request a hearing Lien & Levy ResolutionBank levy
Funds in a bank account were levied.
The bank holds funds for 21 days Lien & Levy ResolutionWage levy
Part of every paycheck goes to the IRS until the levy is released.
Return the exemption statement within 3 days Wage Garnishment ReleaseProposed changes
Income reported by others does not match your return. Not an audit, and not a bill.
Reply by the date on the notice Notice ResponseIncome mismatch
Third party information does not match your return. Not a bill, but a reply is required.
Reply by the date on the notice Notice ResponseAudit started
Your return was selected for an examination, with a request for records.
Send records by the date on the letter Audit RepresentationAudit results
The audit ended with proposed changes. You can agree, disagree, or appeal.
30 days to respond AppealsNotice of deficiency
The legal notice of a tax deficiency, also known as the 90 day letter.
90 days to petition the Tax Court AppealsTrust fund penalty proposed
The IRS proposes a personal penalty for unpaid payroll trust fund taxes.
60 days to appeal Payroll Tax ResolutionAnnual reminder
A yearly reminder of the balance on an account in currently not collectible status.
No action required unless your finances change CNC StatusNot on our list?
Send us a photo of the letter and we will tell you what it means.
Start your free case reviewGeneral information only. The exact deadline is always the one printed on your letter.
Plain answers to hard questions.
Short, practical articles written by our team, with every fact checked against IRS sources.
Got an IRS letter? What to do in the first 7 days
A calm, step by step plan for the week the envelope arrives.
Read the articlePayment plan, Offer in Compromise, or CNC: which one fits you?
How the IRS looks at your finances, and what each option really means.
Read the articleFederal tax lien vs levy: what each one means for you
A claim and a seizure are not the same. Here is how to tell them apart.
Read the articleThe clocks that matter.
Most tax problems come with a timer. These are the ones that protect your options the most.
Banks hold levied funds before sending them to the IRS.
To request a Collection Due Process hearing after a final levy notice or Letter 3172.
Generally, to respond to an audit report or request an appeal.
To appeal a proposed trust fund recovery penalty after Letter 1153.
To petition the Tax Court after a notice of deficiency. It cannot be extended.
To claim a refund, counted from the original return due date.
Generally, how long the IRS has to collect, counted from assessment.
General rules. Your letter shows the exact date that applies to you.
Tax terms, in plain English.
The words on IRS letters, explained in one sentence each.
CDPCollection Due Process
A hearing with IRS Appeals that you can request before a levy, or after a lien is filed.
CNCCurrently Not Collectible
A status that pauses most collection when paying would leave you unable to cover basic living expenses.
CSEDCollection Statute Expiration Date
The date the IRS generally can no longer collect a tax, usually 10 years after assessment.
EAEnrolled Agent
The highest credential the IRS awards, with unlimited rights to represent taxpayers.
FTAFirst Time Abate
Administrative penalty relief for taxpayers with a clean compliance history.
IAInstallment Agreement
A monthly payment plan with the IRS for a balance you cannot pay at once.
NFTLNotice of Federal Tax Lien
A public filing that tells creditors the government has a claim on your property.
OICOffer in Compromise
An agreement to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount, when you qualify.
POAPower of Attorney, Form 2848
The form that authorizes a representative to speak with the IRS for you.
SFRSubstitute for Return
A return the IRS prepares when you do not file, often without your deductions.
TFRPTrust Fund Recovery Penalty
A personal penalty for unpaid payroll taxes withheld from employees.
LevyLevy
A legal seizure of property, such as wages or funds in a bank account.
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