You got a letter from the IRS or the state

Confirm the letter is real before you pay or call a number on it, then find its CP or LTR number in the right corner and the date it asks you to act by. Most deadlines are the date printed on the letter, but a notice of deficiency gives 90 days to petition the Tax Court and a notice of intent to levy gives 30 days to request a hearing. Send KFM every page through the client portal or to support@kfmus.com.

Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Tax year 2026 · Federal and Florida

An IRS letter usually concerns one of these: a balance due, a changed refund, a question about your return, verifying your identity, a correction to your return, or a processing delay. Most letters give a date to act by. A few carry a deadline written into the Internal Revenue Code.

Check that it is real

The IRS says it normally contacts you first by U.S. mail, and emails or texts only people who opted in. A call, email or text that is unexpected, rushes you, threatens you, asks for personal or financial information or demands payment now is not from the IRS.

Before paying, or calling a number printed on a letter, you can search the letter's number on the IRS site; some letters also appear in your IRS Online Account. If it does not appear in the search, or looks suspicious, the IRS says to call 800-829-1040.

Find the number and the date

The letter's number, CP or LTR followed by digits, is in the right corner of the letter. The letter also gives a date to act by. The IRS says to reply by then to keep your appeal rights, and to pay by it even if you cannot pay in full, which can reduce interest and penalties. If you agree and no reply is requested, you take the action it asks for.

A CP14 says you owe unpaid tax; a late payment penalty and interest follow if it is not paid by its date. A CP2000 proposes changes because income reported by employers or banks does not match your return. It is not a bill, and it asks you to reply by the date listed, saying whether you agree if it includes a response form. Without a reply the IRS may send a bill.

Letters with deadlines in the Code

Notice of deficiency. It comes by certified or registered mail. You have 90 days after it is mailed, or 150 if it is addressed to you outside the United States, to petition the U.S. Tax Court, and a petition filed by the last date the notice states is on time. For the CP3219A version, the IRS says the period cannot be extended and the Tax Court cannot consider a late petition.
Notice of intent to levy. The IRS must tell you in writing, at least 30 days before its first levy, of your right to a collection due process hearing, and you can request the hearing within those 30 days. The LT11 or Letter 1058 is this notice, and the request goes on Form 12153.
Notice of a federal tax lien. The IRS must notify you within 5 business days after it files a lien, and you can request a hearing during the 30 days that begin the day after those 5 business days.

Florida Department of Revenue letters

Florida has no personal income tax, so a letter from the Florida Department of Revenue concerns a tax the state does collect, such as sales and use tax, corporate income tax or reemployment tax. The Department sends a Notice of Delinquency when a return was not filed and a Notice of Amount Due when a return was late or more tax is owed. It writes by mail and email, and adds a 10% collection processing fee to a debt unpaid for 90 days. If a letter or call from someone claiming to work there seems unfamiliar with your account, the Department says you can verify it through Taxpayer Services at 850-488-6800.

Sending it to KFM

Upload the letter to the client portal, or email it to support@kfmus.com. Send all pages, including any response form that came with it. If the letter says you owe more than you can pay at once, the options are in Can't pay in full? Payment plans and your options.

Sources

This article is general educational information, not tax, legal, or accounting advice, and does not create a client relationship. Tax law changes and depends on your specific facts. Information is current as of September 23, 2026 for tax year 2026; verify before acting. Consult a qualified CPA, EA, or attorney about your situation.

Still need help? Ask in the client portal or email support@kfmus.com.