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Do I Have to Respond to this IRS Letter?

Written by Tax Relief USA | Nov 15, 2019 3:55:00 PM

If you’ve received a letter from the IRS, don’t ignore it or toss it in the junk pile. You should read through it thoroughly, and fully understand what the letter entails before taking action, as you definitely will need to respond. There are a few reasons the IRS may send you a notice, and if you do receive one, call Tax Relief and they can help you respond appropriately, and within the required deadlines.

Reasons for the IRS to Send You a Letter

There are a number of reasons the IRS may send you an official letter in the mail. The IRS may contact you if you have a balance due, are owed a different refund, to verify your identity, or if there is a delay in your return. No matter the reason, it’s important to first read through the letter thoroughly to understand why they are contacting you, and determine if it’s in error or not. You can call a tax professional to help read through it with you so you can know how to properly respond. Which, the next step would be to respond or organize proper payment if that’s the case. Make sure you keep the original document, but also copies of the letters and all communication you’ve had with them.

What Happens if I Don’t Respond?

If your notice has a specific “respond by” date on it, it’s highly important you respond before that deadline. If you don’t, it could mean additional interest added to an already owed payment, penalty charges, and extra fees. You may also lose your right to appeal their claim if you disagree. If the IRS is claiming you owe back taxes and you ignore the letter or don’t respond before the deadline, that could lead to liens and levies on your property. You also have an opportunity after the first letter to appeal any claims they’ve made, work out a payment plan or tax settlement for back taxes, and have time to contact and work with a tax professional like Tax Relief to dispute the letter. The longer you wait, the worse off your standing will be, and you may lose your chance altogether to resolve any tax issues.

How Tax Relief Can Help

Our Enrolled Agents, Tax Attorneys, and CPAs at Tax Relief are here to be your advocates and to represent you before the IRS. We strive to get you the best possible outcome when it comes to your tax issues, back taxes, or claims with the IRS. We can negotiate for you so you don’t have to. We are highly trained in all aspects of tax audits, tax relief solutions, settlements, and even tax prep. We provide all the services you’ll need if the IRS contacts you. We absolutely recommend you contact a professional to help handle your case, so please call us for any tax questions and help you need, at (408) 533-1814.