234IRS letters & notices decoded
That envelope has a number on it.The number tells you everything.
Every IRS letter carries a notice number that says exactly what the IRS wants, how serious it is, and how long you have. Find yours on the document — then look it up here.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Notice number — look here ↓
It’s printed in the top-right corner of page one: CP##, LT##, or LTR ####.
Triage
How serious is your letter?
We classify every IRS letter into four tiers, by what’s actually at stake and how hard the deadline is. Find your tier, find your letter.
Levy, seizure, or your right to go to court is on the line. These deadlines are jurisdictional — no judge can extend them.
LT11 · CP504 · Letter 1058 · CP3219A · Letter 1153View all →
A hard response deadline is running — audits, document requests, identity verification, proposed changes.
CP2000 · Letter 525 · Letter 12C · CP75 · Letter 5071CView all →
Balance due notices, reminders, and adjustments. No enforcement yet — this is the cheapest moment to act.
CP14 · CP501 · CP161 · CP21A · CP60View all →
Confirmations, case updates, refund status, good news. Verify it, file it, move on.
CP12 · Letter 2840C · LT39 · CP136 · CP567View all →
The paper trail
IRS letters don’t arrive alone. They escalate.
A balance due starts polite and ends with a levy. Wherever your letter sits on the ladder, every notice you ignore makes the next one worse — and the options narrower.
Step 1
CP14
Pay or arrange within 21 days
Step 2
CP501
Respond promptly
Step 3
CP503
Respond now
Step 4
CP504
Act within 30 days
Step 5
LT11
30 days to request a CDP hearing
On the non-filer track instead? That ladder runs CP59 → CP515/CP518 → CP2566 → CP3219N.
Fundamentals
Before you do anything else
Fundamentals
Why You Should Never Ignore IRS Mail
That envelope from the IRS is not junk mail. Ignoring it can turn a manageable tax issue into a financial disaster.
Fundamentals
How to Identify Your IRS Letter or Notice Number
Every IRS letter has a code. Here is exactly where to find it and what the format means.
Deadlines
IRS Letter Deadlines You Cannot Afford to Miss
Some IRS deadlines are absolute. Miss them and you lose rights you can never get back.
Fundamentals
The Difference Between an IRS Notice and an IRS Letter
Notices and letters come from different parts of the IRS and mean very different things for your case.
Action Plans
What to Do the Moment You Receive an IRS Letter
A step-by-step action plan for the first 24 hours after you open an IRS letter.
Collections
The IRS Collection Notice Sequence: From First Notice to Levy
The IRS follows a specific escalation path before taking enforcement action. Here is every step.
Still not sure what your letter means?
Read it to us over the phone. A tax attorney with 30+ years of IRS practice will tell you exactly where you stand and what your deadline is. The consultation is free.