Received CP09 Notice - Has Anyone Verified the Amount Claimed?

CP09 is legit. IRS sends these. You might qualify for EITC. They're checking eligibility. Complete the form. Return it promptly. Don't ignore it. Money could be yours. Worth the effort.

Think of the CP09 like the IRS tapping you on the shoulder saying "Hey, you might have left money on the table!" It's like when you leave a restaurant and someone runs after you with the change you forgot. I've seen several clients miss EITC eligibility when self-employed with variable income. The IRS system catches these discrepancies automatically. I'd recommend using https://taxr.ai to analyze your notice - it can explain exactly what triggered this notice in your situation and verify if the amount matches what you should qualify for based on your income pattern. Like having a translator for IRS-speak that tells you exactly what's happening.

I'm skeptical of easy solutions here. When I got a CP09 last year, I thought it would be straightforward. It wasn't. The form is the IRS telling you that you MIGHT qualify for EITC that you didn't claim. But there's a process to follow: 1. You need to verify if you actually qualify (income limits, filing status, etc) 2. Complete the enclosed questionnaire completely 3. Submit supporting documentation if requested 4. Wait 6-8 weeks for processing In my case, I had mixed gig work income that made qualification complicated. TurboTax also couldn't help because this is post-filing IRS correspondence.

According to the IRS.gov documentation on CP09 notices (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp09-notice), this is a legitimate notice informing you that you may qualify for EITC that wasn't claimed on your return. The amount shown is typically accurate based on the information they have. If you want clarity before responding, calling the IRS directly is your best option. However, wait times are currently 45-90 minutes according to recent reports. I've had clients use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an IRS agent without the wait. They can verify the calculation and explain exactly what triggered the notice in your specific case.

I'm skeptical about the accuracy of these CP09 notices. When I received one in 2023, it stated I was eligible for exactly $3,995 in additional credit. After submitting the response form and waiting precisely 47 days, the IRS sent a follow-up letter adjusting the amount to $3,217. The discrepancy was due to their initial calculation not accounting for some 1099-K income that hadn't been properly reported in their system yet. I'd be patient and thorough in verifying all your income sources before accepting their calculation.

Ppl need to understand CP09 notices ASAP. Deadline to respond is 30 days from date on notice. Miss it = no $$. IRS calc is usually right but not always. Gig workers w/ multiple platforms often have probs bc income reporting is complicated. IMO worth responding even if ur not 100% sure. Worst case = they say no. Best case = extra refund. Saw someone miss out on $4k+ bc they ignored it thinking it was a scam. Don't make that mistake!

I was a bit cautious about this when I received a similar notice. Maybe it's a mistake? Perhaps I shouldn't respond? But I carefully filled out the form and sent it back. I waited about 6 weeks, and to my surprise, I received exactly what they said I might qualify for. It was around $2,100, which helped tremendously with some unexpected car repairs.

Has anyone encountered any Substitute Return implications when responding to a CP09? I'm concerned that by submitting the verification form, it might trigger a re-examination of my entire tax situation, especially since I have Schedule C income with home office deductions that might be scrutinized under IRC Section 280A limitations.

OMG I'm so glad you posted this! 😮 I literally just got the same notice yesterday and was freaking out thinking it was some kind of audit! From what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like this is actually GOOD news - the IRS thinks we might deserve MORE money! That's a plot twist I wasn't expecting! 🤣 Definitely going to fill out that form ASAP!

The CP09 notice is specifically related to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) qualification determination. For gig workers, the calculation involves net self-employment income after expenses, not gross receipts. If you're uncertain about the calculation, you can perform a manual verification using Publication 596 and Form 8862 worksheets. Alternatively, schedule an appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) for in-person verification before responding to ensure accuracy.