Can you fax a check to the IRS when responding to a CP 2000 notice?
So I got this lovely CP 2000 notice from the IRS a couple weeks ago. After going through everything, I partially agreed with their findings and ended up amending my return. According to my calculations on the amended return, I now owe about $2250 to the IRS. When I initially got the CP 2000, I called the IRS helpline and actually got through to a real person (miracle of miracles!). The agent was surprisingly helpful and gave me a direct fax number to send my response and documentation to. Here's my question - can I fax a check along with my response documents to this direct fax number? Or does the payment absolutely have to be sent through regular mail? I'd rather handle everything in one submission if possible, but I'm not sure if the IRS would actually process a faxed check as payment. Has anyone done this before or know what the proper procedure is? Thanks in advance for any help!
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Ravi Kapoor
No, you cannot fax a check to the IRS. The IRS requires an original check with your actual signature on it, and a faxed copy won't be processed as payment. You have several better options for sending your payment: 1) Mail the check separately to the address specified on your CP 2000 notice 2) Pay online through the IRS Direct Pay system (no fee) 3) Pay by credit/debit card through an approved payment processor (small fee) 4) Pay by electronic funds withdrawal if you're e-filing your amended return I'd recommend either mailing the check or using the Direct Pay option on the IRS website. Just make sure to include your tax ID number, tax year, and reference the CP 2000 notice number on your payment.
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Freya Nielsen
•If I use the Direct Pay option on the IRS website, how long does it usually take for them to process the payment? My CP 2000 notice gives me a deadline of 30 days from when I received it, which is coming up soon. Will they consider the payment "on time" if I submit it electronically on the deadline day?
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Ravi Kapoor
•The IRS considers electronic payments made through Direct Pay to be received on the date you submit the payment, even if it takes a few days to process on their end. So yes, if you submit the payment on the deadline day, it would be considered on time. As a best practice though, I'd recommend submitting the payment at least 2-3 business days before the deadline just to be safe. The IRS will send you an email confirmation when the payment is submitted successfully, so keep that as proof of your timely payment.
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Omar Mahmoud
I went through almost this exact situation last year! After trying to call the IRS for weeks, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand all the CP 2000 documentation and figure out my payment options. They analyzed all my docs, explained exactly what I needed to do about the CP 2000, and even told me which payment method would work best for my situation. Their system actually identified a couple deductions I missed that reduced what I owed by about $800! Definitely worth checking out if you're confused about any part of the CP 2000 response process.
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Chloe Harris
•Did they explain why you got the CP 2000 in the first place? I got one too and I'm still confused about why the IRS thinks I under-reported income when I'm pretty sure I included everything on my return.
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Diego Vargas
•I'm a bit suspicious of these services. How much did taxr.ai end up costing you? I've heard horror stories about tax resolution companies charging thousands of dollars for things you could do yourself.
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Omar Mahmoud
•They explained that my CP 2000 was triggered because of a 1099 from a side gig that didn't match what I reported. Apparently the company reported a higher amount than what I actually received after some expenses were reimbursed, and taxr.ai helped me document the difference properly. The cost was way less than I expected compared to hiring a CPA or tax attorney. I don't want to give specific numbers since they might have different options now, but it was definitely reasonable considering how much they saved me in the end.
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Chloe Harris
Just wanted to update everyone - I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it was seriously helpful! I uploaded my CP 2000 notice and all my tax documents, and they broke everything down in plain English. Turns out I had misreported some stock sales and that's what triggered the notice. Their system showed me exactly where the discrepancy was and helped me prepare a proper response. They even generated all the explanation letters I needed to send to the IRS! I ended up using their payment recommendation (IRS Direct Pay) and got confirmation immediately. Saved me so much stress trying to figure all this out on my own.
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NeonNinja
If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS phone lines to ask about payment options, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used them when I got a CP 2000 last year and was trying to figure out payment options. Check out their demo here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent picks up. I was connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes rather than spending hours on hold. The agent confirmed that faxing a check isn't possible, but they gave me specific instructions for my situation and made sure I understood all my payment options.
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Anastasia Popov
•How does that even work? Seems like it would be against some kind of rule for them to hold your place in line. Do they just use bots to call the IRS repeatedly?
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Sean Murphy
•Yeah right, there's no way this actually works. I've been trying to reach the IRS for MONTHS about my tax issue. If this service actually got someone on the phone in 45 minutes, I'd be shocked.
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NeonNinja
•It's totally legit - they use a call system that waits on hold for you. When a real IRS agent picks up, their system calls your phone and connects you directly to the agent. No bots or anything sketchy like that. They have agreements with the phone carriers that allow them to essentially transfer the call to you once a human answers. It's the same technology some doctor's offices use for appointments.
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Sean Murphy
I just have to admit I was completely wrong! I tried Claimyr yesterday after being skeptical, and I'm still in shock that it actually worked. After trying for weeks to reach someone at the IRS about my CP 2000, I got connected to an agent in about an hour. The IRS agent not only confirmed that you can't fax checks (has to be mailed or paid electronically), but they also helped me set up a payment plan since I couldn't pay my full amount at once. I was able to ask all my questions and get everything resolved in one call. Seriously wish I'd known about this months ago instead of wasting days on hold just to get disconnected!
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Zara Khan
Just an additional tip - when you send your response to the CP 2000, make sure to include Form 1040-X (Amended Return) if you're changing anything on your original return. I learned this the hard way when my first response got rejected because I just sent a letter explaining the changes without the official form. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING you send, and if possible, send your response via certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The IRS has been known to "lose" documentation.
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Luca Ferrari
•Do you need to send Form 1040-X even if you're just providing documentation but not actually changing any numbers on your return? My CP 2000 is just asking for proof of a deduction I already claimed.
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Zara Khan
•If you're not changing any numbers and just providing supporting documentation for what you already claimed, you typically don't need to submit Form 1040-X. Just include a clear explanation letter referencing your CP 2000 notice number along with your documentation. However, you should still use the response form that came with your CP 2000 notice to indicate whether you agree or disagree with their findings. That form is crucial for proper processing.
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Nia Davis
Has anyone had success with requesting a payment plan through the CP 2000 response? I got hit with a similar notice and owe around $3000, but there's no way I can pay that all at once right now.
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Mateo Martinez
•Yes! I just went through this. When you respond to the CP 2000, there's usually a payment options section on the response form. You can check the box indicating you can't pay in full. Once they process your response and send the final bill, you can set up an installment agreement online through the IRS website for balances under $50,000. I set mine up for $100/month and it was super easy to do online. Just make sure you actually set it up once you get the final bill - don't ignore it or they'll start collections.
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