IRS Notice Help in Sugar Land, TX
IRS notice help is one of the tax resolution services at Nguyen Accounting Group in Sugar Land, TX. An IRS notice carries a CP or LTR number and tells you what the IRS wants. When it asks for a reply or a payment, it gives a date.
15 minutes to get to know you and see if working together makes sense.
What we do
With IRS notice help, we read the notice, tell you plainly what it is asking and by when, and answer it on your behalf.
An IRS notice usually says one of a few things. You owe a balance, your refund changed, the IRS has a question about your return, or it changed something on it. What you do next depends on which notice you have and the date printed on it.
Thuy Nguyen, who leads the firm, is a CPA and a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, and she works in English and Vietnamese.
Some notices you can answer yourself. The IRS's own instructions for each common notice are below, with links to its pages.
What IRS notice help includes
IRS notice response
We read the notice, tell you plainly what it is asking and by when, and answer it on your behalf.
Installment agreements
A monthly payment plan for when a balance-due notice is right and the full amount cannot be paid at once.
Offers in Compromise
A separate IRS program, covered on the Offer in Compromise page.
Back tax returns
Filing years that were never filed.
How it works
Start with a 15-minute intro call. Have the notice in front of you, with its number and date, and the tax return for the year it covers.
After that the steps are the same for most notices. Identify the notice, check what it says against your return and records, and decide whether you agree. Then send the reply or arrange the payment by the date on the notice.
Who IRS notice help is for
- Individuals who received a CP2000 and are not sure the IRS's figures are right
- People with a balance-due notice (CP14, CP501 or CP503) who cannot pay the full amount at once
- Anyone holding a CP504, LT11, Letter 1058 or CP90
- Taxpayers with more than one notice, or more than one year, open at the same time
- People with unfiled years who have started getting IRS mail
- Vietnamese-speaking taxpayers who would rather go through the notice in Vietnamese
How to read an IRS notice
The IRS lists the reasons it sends a notice or letter. You have a balance due, your refund has changed, it has a question about your return, it needs to verify your identity, it changed or corrected your return, or it is delayed in processing your return. The CP or LTR number is on the right corner of the letter, and you can search for it by number on IRS.gov (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
The IRS's general instructions are short. Review the notice carefully and keep it for your records. If it asks you to respond, act by the due date. If you agree, take any requested action. You don't need to reply unless the IRS specifically asks you to. If you disagree, follow the instructions in the notice and include copies of documents for the IRS to review. To guarantee your appeal rights, reply by the due date (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
CP2000: the IRS thinks your return left something out
A CP2000 goes out when income or payment information the IRS received from third parties, such as employers or financial institutions, doesn't match what you reported on your return (IRS: Understanding your CP2000 series notice). The IRS says the CP2000 isn't a bill. It is a proposal to adjust your income, payments, credits or deductions, and the adjustment may result in additional tax owed or a refund (IRS Tax Topic 652).
The deadline: the IRS says to respond within 30 days of the date of the notice, or 60 days if you live outside the United States (IRS Tax Topic 652). You can ask for more time by sending an extension request with a reply option (IRS: Understanding your CP2000 series notice). If the IRS doesn't hear from you by the response date on the notice, it says it will send a Statutory Notice of Deficiency (IRS Tax Topic 652).
If you agree, complete, sign and date the response form. Both spouses must sign if you filed married filing jointly (IRS Tax Topic 652). If you agree and have no other income, credits or expenses to report, you don't need to amend your return (IRS: Understanding your CP2000 series notice). If you disagree with some or all of the proposed changes, mark that on the response form and send a signed statement explaining why, with any supporting documents (IRS Tax Topic 652). You can reply by upload, fax or mail, and the IRS calls upload the fastest (IRS: Understanding your CP2000 series notice).
The proposed amount generally includes interest, calculated from the due date of the return, regardless of extensions, to 30 days from the date on the notice. Certain penalties may also apply and may not be shown. Paying the proposed amount within 30 days stops additional interest, and possibly additional penalties, from accruing (IRS Tax Topic 652).
Our post on the CP2000 notice goes through one in more detail.
CP14, CP501 and CP503: you owe a balance
A CP14 is sent because you owe money on unpaid taxes. The IRS tells you to pay the amount you owe by the due date on the notice, make a payment plan if you can't pay the full amount, and contact it if you disagree (IRS: Understanding your CP14 notice). Pay the full amount by the date on the notice and no interest is charged on it. Interest accrues on the unpaid amount after that date, and the IRS says a late payment penalty applies if you can't pay the full amount (IRS: Understanding your CP14 notice).
A CP501 is a reminder that you owe a balance and that the IRS hasn't received your payment or a response to the previous notice (IRS: Understanding your CP501 notice). A CP503 says the IRS hasn't heard from you and you still have an unpaid balance (IRS: Understanding your CP503 notice). Both give the same instructions. Pay by the due date shown on the notice, make a payment plan if you can't pay the full amount, and call the toll-free number on the notice if you disagree (IRS: Understanding your CP503 notice).
If the balance is right and you can't pay it at once, an IRS installment agreement is the usual route. In cases of financial hardship, the IRS says it may temporarily delay collection until your situation improves (IRS: Understanding your CP14 notice). If you can't pay the full balance at all, read the Offer in Compromise page.
CP504: notice of intent to levy
A CP504 means the IRS hasn't received payment of your unpaid balance. The IRS calls it your Notice of Intent to Levy under Internal Revenue Code section 6331(d), and it tells you to pay the amount you owe immediately or make a payment plan (IRS: Understanding your CP504 notice).
The CP504 page says that if you don't pay the amount due immediately, the IRS can levy your income and bank accounts, and seize your property or your right to property, including your state income tax refund. It also says the IRS can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (IRS: Understanding your CP504 notice).
The same page sets out the order. The IRS can levy any state tax refund you're entitled to. If a balance remains, it may send a notice giving you a right to a hearing before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, if you haven't already received one. It can then levy your other property, which includes wages, bank accounts, business assets, personal assets and Social Security benefits (IRS: Understanding your CP504 notice). The IRS's appeals FAQ, answering a taxpayer who received a CP504, says the IRS cannot levy with just that notice and must first issue a formal Notice of Intent to Levy and Your Right to a Hearing, which is the next step (IRS: Collection due process FAQs).
You can request an appeal under the Collection Appeals Program before collection action takes place, by following the instructions on the notice. If you have already paid, or arranged to pay with an installment agreement, the IRS says you should still call the number on the notice to make sure your account reflects it (IRS: Understanding your CP504 notice).
LT11, Letter 1058 and CP90: final notice and your right to a hearing
An LT11 or Letter 1058 says the IRS hasn't received your payment for overdue taxes and intends to seize your property or rights to property (IRS: Understanding your LT11 notice or Letter 1058). A CP90 says the IRS intends to levy certain assets for unpaid taxes and informs you of your right to a Collection Due Process hearing. The IRS says you can request that hearing with Form 12153 if you disagree with a CP90 (IRS: Understanding your CP90 notice).
The deadline: you have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing on an LT11 or Letter 1058, using Form 12153. The 30 days start the day after the date on the notice (26 CFR 301.6330-1). The IRS describes the hearing as an opportunity to discuss alternatives to enforced collection, and to dispute the amount you owe if you have not had a prior opportunity to do so (IRS: Collection due process FAQs).
If you don't respond or pay, the IRS says it can attach a levy to your wages or bank accounts up to the amount owed, and may file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. Property it can levy includes wages and other income, bank accounts, business assets, personal assets including your car and home, state tax refunds and Social Security benefits (IRS: Understanding your LT11 notice or Letter 1058).
For an LT11 or Letter 1058, count the 30 days from the date printed on the notice, not from the day it reached you. The IRS page for the CP90 does not state a number of days, so go by the date and instructions on the notice itself.
A response checklist for any IRS notice
Find the number. The CP or LTR number on the right corner tells you which notice you have (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
Find the date. If the IRS asks you to respond, act by the due date, and reply by that date to guarantee your appeal rights (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
Compare it with your return. If the IRS changed or corrected your return, compare the information in the notice with your return (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
Decide whether you agree. If you agree, take the requested action. If you disagree, follow the notice's instructions and send copies of documents (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter). When you send proof of a payment, the IRS says never to send original documents (IRS Tax Topic 651).
If you owe, pay by the due date. The IRS says to pay by the due date even if you can't pay the full amount you owe, because this can reduce interest and penalty charges (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
Keep copies. Keep a copy of all IRS correspondence for your tax records (IRS Tax Topic 651).
Then wait for the answer. The IRS says to allow at least 30 days for a reply (IRS Tax Topic 651).
If a letter doesn't appear in the IRS notice search, or it looks suspicious, the IRS says to call 800-829-1040 (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
When to answer it yourself and when to call a CPA
Plenty of notices don't need a CPA. The IRS says most correspondence can be handled without calling or visiting an IRS office if you follow the instructions in your letter or notice (IRS Tax Topic 651). If you agree with a notice and it asks for nothing, there is nothing to send.
A CPA is worth a call in a few situations. You disagree with a CP2000 and need to show why with documents. You owe more than you can pay and need to choose between a payment plan and another option. You are holding a CP504, LT11, Letter 1058 or CP90 and a deadline is running. Or several years, several notices or unfiled returns are involved.
If you want someone to deal with the IRS for you, Form 2848 is the form that authorizes a representative to act for you (IRS: About Form 2848).
Our post on the first 48 hours after an IRS letter covers the first steps.
The office is in Sugar Land, and Houston is one of the areas the practice serves, along with Katy, Pearland, Missouri City and The Woodlands.
IRS Notice Help in Sugar Land and across Fort Bend County and the Houston area
Our office is at 12440 Emily Ct, Suite 303, Sugar Land, TX 77478, in Sugar Land, Texas.
See all our service areas.
Who can help with an IRS notice in Sugar Land, TX?
Nguyen Accounting Group, Inc is a tax and accounting practice at 12440 Emily Ct, Suite 303, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, led by Thuy Nguyen, JD, CPA, a Certified Tax Coach and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist. Its tax resolution services include IRS notice response, installment agreements, Offers in Compromise and back tax returns. The office works in English and Vietnamese. Call 832.500.4299, Monday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm and Friday 9am to noon, or book a 15-minute intro call.
IRS Notice Help FAQs
How long do I have to respond to an IRS notice?
It depends on the notice. For a CP2000, the IRS says to respond within 30 days of the date of the notice, or 60 days if you live outside the United States (IRS Tax Topic 652). For an LT11 or Letter 1058, you have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing, counted from the day after the date on the notice (26 CFR 301.6330-1). A balance-due notice such as the CP14 gives a payment due date on the notice itself (IRS: Understanding your CP14 notice).
Is a CP2000 a bill?
No. The IRS says the CP2000 isn't a bill. It is a proposal to adjust your return because information from third parties doesn't match what you reported (IRS Tax Topic 652).
What happens if I ignore a CP2000?
The IRS says that if it doesn't hear from you by the response date on the notice, it will send a Statutory Notice of Deficiency (IRS Tax Topic 652).
Can the IRS levy my wages or bank account after a CP504?
Not on the CP504 alone, going by the IRS's own pages. The CP504 page says that if you don't pay the amount due immediately, the IRS can levy your income and bank accounts and your state income tax refund. It then gives the order. The IRS can levy your state tax refund. If a balance remains, it may send a notice giving you a right to a hearing, if you haven't already received one. It can then levy your other property, which includes wages and bank accounts (IRS: Understanding your CP504 notice). The IRS's appeals FAQ says the IRS cannot levy with just the CP504 and must first issue a formal Notice of Intent to Levy and Your Right to a Hearing (IRS: Collection due process FAQs).
Do I have to call the IRS?
Often not. The IRS says most correspondence can be handled without calling or visiting an IRS office if you follow the instructions in your letter or notice (IRS Tax Topic 651).
How do I know the letter is really from the IRS?
Look the notice up by its CP or LTR number on IRS.gov. If it doesn't appear in the search, or it looks suspicious, the IRS says to call 800-829-1040 (IRS: Understanding your IRS notice or letter).
Can you deal with the IRS for me?
IRS notice response is one of the firm's tax resolution services, so bring the notice to the intro call. For a representative to act for you with the IRS, the IRS needs a Form 2848, the form that authorizes one (IRS: About Form 2848).
How much do you charge?
The firm has not published a fee for tax resolution work, so ask what the work would cost on the intro call.
Can we talk in Vietnamese?
Yes. Thuy Nguyen is bilingual in English and Vietnamese.
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Start with a 15-minute intro call
15 minutes to get to know you and see if working together makes sense.
- 1Pick a time.
- 2We talk for 15 minutes.
- 3We decide together whether to move forward.