IRS Letters 101: How to Verify a Notice Is Genuine

Quick overview

IRS letters are mailed notices from the Internal Revenue Service that explain changes, requests, or actions related to your tax account. They commonly include a notice or letter number (for example, CP14, CP2000, or LT11), an explanation of the issue, and instructions for responding. Scammers increasingly mimic IRS formatting, so learning a few reliable checks will save you time and protect your identity.

Why verifying matters

A genuine IRS letter can require deadlines, payments, or documentation. Ignoring a legitimate notice can lead to penalties, collection actions, or loss of appeal rights. Conversely, responding to a fake notice (by providing personal data or paying a scammer) can cause identity theft or financial loss. Use the steps below to determine whether a letter is authentic before you act.

Step-by-step verification checklist

1. Read the notice number and code

• Every official IRS notice has a unique code: CP (computer paragraph) and LT (legal) series are common. The notice code appears on the top right or in the heading. Compare it to IRS examples on the agency’s site (IRS.gov lists common notices and letters) to confirm the type and typical content (IRS – Understanding Your IRS Notice) (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-what-to-do-next).

1. Confirm the return address and postage

• Genuine IRS mail typically comes from an IRS processing center and uses U.S. Postal Service postage. Check that the return address or postmark matches addresses listed by the IRS. If a letter threatens immediate law enforcement action or uses nonstandard return addresses, treat it as potentially fraudulent.

1. Check the contact information against IRS.gov

• Do not use the phone number or website printed on a suspicious letter. Instead, look up the appropriate contact information on IRS.gov and call the IRS at the official number for individuals or businesses. The IRS warns taxpayers not to trust contact details in suspicious notices (IRS – Report Phishing and Suspicious Emails) (https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing).

1. Evaluate payment demands and language

• The IRS will never demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid debit cards. Nor will they threaten immediate arrest for tax issues. Any demand for unconventional payment methods or aggressive threats is a hallmark of scams (IRS – Impersonation Scams) (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts).

1. Look for obvious errors and tone

• Typos, informal language, misspellings, or inconsistent formatting are red flags. While not every legitimate letter is perfectly edited, many scam letters contain clear mistakes or conversational phrasing inappropriate for a federal agency.

1. Verify account activity online

• Use your IRS Online Account or Get Transcript service to compare what the notice says with your actual account history and transcript (IRS – Get Transcript) (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript). If a notice alleges a balance or adjustment that does not match your transcript, investigate further before taking action.

1. Confirm the notice using our resources

• For help decoding notice codes or understanding common message types, consult trusted guides such as FinHelp’s Deciphering IRS Notice Codes: A Simple Lookup Guide. That article walks notice codes and typical responses in plain English and can help you decide next steps without calling into a scam trap (Deciphering IRS Notice Codes).

1. When in doubt, call the IRS using official contact info

• If you cannot confirm authenticity, call the IRS using the number on IRS.gov rather than the number on the letter. If the notice is legitimate, the IRS can confirm the letter and advise on response options. If it’s fraudulent, flag it with the IRS and report as instructed.

Common IRS notice types and what they mean (brief)

• CP14 — Notice of Balance Due: Explains an amount the IRS believes you owe and how to pay.
• CP2000 — Proposed Changes: Indicates a mismatch between income reported on your return and third‑party records (1099, W‑2).
• CP501 / CP503 / CP504 — Series of past‑due notices: Reminders that a previously sent balance remains unpaid and may lead to collection actions if ignored.
• LT11 / CP90 — Stronger collection notices: May precede liens or levies if the balance and response timeline aren’t resolved.

For a deep dive into notice meanings and next steps, see FinHelp’s Common IRS Notice Types Explained: From CP to LT Letters (Common IRS Notice Types Explained).

Real-world examples from practice

In my 15 years advising tax clients I see two recurring patterns:

• Honest mismatches: A taxpayer receives a CP2000 because a 1099 was filed by a payer that didn’t get included on the return. The correct action is gathering proof and responding within the stated deadline. Ignoring it can lead to automatic proposed changes and added penalties.

• Classic scams: A homeowner received a letter claiming a past‑due balance and demanding immediate payment via prepaid debit cards. The letter used a fake IRS logo and listed a phone number that did not match IRS.gov. After checking the IRS online account and contacting the IRS via the official phone number, we confirmed the letter was fraudulent and reported it to the IRS and local police.

These cases underline why verification is both practical and necessary.

If the letter is genuine: practical next steps

• Read the notice carefully and note deadlines. Many rights to appeal or establish payment terms are time‑limited.
• Gather supporting documents (tax returns, W‑2s, 1099s) and compare them to the notice’s claims.
• If you owe, consider payment options: pay in full, request an installment agreement, or explore an Offer in Compromise if you qualify. The IRS provides online payment and installment options; using those official channels is safer than third‑party schemes.
• If you disagree, follow the notice’s instructions for requesting an appeal, providing documentation, or contacting the IRS office shown on the notice (but confirm that contact information with IRS.gov first).

For guidance on drafting a response, see our walkthrough: How to respond to an IRS notice? (How to respond to an IRS notice?).

If the letter is suspicious or clearly fraudulent

• Do not call any phone number, click any links, or provide personal information from the letter.
• Forward suspicious emails to phishing@irs.gov and report phishing at the IRS reporting page (https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing). Paper letters that look fraudulent can be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the IRS; you should also report identity theft to IdentityTheft.gov and the Federal Trade Commission (https://www.identitytheft.gov/).
• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze if you believe your personal data has been exposed.

Practical tips to avoid scams

• Never pay the IRS with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Use official IRS payment portals or certified mail for correspondence.
• Create and use an IRS Online Account to monitor tax records; many disputes are cleared by reviewing a current transcript.
• Keep copies of any notice and your reply. If you hire a tax professional, give them a copy so they can represent you properly.

Common misconceptions

• “All IRS letters require immediate action.” False. Some notices are informational; others are urgent. Read the notice and check the deadline before reacting.
• “The IRS will call or text me first.” False. The IRS generally initiates contact by mail for tax matters. If you get unsolicited calls, texts, or emails claiming to be the IRS, verify them with IRS.gov.

(IRS reference: The IRS does not initiate contact through email, text messages or social media to request personal or financial information.)

Closing and professional perspective

Verifying an IRS letter takes a few deliberate steps: check the notice code, confirm contact details on IRS.gov, compare the claim to your IRS transcript, and never use the contact details on a suspicious notice. In my practice, the small time cost of verification has saved clients from identity theft and prevented unnecessary payments.

This article provides general information and is not specific tax advice. For tailored guidance, contact a qualified tax professional or attorney. For official information and sample notices, start at the IRS notices page (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-what-to-do-next) and use the IRS Get Transcript tool to verify account details (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript).