The IRS says it needs more information to process your individual income tax return. Read the letter carefully and send the requested information within 20 days, even if you disagree.
What to have in front of you
- Your IRS letter.
- Your individual income tax return.
- Any forms or schedules the letter asks for.
- Information supporting income, withholding or credit amounts, if requested.
- Taxpayer identification numbers or Social Security numbers, if the letter asks you to verify them.
- Copies of supporting documents and correspondence with the IRS that you have kept.
Use the letter to identify which information the IRS is asking you to provide. The request in your letter will guide what you need to gather.
What the IRS may need
The IRS says it needs more information to process your return. The letter may ask for missing or corrected forms or schedules that support entries on Form 1040, U.S. Individual Tax Form, or Form 1040-SR, U.S. Income Tax Return for Seniors.
It may also ask you to verify income, withholding or credit amounts. Look at the letter to see which amounts the IRS wants you to verify, then gather the information relevant to that request.
The IRS may ask for verification of taxpayer identification numbers or Social Security numbers. Read the request carefully to see which identifying information the IRS needs.
Not every item listed here will necessarily be requested in your letter. Focus on the information the IRS identifies in the letter you received.
How to respond
The IRS asks you to send the requested information within 20 days. Read the full letter before preparing your response so you understand what information it asks for.
Your response may involve providing a missing or corrected form or schedule. Or the IRS may ask for information that verifies an amount or an identification number. Follow the request in your own letter.
The IRS says not to file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Instead, respond to the letter and provide the information it requests.
Keep copies of your return, supporting documents and correspondence with the IRS. The IRS recommends keeping these records.
If you disagree
The IRS asks you to respond even if you disagree with the letter. Provide a clear explanation of what you disagree with.
Have the letter in front of you as you prepare your explanation. Look at the entries or information it asks about and gather the relevant information it requests.
The IRS asks for a response within 20 days. The letter itself tells you what information it needs for your return.
If you are expecting a refund
The IRS says it will send any refund due about 6-8 weeks after it receives your response. It needs the requested information to process your individual income tax return.
Read the letter for the particular information the IRS wants you to send. The request could concern forms or schedules, amounts on the return, or identifying information.
If you want help
The IRS says you can authorize someone to represent you before the IRS. You can also authorize someone to inspect or receive confidential tax information.
You may be eligible for free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. You may also qualify for help from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.
If you want to look at the letter while considering help, keep it with your return and the supporting documents you have gathered. The letter identifies the information the IRS is requesting.
Keeping records for next year
The IRS recommends providing complete information to support the entries on your return. It also recommends using the correct forms and schedules to report income, deductions and credits.
Review Social Security numbers, individual taxpayer identification numbers and other identifying information for accuracy on tax-related documents. The IRS also recommends maintaining copies of returns, supporting documents and correspondence with the IRS.
For more information, the IRS lists schedules for Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR. It also lists Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals), and Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer.
Where this comes from
IRS: What this letter is about.