When the IRS Writes to You
An envelope from the IRS is frightening and usually routine. The great majority of notices are automated: a figure that did not match a third-party report, a missing form, a balance, or a request to verify identity. What matters is that almost every notice carries a response deadline, and the options available to you narrow considerably once it passes.
Who this affects
- Anyone who has filed a US return, including from abroad
- Taxpayers whose reported figures differ from a 1099 or W-2 on file
- People who moved and may not be receiving mail sent to an old address
- Anyone contacted by someone claiming to be the IRS by phone or text
The notice number tells you what it is
Every letter carries a CP or LTR number in a corner, and that code identifies the issue precisely. Looking it up on the IRS site is faster and more reliable than reading the letter cold, and it tells you what response is expected.
A proposed change is not a final assessment
Notices that adjust your figures typically propose a change and give you a window to disagree with documentation. Many are resolved simply by supplying what the IRS did not have. Paying immediately because a letter arrived is often unnecessary.
The IRS opens contact by mail
First contact does not come by phone call, text or social media, and the IRS does not demand payment by gift card or wire. A caller creating urgency and threatening arrest is a scam. Genuine notices can be verified independently through your IRS account.
Living abroad does not extend the deadline
Response windows run from the notice date regardless of how long international post takes. Keeping your address current with the IRS matters more than usual once you have left the country.
Common questions
I got a notice saying I owe more. Do I just pay it?
Not necessarily. Check the notice number and what triggered it — many are automated mismatches resolved by sending the missing document. Pay once you have confirmed the figure is right.
Someone called claiming to be the IRS. Is that real?
Almost certainly not. The IRS initiates contact by mail and does not demand immediate payment by phone or threaten arrest. Verify anything alarming through your own IRS account rather than the number that called you.
I live in Korea and the letter arrived late. What can I do?
Respond as soon as you can and say so. Deadlines run from the notice date, but engaging promptly once you have it is materially better than not responding at all.
Official sources
General information, not tax advice. Rules and thresholds change, and how they apply depends on your circumstances — confirm with a licensed professional before acting.