Received a 2800c letter from the IRS and freaking out - what does this mean??

I just got a letter in the mail from the IRS and I'm kinda panicking. I think it's called a 2800c form or notice. Has anyone dealt with this before? The letter says they need more information to process my tax return and verify my income. They're questioning some of the income I reported, specifically about my W-2 from my part-time job where I made around $18,500 last year. The letter mentions something about "income verification" and they want me to send in documentation within 30 days. I filed back in February using TurboTax and thought everything was good to go. I was expecting a refund of about $1,120 and now I'm worried I won't get it. Do I need to be concerned? Is this just routine or am I in trouble? I've never gotten anything like this before and don't know what to do next. Should I call them? Send documents? Get professional help?

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18 comments

Lydia Bailey

•8M

The 2800C letter (also called the "Documentation Request Letter") is actually pretty common and not necessarily a reason to panic. The IRS is simply requesting verification for some information on your return before they process your refund. When you receive a 2800C, the IRS typically needs documentation to verify income, withholding, or credits claimed on your return. In your case, they're questioning the W-2 income. This could be due to a mismatch between what you reported and what your employer reported, or simply a random verification check. You should respond within the 30-day timeframe by sending copies (not originals) of the requested documents. For W-2 verification, send a copy of your W-2 form. Include a copy of the letter with your response and mail it to the address provided on the notice. I'd recommend sending it via certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

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Lydia Bailey

•8M

Calling the IRS can be helpful, but be prepared for long wait times. The number should be on your notice - typically it's the general IRS number (800-829-1040). Calling can give you clarification if you're unsure exactly what documents they need. If you don't have your W-2, you have a few options. First, check if you can access it through your employer's HR portal or payroll system. Alternatively, contact your employer's HR department directly for a copy. As a last resort, you can request a wage and income transcript from the IRS website which shows the information they have on file, but responding to the letter might be delayed waiting for this.

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Sofia Price

•8M

I went through something similar last year with a 2800C letter questioning my 1099 income. After spending HOURS trying to call the IRS with no luck, I found this AI tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand exactly what the letter meant and what I needed to do. It basically analyzed my notice and explained everything in simple terms - told me exactly what documents I needed to send and how to organize my response. Saved me so much stress! The tool also helped me draft a response letter to include with my documentation. My case was resolved in about 4 weeks and I got my refund shortly after.

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Sofia Price

•8M

You just take a picture of your IRS letter or upload it, and it tells you exactly what the notice means and what you need to do next. It breaks everything down in normal human language instead of IRS jargon. Super easy even if you're not great with technology. Regarding security, I had the same concern initially. They use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. Everything is processed securely and then deleted. They explain their security measures on their site, which made me comfortable enough to try it.

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Alice Coleman

•8M

Just wanted to update - I tried that taxr.ai site mentioned above for my 2800C letter and it was actually super helpful! I uploaded a pic of my letter and it immediately told me exactly what documents I needed to send in (copy of my W-2, pay stubs, and a brief explanation letter). It even helped me draft a response letter to the IRS explaining my situation. The whole process took like 15 minutes. I sent everything in last week via certified mail like it suggested. Will update when I hear back, but at least I feel like I've done what I needed to instead of panicking! So much easier than trying to get someone on the phone.

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Lilah Brooks

•8M

If you're struggling to get through to the IRS about your 2800C letter (and let's be honest, who isn't?), I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same boat last month - got a similar letter, couldn't get through to anyone at the IRS after trying for DAYS. I was super skeptical but checked out their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to give it a shot. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an actual human picks up. I was connected to an IRS agent within a couple hours without sitting on hold myself. The agent confirmed exactly what documents I needed to send in and gave me a direct fax number to expedite the process.

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Lilah Brooks

•8M

They don't bypass anything - they just use technology to wait in the phone queue for you. They call the regular IRS number and navigate the phone tree, then their system holds your place in line. When a real person answers, their system connects you directly to that agent. It's basically like having someone else wait on hold for you. Not promoting anything, just sharing what worked for me after dealing with the frustration. I was skeptical too, but it literally saved me hours of listening to that awful hold music. Give it a try or don't, just trying to help someone in the same situation I was in.

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Kolton Murphy

•8M

I need to eat my words from earlier. After waiting on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours yesterday and getting disconnected, I finally tried that Claimyr service out of desperation. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a callback about 90 minutes after signing up connecting me directly to an IRS agent. The agent confirmed my 2800C notice was just a verification check and walked me through exactly what I needed to send in. They even gave me tips on how to organize the documents to speed up processing. Definitely worth it to avoid the hold time hell. Sorry for being a skeptic, but dealing with the IRS has made me cynical about everything!

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Evelyn Rivera

•8M

Definitely include a copy of the 2800C letter they sent you on top of your documents package. Also include a brief cover letter that references your taxpayer ID (SSN), the tax year in question, and a list of exactly what documents you're enclosing. Try to make it super easy for them to match your documents to your case. I'd also recommend writing your taxpayer ID on the back of each document you send (in case pages get separated). And keep digital scans of everything you send for your own records.

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