Tax preparation and planning Clients nationwide English and Spanish
Tax letters, with a plan.
A letter from the IRS or the state is a reason to read carefully, not to panic. Send it over before you respond. I help you understand it, check it, and answer it on time.
Send it over before you respond
Most letters ask for something specific, such as a payment, a document, or an explanation, and they give a date to respond by. Before you pay, call, or sign anything, reach out. I tell you what I need to see, and you share it through the secure client portal, not email.
How I help
- Explain what the letter says, in plain English or Spanish.
- Check it line by line against the return it refers to.
- Note the date to respond by, and plan the steps to meet it.
- Prepare your response and the documents that support it, for you to review, sign, and send.
- Prepare an amended return when the original needs a correction.
Common letters
Many letters are routine: a notice that the IRS changed your return, a balance due, a request to verify your identity, or a question about income on a W-2 or 1099 that does not match your return. Some are right and some are not. Reading the letter next to the return is how you tell.
The notice or letter number is printed in the top or bottom right corner, such as CP2000 or CP14. It tells you what kind of letter you have.
Watch for scams
The IRS starts most contact by mail. A call, text, or email that demands immediate payment by gift card or wire transfer is a warning sign. If you are not sure a letter is real, check with me before you reply.
State letters, too
Letters from the Illinois Department of Revenue or another state’s tax agency work the same way: read it, check it against the return, and respond by the date on the letter.
When a letter arrives
- Read the whole letter, front and back.
- Find the date to respond by.
- Note the number in the corner, such as CP2000.
- Pull the return it refers to.
- Reach out before you respond.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Should I call the number on the letter?
You can, once you have read the letter and have the return in front of you. Check that the number matches one listed on IRS.gov. If anything is unclear, talk with me first.
What if the date to respond has passed?
Reach out anyway, today. A late response is usually better than none, and the next step depends on what the letter says.
The letter is about a return someone else prepared. Can you help?
Yes. I review the letter against that return and prepare your response, including an amended return if a correction is needed.
Can you explain the letter in Spanish?
Yes. I explain every form and letter in the language you prefer.
Got a letter? Let’s read it together.
Consultations are free, year-round. Have the letter and the return it refers to handy.