Find your notice · copy · respond
The IRS sent a notice. Here's the right letter to send back.
Free, copy-paste response letters for the IRS notices people actually get — CP2000, CP14, CP503/504, the Notice of Deficiency, LT11 levy and lien notices, penalty abatement, and payment plans — each with the deadline that controls, the IRS form you need (843, 9465, 12153…), and what to attach. Don't ignore it; answer it.
15 response letters
- Bills & paying Request an IRS Payment Plan (Installment Agreement / Form 9465) How to set up an IRS installment agreement to pay tax over time — online or with Form 9465 — with a copy-paste cover letter proposing your monthly amount. Copy, fill in, send.
- Bills & paying Respond to a CP14 Balance-Due Notice What an IRS CP14 means (your first bill for unpaid tax) and how to respond — pay, dispute, or set up a plan — with a copy-paste letter if the balance is wrong. Copy, fill in, send.
- Bills & paying Respond to CP503 & CP504 (Reminder and Intent to Levy) What IRS notices CP503 and CP504 mean (urgent reminder, then notice of intent to levy your state refund) and how to respond before it escalates to a real levy. Copy, fill in, send.
- Disagree / disputes Dispute a Math-Error Notice (CP11 / CP12) IRS math-error notices (CP11 = you owe more, CP12 = refund changed) let you request a reversal within 60 days to preserve your Tax Court rights. Copy-paste letter. Copy, fill in, send.
- Disagree / disputes Respond to a Notice of Deficiency (CP3219A / 90-Day Letter) The IRS Notice of Deficiency (CP3219A) is the '90-day letter' — your last chance to challenge proposed tax in U.S. Tax Court WITHOUT paying first. The 90-day deadline cannot be extended. Copy, fill in, respond.
- Disagree / disputes Respond to a CP2000 Underreporter Notice What an IRS CP2000 is (proposed changes from income mismatches — NOT a bill or audit) and how to respond agree or disagree by the 30-day deadline, with a copy-paste letter. Copy, fill in, send.
- Liens, levies & relief Request a Collection Due Process Hearing (LT11 / Form 12153) A Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 / Letter 1058) gives you 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing on Form 12153 — which generally stops the levy. Copy, fill in, send.
- Liens, levies & relief Request Currently-Not-Collectible / Hardship Status If paying the IRS would leave you unable to cover basic living expenses, you can request Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status to pause collection — plus how the Taxpayer Advocate (Form 911) can help. Copy, fill in, send.
- Liens, levies & relief Explore an Offer in Compromise (Settle Tax Debt for Less) An IRS Offer in Compromise (Form 656 + 433-A(OIC)) can settle tax debt for less than you owe if you truly can't pay — with an honest look at who qualifies and the 'OIC mill' trap. Copy, fill in, send.
- Liens, levies & relief Respond to a Federal Tax Lien (Withdrawal / Discharge / CDP) A Notice of Federal Tax Lien (Letter 3172) gives 30-day CDP rights — and you can request withdrawal (Form 12277), discharge, or subordination. Copy-paste letter. Copy, fill in, send.
- Penalty relief Request First-Time Penalty Abatement First-Time Abatement (FTA) can wipe a failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, or failure-to-deposit penalty if you have a clean 3-year history — often with one phone call or a short letter. Copy, fill in, send.
- Penalty relief Request Reasonable-Cause Penalty Abatement (Form 843) If circumstances beyond your control caused a late return or payment (illness, disaster, death), you can request reasonable-cause penalty relief by letter or Form 843 — with documentation. Copy, fill in, send.
- ID checks & audits Respond to an EITC/Credit Documentation Audit (CP75) IRS CP75 (and CP75A) holds your EITC/credit refund and asks you to prove eligibility — residency, relationship, and income for a qualifying child. Exactly what to send. Copy, fill in, send.
- ID checks & audits Respond When Your Return Is Under Review (CP05 / Letter 12C) IRS CP05 (return under review, refund held) often needs no action — but Letter 12C does: it asks for specific info to finish processing. How to tell them apart and respond. Copy, fill in, send.
- ID checks & audits Verify Your Identity for the IRS (5071C / 5747C / 6331C) An IRS identity-verification letter (5071C, 5747C, 6331C, 4883C) means your refund is on hold until you confirm it's really you. How to verify fast — online or by phone — safely. Copy, fill in, send.
Why this exists
An IRS envelope is scary — but most notices have a clear, deadline-driven answer.
People panic at an IRS letter and either ignore it (the worst move) or overpay something they could dispute. Almost every notice tells you what it is, what the IRS proposes, and a deadline to respond. IRS Notice Guides matches the common notices to a plain, copy-paste response letter and points you to the right form — so you answer correctly and on time. It's honest about the stakes: some deadlines (the 90-day Tax Court petition) truly cannot be extended.
How it works
Identify the notice, note the deadline, send the letter
- Find the notice number — it's in the top or bottom-right corner (e.g. CP2000, LT11) — and match it in the list.
- Write down the deadline on the notice and work back from it; mail early.
- Fill in the letter, attach the form/documents it lists, and send by certified mail with return receipt — keep a copy.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are these response letters free?
Yes. Every letter on irsnoticeguides.pages.dev is free to read and copy, with no account, paywall, or sign-up. The site may carry affiliate links to related services, which never change what you pay.
Is this legal or tax advice? Are you the IRS?
No and no. This is an independent reference — not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS — offering general-purpose educational templates, not advice about your situation and not a substitute for a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney. Always read your actual notice and verify the rules and deadlines that apply to you.
What is the one rule with every IRS notice?
Do not ignore it, and act by the deadline printed on the notice. Most response windows are short (a CP2000 is usually 30 days). The most critical is a Notice of Deficiency (CP3219A): you have exactly 90 days to petition the U.S. Tax Court, and that deadline cannot be extended — miss it and you lose the right to challenge the tax before paying.
Should I just pay what the notice says?
Only if it is correct. Many notices are proposed changes (like a CP2000) that you can dispute with documentation, math-error corrections you can reverse, or balances where you qualify for penalty abatement or a payment plan. Pay if you owe it; push back (by the deadline) if you do not.
Can I stop an IRS levy or lien?
Often, yes — if you act fast. A Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 / Letter 1058) and a Notice of Federal Tax Lien give you 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing on Form 12153, which generally suspends enforced collection while it is pending. You can also request a payment plan, Currently Not Collectible status, or an Offer in Compromise.
Where can I get free help?
Call the number on your notice for the IRS itself. For free help: the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assists with hardship and stuck cases (Form 911), and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) help eligible taxpayers with disputes for free or low cost. For complex or high-dollar matters, hire a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney.