START WITH THE DOCUMENT
Find the notice code near the top of your letter. Use this guide to understand its purpose, then read the instructions and dates on the actual document. No contact details or upload are needed to use the guide.
8 notice guides
The IRS says an unpaid amount is due. Check the calculation and payment history before deciding whether to pay, ask about an arrangement or dispute the balance.
These notices follow an unpaid balance or an earlier unanswered notice. CP503 is a further reminder. If you already paid or responded, check that the IRS account reflects it.
The IRS is warning of collection through a levy. Review it promptly. Do not assume it has the same hearing instructions as an LT11, Letter 1058 or CP90; the exact notice and prior correspondence matter.
These letters concern an intended levy and explain the opportunity to challenge the proposed action. Review the appeal instructions and response date promptly, even if you cannot pay the full balance.
The IRS describes an intended levy and your right to a Collection Due Process hearing. The letter's response instructions deserve prompt review; a general request for help is not the same as filing a hearing request.
Information from an employer, bank or another source does not match the return. This is a proposal, not a bill. The discrepancy could increase, decrease or leave the tax unchanged.
The IRS is notifying you of an unpaid balance. An old tax year does not, by itself, mean the debt has disappeared. Review current records and any arrangement already in place.
LT38 explained the resumption of collection notices after pandemic-era pauses. The IRS now marks this guidance as historical. If this is an older letter, establish the account's current status before relying on its balance or next steps.
No matching notice. Check the exact code on your letter or call the office for help identifying it.
Sources checked September 7, 2026. The instructions on your own notice control your response.
01 / Four details to find first.
Include any letters after the number. Similar-looking notices can serve different purposes.
Check which return, year or business tax period the notice concerns.
Is the IRS asking for payment, records, agreement with a proposal or a response about appeal rights?
Use the date and instructions on your letter. An appointment request does not pause an IRS deadline.
02 / Keep the complete letter together.
Retain every page, the envelope, related notices and proof of any response or payment. A cropped photograph of the balance can leave out the instructions that matter.
For an initial conversation, the code, tax period, general issue and stated response date are usually enough to explain why you are calling. Wait for an agreed secure channel before sending tax returns, identification or complete financial records.
A clearer first conversation
