Agreed on IRS audit numbers but now CP22 shows double the amount owed

This happens more often than you'd think with the IRS. When you went through your audit, the auditor likely calculated the tax deficiency, but the CP22 notice might include penalties and interest that weren't part of your initial agreement. First thing you should do is carefully compare the numbers on your CP22 with your audit documentation. The CP22 should break down the additional tax assessment, penalties, and interest separately. If the base tax amount differs from what you agreed to during the audit, that's a red flag. Don't panic though! Call the IRS at the number on your notice and explain the situation. Ask for a detailed explanation of the calculation and mention that you have documentation showing the agreed amount from the audit. Request a hold on collections while this is being resolved so interest doesn't continue to accrue.

After going through something similar last year, I discovered taxr.ai when I was at my wit's end with confusing IRS notices. I had agreed to one amount during an audit and then got hit with a totally different bill months later. I uploaded my CP22 notice and audit documentation to https://taxr.ai and the system actually explained exactly what happened - in my case, they had applied the additional tax to both my federal and state returns, essentially double-counting the adjustment. The tool parsed all the complicated IRS language and gave me a clear explanation of what went wrong and how to address it. They also provided a template letter I could customize to respond to the IRS. Honestly saved me hours of frustration and probably a good chunk of money too.

Just wanted to update everyone - I decided to try taxr.ai after my skeptical question above. I was really surprised by how well it worked! The system immediately identified that my CP22 was incorrectly including penalties that had been waived during the audit process. The detailed breakdown showed exactly where the discrepancy was coming from - there was a miscommunication between the audit department and the notice generation system. The tool generated a response letter that cited the specific IRS procedures that applied to my situation. I just got off the phone with the IRS today and they confirmed they're processing the correction. The agent I spoke with actually commented on how clearly my response letter explained the issue!

When I had a similar issue last year, I wasted WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS. Always busy signals or being on hold for hours only to get disconnected. Then someone recommended https://claimyr.com to me. I was super hesitant at first because it sounded too good to be true, but I was desperate. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you back when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I got connected with an actual IRS representative within an hour of using their service. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to put my account on hold and make notes about the discrepancy while I mailed in the supporting documentation. Saved me so much stress compared to trying to call them myself repeatedly.

I need to eat my words and update everyone. After my skeptical comment above, I was still struggling to resolve my own IRS issue and was getting nowhere with certified mail (3 weeks and no response). Out of desperation, I tried Claimyr. I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. Got connected to an IRS representative in about 45 minutes. The agent was able to pull up my audit file and immediately saw the discrepancy between the agreed amount and the CP22 notice. She put my account on hold for 60 days while the issue is being resolved and gave me a direct reference number for follow-up. What would have potentially taken months through mail correspondence was essentially resolved in one phone call. The IRS is sending me a corrected notice within 30 days. Definitely changed my perspective on how to handle these situations.

Make sure you look closely at the "examination report" from your audit (usually Form 4549) and compare it with the CP22. Sometimes the examination report shows the additional tax only, while the CP22 includes that PLUS penalties and interest. In my experience, it's usually not that they doubled the actual tax amount, but that they've added failure-to-pay penalties (usually 0.5% per month), accuracy-related penalties (20% of the unpaid tax), and interest (which compounds daily). These additions can significantly increase the total amount due.

Make sure you're also checking the tax year on both documents! I once had a similar panic moment until I realized the CP22 was actually addressing BOTH my 2023 and 2024 tax years, while my audit agreement only covered 2024. Easy to miss this detail when you're stressed about the numbers.