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What does this IRS letter mean?
Most IRS notices come down to one change, one amount and one date. Paste yours to find them.
Your letter, explained
1 What it says
2 What to do
3 By when
This explains the wording only. It does not say whether you owe anything or what you should decide. Dates and amounts above are copied from your text unless marked as counted by us, so check them against the letter.
If you want a person to look at it
Two notices people get most
CP2000: the IRS has different numbers from you
The IRS sends a CP2000 when wage or payment reports it received do not match your return. It proposes a change. The IRS says the notice is not a bill, but your response may be required. The date to reply is printed on the notice.
CP14: you have a balance
A CP14 says you owe money on unpaid taxes. It shows the balance and how to pay. Your deadline is the due date printed on the notice. If you pay the full amount by that date, the IRS says you avoid interest. After that date, interest and a late payment penalty apply.
What to have ready
- The notice number, usually printed at the top right, such as CP2000 or CP14.
- The tax year on the notice.
- Your copy of the return for that year, so you can compare the numbers.
Guides
Questions
Is a CP2000 a bill?
No. The IRS says the notice is not a bill and that your response may be required. It proposes changes to your return, which could raise, lower or leave your tax the same.
What if I do not answer a CP2000?
The IRS says it may send another notice and a bill if you do not reply or the difference cannot be resolved. Interest builds on any unpaid balance, and penalties may apply.
I cannot pay a CP14 in full. Now what?
The IRS says to set up a payment plan if you cannot pay the full amount, and to contact it if you disagree. The number is in the help section of the notice.
Facts on this page come from the IRS pages Understanding your CP2000 series notice and Understanding your CP14 notice, read on 2026-11-03. This page is general information, not tax advice.