The IRS has estimated that U.S. taxpayers underpay their taxes by around $300 billion each year. Each taxpayer is responsible for calculating their own tax bill, but the IRS also uses other sources of information. It compares the information provided on taxpayer returns to that other information. If it finds a discrepancy, it sends a notice to the taxpayer. For years, the IRS used a form known as the CP2000 Notice, or the “Notice of Underreported Income.” The IRS recently began to use another form, the CP2057. Taxpayers should be aware of both notices, and our California tax advisors urge you to be aware of what you should do if you receive either one.
Warning Letters
Federal law gives the IRS extensive authority to collect unpaid taxes, but the process involves a lengthy series of notices. CP2000 and CP2057 are preliminary notices. They are not “bills,” in the sense that receiving one of these notices does not immediately trigger an obligation for the taxpayer to send money to the IRS. Instead, they are ways for the IRS to notify a taxpayer about discrepancies in their file, and to give them an opportunity to correct the information.
In order for the IRS to pursue a collection action against a taxpayer, they must send a formal notice and demand for payment, known as a CP501 Notice. This notice identifies a specific amount owed and gives a deadline for payment. If the taxpayer fails to pay by the deadline, or otherwise fails to respond to the notice, the IRS can file a tax lien. If the IRS intends to levy the taxpayer’s property, it must send a CP504 Notice.