# Why did I get a letter from the IRS? The 7 usual reasons and what to do Source: https://backtaxesdesk.com/irs-notices/why-did-i-get-irs-letter Publisher: Back Taxes Desk (backtaxesdesk.com), independent editorial site Topic: IRS Notices and Letters Last updated: 2026-10-20 > You got a letter from the IRS because it needs something about your account: most often you owe a balance, it changed or has a question about your return, a return is missing, or it must verify your identity. The notice code in the top or bottom right corner tells you which, so you can sort the letter into a bill, a proposed change or a request. ## Key facts - Where to find the notice code: Top or bottom right corner - Code prefixes: CP, LT or LTR plus a number - Where to double-check: Your IRS online account - Reply needed if you agree?: Only if the letter asks for one ## Why did I get an IRS letter? The usual reasons The IRS lists six reasons it sends notices, and letters about a missing return, such as the CP59, add one more. Almost every letter fits one of these. - **You have a balance due.** A return was filed without full payment, or an earlier change created tax you have not paid. - **Your return was changed.** The IRS corrected a math error, adjusted a credit or processed a change you asked for. - **Your refund changed.** The refund you claimed was reduced or adjusted. - **The IRS has a question about your return.** Third-party forms such as a W-2 or 1099 do not match what you reported. - **A return is missing.** IRS records show income for a year but no return. - **Your identity needs to be verified** before a return is processed. - **Processing is delayed** and the IRS is telling you it needs more time. If the envelope is about money you owe, our [IRS notices hub](https://backtaxesdesk.com/irs-notices) lists every balance and enforcement letter in order. ## Finding the notice number and date on an IRS letter in the mail Every IRS letter in the mail carries an identifying code. Look in the top or bottom right corner of the first page for a code that starts with CP, LT or LTR. Examples are CP14, CP2000, LT11 and LTR 1058. Next to the code you will usually see the notice date. That date matters more than the day the envelope arrived, because many deadlines are counted from it. A CP2000, for example, asks for a reply within 30 days of the notice date. ### What else to note before you put it down - The tax year and form, such as Form 1040 for 2024 - The last digits of the taxpayer ID, to confirm the letter is for you and not a spouse or business - Any amount due and the date it is due - A response date, if one is printed - The mailing address or fax number for replies ## What would a letter from the IRS be: a bill, a change or a request Once you have the code, place the letter in one of three groups. The group tells you what kind of action the IRS wants and how fast. | Kind of letter | Examples | What it asks | Typical next step | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bill for a balance | CP14, CP501, CP503, CP22A, CP71 | Payment by a date | Pay, or set up a payment plan | | Proposed change | CP2000, CP3219A | Agree or disagree by a deadline | Sign the response form or send documents | | Request or warning | CP59, LT16, CP504, LT11 | File a return, respond or act before enforcement | File, pay or request a hearing | Three kinds of IRS letters and what each asks of you A bill is the simplest. The CP14 is the first one people see; our [CP14 notice page](https://backtaxesdesk.com/irs-notices/irs-notice-cp14) explains how to check the amount and what follows if it stays unpaid. A proposed change is not yet a debt. The IRS describes the CP2000 as a proposal, not a bill, so you can still show that the extra income was already reported or belongs to someone else. See the [CP2000 notice explainer](https://backtaxesdesk.com/irs-notices/irs-cp2000-notice) for the three ways to reply. A request or warning means a clock is running on something beyond money. A CP59 says the IRS has no record of a return, and an LT11 starts a 30-day window to ask for a hearing before a levy. ## Is an IRS letter always bad news No. Some letters simply confirm something. Under the Automatic Exemption from Penalty the IRS announced on July 8, 2026, eligible taxpayers with a clean compliance history are not charged failure-to-file, failure-to-pay or failure-to-deposit penalties, and the IRS mails a notice confirming that relief. Other letters look alarming but only need a quick check. If the IRS changed your return and you agree, the IRS says you do not need to reply unless the letter specifically asks you to. You just take the action it describes. > **Refund letters are a different topic:** Letters about a delayed or reduced refund, or identity checks before a refund is released, are outside this site. Back Taxes Desk covers letters about balances, audits, penalties and missing returns. ## I received a notice from the IRS: can I see it in my online account Often, yes. The IRS says certain notices and letters appear in your individual online account at IRS.gov, where you can view and download them. You can also choose to go paperless for certain notices there. The account is also the best cross-check for a letter you are unsure about. It shows your balance by tax year, up to five years of payment history and any payment plan. If a letter claims you owe money that the account does not show, stop and verify before paying. Our guide to [checking whether you owe back taxes](https://backtaxesdesk.com/back-taxes/owe-irs-money) explains what each part of the account shows. ### When the letter is not in the account Not every letter is posted online, so absence alone does not prove a fake. The IRS advises calling it if a letter does not appear in its search of notices or looks suspicious. Use a number from IRS.gov, not one printed on a letter you doubt. ## Why would I get an IRS letter I did not expect Surprise letters usually trace back to information you never saw. Common examples include a 1099-INT for a small savings account, a 1099-NEC from a one-time job, or a 1099-B from selling shares, all of which the IRS receives directly from the payer. Another source is an older year. A CP59 can arrive about a return the IRS thinks you owed for a past year, and a CP71 is an annual reminder of a balance that has sat unpaid. Letters addressed to someone who has died, or to a spouse on a joint return, also catch people off guard. If the letter demands payment by gift card, wire to a person or a payment app, or threatens arrest by phone, it is not real. Our page on [IRS letter scams](https://backtaxesdesk.com/tax-help/irs-letter-scam) lists the other signs. ## What to do in the next 24 hours 1. Write the notice code, notice date and response date on a sticky note on the front of the letter. 2. Find your copy of the return for the tax year named. 3. Check your IRS online account for the same balance or notice. 4. Decide whether you agree, disagree or need more time. 5. Follow the reply method printed on the letter and keep a copy of everything you send. The fourth step is where most of the work sits. Our full guide to [responding to an IRS notice](https://backtaxesdesk.com/irs-notices/how-to-respond-to-irs-notice) covers agreeing, disputing, asking for more time and sending proof. ## Common questions ### Why would the IRS send me a letter if I filed on time? Filing on time does not stop follow-up. The IRS may have corrected an error, found income on a W-2 or 1099 that was not on your return, or not received full payment. The notice code tells you which. ### What is the difference between a CP notice and an LTR letter? Both are official IRS correspondence identified by a code in the right corner. CP codes, such as CP14 or CP2000, and LT or LTR codes, such as LT11 or LTR 1058, each map to an explanation page on IRS.gov that says what the letter means and what to do. ### Does a letter from the IRS mean I am being audited? Usually not. Most letters are bills, reminders or proposed changes. An audit letter says it is an examination and names the items under review, and the IRS notifies audits by mail only. ### Can a tax professional deal with an IRS letter for me? Yes. Form 2848 authorizes a representative to act for you before the IRS and see your confidential tax information, while Form 8821 only lets someone receive and inspect that information. Enrolled agents, CPAs and attorneys have full representation rights. ### Why did I get two IRS letters on the same day? Each tax year or issue gets its own notice, so two balances or two separate changes can produce two letters mailed together. Check the tax year and code on each one before responding. ## Sources - [Understanding your IRS notice or letter](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-letter) - [Online account for individuals](https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals) - [IRS simplifies penalty relief, introduces automatic process for eligible taxpayers](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-simplifies-penalty-relief-introduces-automatic-process-for-eligible-taxpayers) - [Understanding your CP59 notice](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp59-notice) - [IRS audits](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/irs-audits)