Got an IRS notice - freaking out! What should I do?
Hey everyone, I just got a notice from the IRS and I'm freaking out. Has anyone else dealt with this? What should I do? I'm worried it might be about some back taxes or something. Any advice would be really appreciated!
24 comments


Liam O'Donnell
Ugh, IRS notices are the worst. Don't panic tho! What kind of notice is it? There are different types and some are scarier than others.
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Mei Liu
•Thanks for responding! I'm not sure exactly what type it is. I haven't opened it yet 😬 I'm too scared lol
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Liam O'Donnell
•Bruh, you gotta open it! 😂 The sooner you know what ur dealing with, the better. It might not even be that bad!
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Amara Nwosu
•Agreed! Open it ASAP. ignoring it won't make it go away trust me 🙄
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AstroExplorer
I've been there, and it's not fun. But here's what you need to do: 1. Open the notice immediately. Don't delay. 2. Read it carefully and try to understand what they're asking for. 3. Check if there's a deadline for response. 4. Gather any relevant documents (tax returns, receipts, etc.) 5. If it's about owing money, see if you qualify for a payment plan. 6. Consider getting professional help if it's complicated. Remember, the IRS isn't out to get you. They're usually willing to work with you if you communicate with them.
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Mei Liu
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps. Do you think I should call them or just respond in writing?
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AstroExplorer
•It depends on the notice, but generally, responding in writing is better because it creates a paper trail. If you call, make sure to take detailed notes of the conversation, including the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with.
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Giovanni Moretti
Whatever you do, DON'T IGNORE IT! I made that mistake once and ended up owing wayyy more because of penalties and interest. ðŸ˜
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Fatima Al-Farsi
Hey, I found a method to get someone on the phone at the IRS. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Dylan Cooper
•Sounds sketchy. Is this legit?
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•Totally get the skepticism, but yeah, it's legit. I was desperate after being on hold for hours and it actually worked for me. Saved me a ton of time and stress.
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Sofia Perez
•How does it work exactly? Do they just keep redialing or something?
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•From what I understand, they use some kind of AI to navigate the phone menus and detect when a human picks up. Then it calls you. Pretty neat tech tbh.
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Dmitry Smirnov
Am I the only one who thinks its ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to talk to someone at the IRS? 🤡 The system is broken af
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ElectricDreamer
•Preach! 🙌 It's a total joke. They can take our money quick enough but god forbid we need help
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Ava Johnson
•Facts. And don't even get me started on their website. It's like they're stuck in 1995 💀
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Miguel Diaz
Pro tip: If you owe money, ask about an Offer in Compromise. You might be able to settle for less than you owe if you can prove financial hardship.
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Zainab Ahmed
idk if this helps but I got a notice last year and it turned out to be nothing major. Just a discrepancy in reported income that was easy to clear up. Don't assume the worst!
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Mei Liu
•That's reassuring to hear! How long did it take you to resolve it?
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Zainab Ahmed
•It took about a month all told. Had to send in some additional docs but it wasnt too bad
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Connor Byrne
Anyone else think its sus that the IRS can just send these scary notices whenever they want? Like, how do we know its not a scam? 🤔
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Yara Abboud
•Bruh, the IRS literally puts anti-scam warnings on their notices. If you're worried, you can always call their official number to verify.
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Connor Byrne
•Fair point. I'm just paranoid I guess lol
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PixelPioneer
Hey OP, once you open the notice, you might want to check out r/tax. They have some really knowledgeable people who might be able to give more specific advice.
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