What To Do When You Receive a Letter from the IRS

Guest Contributor- Mary King- Tax Attorney

While we are all hopefully informed that any phone that claims to be from the IRS is, in all probability, in fact, a scam, couldn’t the same be said about any letter that a taxpayer may end up receiving.

Each year, the IRS sends out millions of letters, and many of them need not be the target of fear. The news in the letter may well be good or bad. If there is bad news about the letter, don’t stress. You can seek support here.   

Why am I getting this letter?

Of course, when you receive an IRS letter your first fear is possible that you are being audited. And mail actually is how the IRS would try to contact you if you were audited.

But an IRS letter isn’t always a warning you are being audited. It could also be asking for more information.

Other probable reasons include:

• Your payment will be different from what you thought initially
• The IRS has questions concerning your tax return
• It wants to send you more information about your taxes
• It wants your identity checked
• Changes or adjustments to your tax return
• Your refund will be adjourned

What am I supposed to do with that IRS letter?

1. Don’t Panic

The IRS and its independently authorized collection companies do send letters by fax. Much of the time what the taxpayer has to do is thoroughly read the message and take the necessary action. You will typically handle a note by merely referring to it. The majority of IRS reports include individual tax refunds or tax records.

There are different guidelines for every document, please read the note carefully as it will inform you what you need to do. Your note would presumably include improvements to your record, taxes that you owe, or a request for payment. Your note might, therefore, ask you for more detail on a specific topic.

2. Verify that the letter is not a scam

The very first important step is to ensure you are not scammed. Fraudsters trying to pose as the IRS scares people and can cause them to send sensitive data without taking into account the consequences. That’s the last thing you wish to do.

Whether the sound is hostile or if it employs intimidation tactics like threatening you with detention or seeking compensation without allowing you the chance to complain or raise questions, the email is a fraud. IRS letters are logical, not dramatic in speech. This is also a fraud letter as it asks you by mail or over the phone for detailed payment details. This is a sign of a fraudster trying to get information about a payment card. The IRS almost rarely talks by email, e-mail, or social media. By these approaches, correspondence is still a fraud.

3. Take action in a timely manner

When you have read the letter thoroughly, it is time you take action. You may need to provide a clear date to respond to the message. Make sure to escape any fines and retain the right to appeal by meeting with the deadline. Unless the letter does not specifically seek a reply, then no answer is needed. Make sure to:

Follow some guidance in your letter

• If you owe capital, then pay for it. 
• If you cannot afford it, you can apply for a Compromise or Online Payment Policy Request
• Hold a copy of the approval letter
• Should you have any concerns, please do email the IRS. In the top right corner of the document, you will consider the telephone number of the department

 

4. Don’t procrastinate on responding

The problem is often an easy one to solve. So the longer you take to respond, the more interest payments you can face and penalty fees, based on what the problem is.

Don’t wait for the IRS letter to take action as ordered. The quicker you deal with it, the better you are going to be able to put the matter behind you.

5. Avoid future IRS letters

The easiest way to stop unfavorable IRS notices is to file the tax returns on time, correctly. The most frequent explanation for an IRS letter is an omission in your tax report. Upon filing, a thorough analysis of the tax returns will reduce the chance of this.

Got a letter from the IRS? Speak to an experienced IRS attorney Florida

Whether you have got an IRS letter and you have concerns about it, please talk to a professional tax solicitor. They will help you make the letter effective, decide the next steps to be taken, and coordinate with the IRS if appropriate.

If you have concerns or are not entirely sure how to satisfy the demands of the IRS effectively, then consulting with a tax professional can be appropriate. The IRS attorney in Florida will help you with IRS investigations, international registration problems, and a variety of IRS tax concerns.