Common IRS and State Notices to Be Aware Of

Receiving a notice from the IRS or a state taxing authority can feel concerning, but many notices are routine and do not necessarily mean something is wrong. Common notice types include:

Identity verification notices
These may ask you to confirm your identity before the taxing authority continues processing your return or releases a refund.
Common examples: 5071C, 4883C, 5747C

Refund-related notices
These may relate to refund timing, direct deposit issues, refund offsets, or situations where additional review is needed.
Common examples: CP53 / CP53A / CP53E (refund deposit issues), CP12 (adjustment resulting in a refund), CP49 (refund applied to other debts)

Balance due notices
These notices may show tax, penalties, or interest due. Sometimes they result from processing adjustments or missing information.
Common examples: CP14 (initial balance due), CP501 / CP503 / CP504 (follow-up and collection notices)

Requests for additional information or adjustments
The IRS or state may need documentation before completing the review of your return or may propose changes.
Common examples: CP05 (return under review), CP2000 (income mismatch), Letter 4464C (review of return)

If you receive any notice, please send us a copy before responding so we can help determine what it means and whether action is needed.

 

How DHA Can Help You Navigate a Notice

Our team is here to help you understand and respond to tax notices with confidence. When you receive a notice, we can:

• Review the notice and explain what it means
• Determine whether the notice requires action
• Help gather supporting documentation
• Assist with preparing a response, if needed
• Communicate with the IRS or state taxing authority when we are authorized to do so
• Help guide you through identity theft or fraud-related tax issues

A notice does not always mean there is a problem with your return. Our role is to help you sort through the details and avoid unnecessary stress or missteps.

 

When You May Not Need to Take Action

Some notices are informational only or relate to processing delays that may resolve without additional steps. For example, you may not need to take action if:

• The notice simply confirms that your return is still being processed
• The notice relates to a refund you were not expecting
• The notice asks for bank account information, but you are not owed a refund
• The taxing authority is reviewing information already included on your return
• The notice states that no response is required

Even if no action is needed, we still recommend sending us a copy of the notice so we can review it and confirm the best next step.

 

When to Contact Us Immediately

Please contact us promptly if:

• You receive a notice you do not understand
• Your electronically filed return is rejected because a return was already filed under your Social Security number
• You receive an identity verification letter
• You receive a notice showing income you do not recognize
• You receive a balance due notice that does not match your records
• The notice includes a response deadline
• You suspect your personal information may have been used fraudulently

The sooner we review the notice, the more options we may have for responding effectively and avoiding delays.

 

Scams Are Increasing — Here’s What to Watch For

Tax-related scams continue to rise, especially during and after filing season when taxpayers are expecting communication from the IRS or state agencies. Scammers often pose as a taxing authority and try to create urgency or fear to get you to act quickly without verifying the source, requesting bank information, identity verification, and other sensitive information.

It’s important to know that the IRS does not initiate contact through email, text messages, or social media, and they will not demand immediate payment or threaten arrest over the phone.

Common scam tactics include:

• Emails or texts claiming to be from the IRS with links to “verify” your information
• Phone calls demanding immediate payment or threatening penalties
• Fake notices designed to look like official IRS correspondence
• Fraudulent websites that mimic IRS pages to capture personal data

To protect yourself:

• Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious messages
• Do not provide personal or financial information to unsolicited callers
• Always verify any communication by contacting your tax professional first

If something feels off, it’s worth double-checking. When in doubt, send the communication to us—we’re happy to help confirm whether it’s legitimate before you take any action.

 

Notice Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Open IRS and state tax mail promptly
• Send us a complete copy of the notice, including all pages
• Keep the original notice for your records
• Pay attention to response deadlines
• Contact DHA before submitting information or payment

Don’t:

• Ignore a notice, even if you think it may be incorrect
• Panic or assume the notice means your return was prepared incorrectly
• Call the IRS or state before we have reviewed the notice with you
• Click links in emails or text messages claiming to be from the IRS
• Share personal or banking information with unknown callers or websites