Got a letter from the IRS

General information about Illinois law as of October 23, 2026. It is not legal advice for your situation, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

How do I know an IRS letter is real?

Look up the CP or LTR number printed in the right-hand corner on the IRS notices page. If the letter does not show up there, or it looks wrong, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (IRS). Use that number, not one printed on a letter you doubt.

The IRS normally contacts you the first time by mail, and a check or money order to the IRS is made payable to "United States Treasury" (IRS).

Does the IRS call, email or text?

The IRS can call, but it says it never calls to demand payment now, threaten arrest or tell you about a refund. It never emails or texts you without your permission, and it never sends direct messages on social media (IRS). Impersonators want you to pay "now or else", threaten arrest or deportation, and do not let you question or appeal what you owe (IRS).

If a suspicious call comes in, write down the number and hang up. The IRS asks people to report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484 (IRS, report phishing).

IRS employees rarely visit without warning; the IRS generally sends a letter first. A revenue officer collecting an overdue bill mails Letter 725-B or calls to set up the visit. Revenue officers and revenue agents carry an IRS pocket commission and an HSPD-12 card, both with a photo, and you can ask to see both (IRS). If the visitor does not show both IDs or you are unsure about them, the IRS says to call the number on the card the officer or agent gives you, and to confirm a visit set up by letter at the number on that letter (IRS).

Can a private debt collector contact me about my taxes?

Yes, for certain overdue accounts, but only after two letters. The IRS first sends Notice CP40 saying your account has gone to a private collection agency, and then the agency sends its own letter. Both carry a taxpayer authentication number you can use to check that a caller is genuine. The IRS names three agencies: CBE Group, Coast Professional and ConServe (IRS). Pay the IRS, never the agency: a genuine agency will never ask you to pay it directly or with prepaid debit, iTunes or gift cards (IRS).

What do the common IRS notices mean?

A CP14 says you owe unpaid tax. Pay in full by the date on the notice and the IRS charges no interest; after that date, interest runs on what is unpaid (IRS).

A CP2000 says income reported by an employer, bank or other payer does not match your return. It is not a bill. It proposes changes, and you reply by the date listed, with your documents (IRS).

A CP3219A is a statutory notice of deficiency. It is not a bill or an audit: it tells you the IRS proposes to change your tax and explains how to challenge that in the U.S. Tax Court. The petition has to be filed by the date on the notice; the Tax Court cannot hear a late one, and the IRS cannot extend that date (IRS).

A CP5071 or 5071C asks you to verify your identity because a return was filed under your Social Security number. If you did not file it, you may be the victim of identity theft (IRS).

A CP504 is a Notice of Intent to Levy. The IRS can take your state tax refund, and it can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, which is public and can affect your credit (IRS).

An LT11 or Letter 1058 says the IRS intends to seize your property or rights to property, and that it can levy your wages or bank accounts. You have 30 days from the date printed on the letter, not from the day it arrives, to ask for a Collection Due Process hearing on Form 12153, mailed to the address on the letter and postmarked by the 30th day. Calling the IRS does not extend that time (IRS Publication 1660). The IRS tax negotiations page explains levies and penalties.

Can the IRS garnish my wages?

Yes. The IRS calls it a levy, and its own page says a levy “can garnish wages”. A wage levy is continuous: part of each paycheck goes to the IRS until the debt is paid, other arrangements are made or the levy is released. Part of your wages is exempt, based on the standard deduction and your dependents (IRS).

How much warning does the IRS give before a levy?

The IRS says it usually levies only after it has sent a tax bill, the tax has not been paid, and it has sent the Final Notice of Intent to Levy at least 30 days before the levy (IRS). The date printed on that final notice also starts your 30 days to ask for a hearing (IRS Publication 1660).

Which deadline matters?

The one printed on the notice. The IRS says to act by the due date if it asks you to respond, and to reply by the due date to keep your appeal rights. If you owe and cannot pay all of it, it says to pay what you can by the due date, which cuts interest and penalties (IRS).

What if I disagree with the notice?

Follow the notice's own instructions for disputing it, and send copies of the documents that show why (IRS). Keep copies and note the date you sent them.

What if I agree but cannot pay?

A short-term plan gives you up to 180 days. A long-term plan, called an installment agreement, spreads the balance over monthly payments. An individual may qualify to apply online for a long-term plan if they owe $50,000 or less and have filed all required returns, and for a short-term plan if they owe less than $100,000. Penalties and interest keep running until the balance is paid (IRS).

An offer in compromise can settle a tax debt for less than the full amount when you cannot pay in full or doing so would cause financial hardship. The IRS looks at your income, expenses and asset equity, and generally will not accept an offer if you could pay in full through a payment plan or your assets. It has a Pre-Qualifier Tool to check eligibility first (IRS). In cases of financial hardship, the IRS may temporarily delay collection until your situation improves (IRS, CP14).

Be wary of anyone who promises to settle your debt for "pennies-on-the-dollar" and rushes you to pay for the service. The IRS warns about these offer in compromise "mills", and notes that you can apply for an offer directly with the IRS if you are eligible (IRS, tax scams).

Is there free help?

You may be eligible for free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service, which the IRS describes as an independent organization within the IRS, and you may qualify for help from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (IRS, CP14 and CP2000).

When to call Rick

Call Rick as soon as a notice arrives that you cannot pay in full, or when an LT11 or Letter 1058 arrives, because the 30 days run from the date on it. Rick works with the IRS on payment plans, installment agreements and offers in compromise. See IRS tax negotiations or call (815) 986-1569.