by Elyssa Carlos | Jun 12, 2023 | Tax News
IRS Notice CP14 is sent to taxpayers to inform them of an outstanding balance on their federal tax account. It serves as a bill for unpaid taxes and includes details such as the amount owed, accrued interest, and any penalties incurred. While receiving this notice might not be a shock for many, some taxpayers impacted by a declared disaster area may be surprised to see a CP14 in their mailbox despite IRS promises of tax relief. If you are one of these taxpayers who mistakenly received IRS Notice CP14 despite being in a disaster area, don’t panic. Many erroneous CP14s have been issued by the IRS. Here is what you need to know.
Which disaster areas qualify for automatic tax extensions?
The IRS has continued to issue automatic tax extensions to those impacted by natural disasters around the country and its territories. These areas have included impacted counties of the following 12 states:
- California
- Florida
- Oklahoma
- Indiana
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- New York
- Georgia
- Alabama
It also includes the impacted areas of Guam and the Mariana Islands. A full list of impacted qualified disaster areas can be found at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations. All taxpayers in impacted areas were automatically given an extension of time to file and time to pay until October 16, 2023, or another form of tax relief.
Why did I receive a CP14 if I’m in a disaster area?
IRS Notice CP14s have been sent out because the IRS is legally required to as long as a balance is due. However, many Californian taxpayers living or working in disaster areas have received this notice which demands payment to the IRS within 21 days. Unfortunately for Californians impacted by disaster, this sends mixed messages. The IRS has issued guidance to let these taxpayers know that they do indeed have until October 16, 2023 to file and pay their 2022 taxes.
What should I do if I received a CP14 if I’m in a disaster area?
If you received IRS Notice CP14 but you have been given an automatic tax extension due to disaster relief, you do not need to worry about submitting payment within 21 days as the notice instructs. In fact, these letters should also include a specific insert stating that the payment date indicated in the letter does not apply to anyone covered by a disaster declaration, and that the disaster dates still apply.
While it may seem counter-intuitive, affected taxpayers do not need to call the IRS for confirmation. Doing so may result in extremely long wait times. The IRS has issued an apology for the confusion this has caused. At Optima, we understand how intimidating an IRS notice can be.
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by Elyssa Carlos | May 12, 2023 | IRS Collections
While it is not unusual, getting a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can be a stressful event. Every year, the IRS sends notices to millions of Americans, and while some of these notices can be purely informational, others might call for prompt action. Each IRS notice has a code assigned to it, which is usually located on the top or bottom right-hand corner of the written notice. Here are some of the most common IRS notices and letters, what they mean, and how to respond.
IRS Notice CP2000
IRS Notice CP2000 is sent to taxpayers when the income or payment information the IRS received from third parties does not match what is reported on the taxpayer’s tax return. This is important because it can result in an increase or decrease in the amount of taxes owed. If you get a CP2000 notice, you should respond as soon as possible. The notice will include a response deadline and directions on how to respond. In general, you have 30 days from the notice’s date to reply.
You have two choices when responding to the notice: accept or deny the suggested changes. You can sign the response form and send it to the IRS along with any additional taxes due if you accept the suggested changes. If you disagree with the changes that have been suggested, you can back up your arguments with evidence and explain why you think the changes are inaccurate. Remember that additional taxes, interest, and penalties may apply if you don’t respond to the CP2000 notice.
IRS Notice CP90
IRS Notice CP90 is a formal notice of the intent to levy along with a notice of your right to an appeal. The IRS will send you one final notice before beginning collection efforts against you. The notice advises the taxpayer that the IRS plans to seize their assets, such as bank accounts, property, wages, and other sources of income, in order to pay the back taxes owed.
It is crucial that you act immediately if you receive a CP90 notice. After receiving the letter, you have 30 days to contact the IRS. You can choose to pay the tax debt in full, set up an installment agreement with the IRS, or request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing.
IRS Notice CP523
IRS Notice CP523 is a notification of default on an installment agreement by missing one or more monthly payments. The notice will also warn of a potential seizure of your assets because of your default.
If you receive this notice, you should contact the IRS within 30 days of the date of the notice. You can also restore the installment agreement by making the missed payments, but you may be required to pay a reinstatement fee. If you are unable to make the current payments, you can ask for a modification to the payment plan. This could entail increasing the payment duration or decreasing the monthly payment amount.
IRS Notice CP14
IRS Notice CP14 a letter from the IRS informing you that you have unpaid taxes on your federal income tax return. The notice will include the amount of tax owed, plus any penalties and interest that have accrued. If the details in the notice are accurate, you need to repay the debt as quickly as possible. Instructions on how to make the payment, including online payment choices, payment plans, and other payment methods, will be included in the notice.
You might be able to ask the IRS for a payment plan if you are unable to make the full payment. The notice will outline how to submit a payment plan request. Additionally, you can contest the notice if you think it is incorrect by formally protesting it to the IRS. To substantiate your argument, you must present supporting evidence.
IRS LTR3172
IRS Letter 3172 is a notice of federal tax lien filing (NFTL). The IRS files this public document to inform creditors that the government has a claim to your interests in any current and future property and assets. Although NFTLs are no longer included in credit reports, they may still have an impact on your ability to receive credit if a potential creditor finds out about them from other sources, like public databases.
This letter advises you of your right to appeal the filing of the NFTL. You have 30 days from the letter’s delivery date to ask for a hearing to contest the lien. Alternately, you could also use the “Collections Appeals Program,” which enables you to challenge the lien. Although this approach can be quicker than the Due Process hearing, you are only able to contest the manner of collection rather than the underlying causes of the taxes owing.
What To Do If You Receive an IRS Notice
Receiving an IRS notice or letter in the mail can lead you to scramble in worry. However, the most important thing to do when receiving a notice is to check for its validity. Phony letters and notices are sometimes sent to innocent taxpayers in order to obtain personal information or payments. If you receive a suspicious letter or notice claiming to be from the IRS, you should confirm it is not fraudulent by contacting the IRS directly. If the notice turns out to be credible, you should understand the severity of the situation but also know you have options and you do not have to tackle your tax issues alone. Optima Tax Relief is the nation’s leading tax resolution firm with over a decade of experience helping taxpayers with tough tax situations.
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