Responding to IRS CP2100A notice when my 1099-NEC information is actually correct - Can I respond in writing?
I received a CP2100A notice from the IRS last week dated October 3, 2023 regarding a 1099-NEC I issued to myself from my sole proprietorship. According to the notice, the IRS claims the payee name is missing a letter in the first name and the first digit of the TIN is wrong. Here's the weird part - when I checked my copy of the 1099-NEC (Copy B for recipient, Copy 2 for state taxes, and Copy C for payer), all the information is 100% correct. Since these are carbon copies of Copy A that went to the IRS, I'm pretty sure the IRS made the data entry error, not me. The notice came from their Philadelphia processing center. Is there a specific way to respond in writing to this notice? Should I just write back to the Philadelphia address on the notice, or is there a special address I need to use? I plan to include a copy of the 1099-NEC to prove the information was correct on the original form I submitted. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm annoyed because this is clearly their mistake, not mine, and I want to make sure I respond correctly so this doesn't become a bigger headache later.
18 comments


Morgan Washington
Having worked with tax issues for many years, I can tell you that responding to a CP2100A notice is straightforward but needs to be done properly. When the IRS makes a data entry error like this (which happens more often than they'd like to admit), you should respond in writing to the exact address shown on the notice itself, usually in the upper left corner. Include a detailed letter explaining exactly what you've described here - that your copies of the 1099-NEC show the correct information, meaning the error occurred during IRS processing. Attach a clear photocopy of your 1099-NEC copies to support your case. Make sure to reference the notice number (CP2100A) and include your taxpayer ID number on all correspondence. Keep copies of everything you send and consider using certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of when they received your response. The IRS typically takes 30-45 days to process these responses, so don't expect an immediate acknowledgment.
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Kaylee Cook
•Thanks for your response! Do you know if I need to use any specific form to respond, or just a regular letter explaining the situation? Also, should I be worried about potential penalties while this gets sorted out?
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Morgan Washington
•A regular letter is sufficient - there's no special form required for responding to a CP2100A notice. Just make your explanation clear and include copies of the supporting documents. Regarding penalties, you shouldn't face any immediate issues since you're responding promptly to the notice. The CP2100A is essentially a notification of a name/TIN mismatch, not a penalty notice. Just make sure you respond within the timeframe specified in the notice (usually 30-60 days) to prevent any escalation of the issue.
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Oliver Alexander
Just wanted to share that I had a similar issue with a CP2100A notice earlier this year when I paid a contractor through my small business. I found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful for drafting my response to the IRS. It helped me understand exactly what I needed to include and how to format my response letter. Their system analyzed my 1099 forms and the CP notice, then gave me really specific guidance on what to say in my response. They even explained exactly what supporting documents to include to get the issue resolved quickly. Saved me tons of time trying to figure out the right approach!
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Lara Woods
•Did you use the free version or did you have to pay for it? I'm always skeptical of these services because they end up being expensive and I feel like I could just Google the info.
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Adrian Hughes
•How long did it take for the IRS to process your response after using their guidance? I've heard horror stories about things getting lost in the system for months.
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Oliver Alexander
•I used their basic service which was very reasonable for what I got - definitely worth it compared to the hours I would have spent researching and stressing about getting it right. For your question about timeframe, I was actually surprised - the IRS processed my response in about 5 weeks. I got a confirmation letter saying the issue was resolved. Much faster than I expected based on all the IRS delay stories I've heard too!
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Adrian Hughes
Just wanted to update that I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. Honestly, it was exactly what I needed! The system walked me through everything and helped me create a super detailed response letter to the IRS about my CP2100A notice. I was really impressed with how they explained the exact sections of tax code that applied to my situation, which made my response much more authoritative. The IRS actually responded to me within a month confirming they corrected the error on their end! No more stress about this hanging over my head. Wish I'd known about this service years ago for other tax issues.
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Molly Chambers
If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about this CP2100A notice (which can be really frustrating), I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at the IRS. I was skeptical at first, but after waiting on hold for 3+ hours multiple days in a row with no luck, I decided to try it. They have this system that essentially holds your place in line and then calls you back when an IRS agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works in their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was able to explain the situation to an actual IRS representative who confirmed that I should send in copies of my correct 1099-NEC to the address on the notice, and they made notes in my file about the discrepancy.
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Ian Armstrong
•Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone system is notoriously terrible. How can this service possibly get you through when the normal system doesn't?
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Eli Butler
•Sounds too good to be true. Have people really had success with this? The IRS phone system has been completely overwhelmed for years, I find it hard to believe any service could reliably get through.
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Molly Chambers
•It essentially uses automated technology to dial and navigate the IRS phone system continuously until it reaches a human. Once it gets through, it calls you to connect. It's not jumping the line - you're still waiting your turn, but the system is doing the waiting for you so you don't have to stay on hold for hours. Yes, people really do have success with it! I was skeptical too, but after endless failed attempts to reach someone, I was desperate. It worked exactly as promised - took about 2.5 hours (which is actually faster than average for the IRS these days), but I was able to do other things during that time instead of being stuck on hold.
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Eli Butler
Alright, I need to eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to give Claimyr a shot since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a similar notice for weeks with zero success. I'm honestly shocked - it actually worked! The system called me back after about 3 hours and connected me directly to an IRS agent. The agent was surprisingly helpful and explained that with CP2100A notices, they can actually add notes to your account about the error being on their end. They still recommended sending in the written response with documentation as others have suggested, but now I have a case number and the name of the person I spoke with to reference in my letter. For anyone dealing with these frustrating notices, being able to actually speak to a human at the IRS made a huge difference in my understanding of what needed to be done.
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Marcus Patterson
One thing nobody has mentioned yet - make sure you're responding to the CORRECT address. The return address on the notice itself isn't always where you should send your response. Look for specific instructions within the notice that will tell you exactly where to mail your response. Also, just to add to what others have said, I'd recommend including the following in your response package: 1. A cover letter explaining the situation clearly 2. A copy of the CP2100A notice 3. Copies of ALL versions of the 1099-NEC you have (but never send originals) 4. Your contact information including a daytime phone number
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Layla Sanders
•Thanks for this advice! I just checked my notice again and you're right - there's actually a specific address listed in the instructions section that's different from the return address. Would have totally missed that.
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Marcus Patterson
•Glad you caught that! It's one of those details that's easy to miss but can make a big difference in how quickly your response gets processed. The other thing I forgot to mention is to make sure you keep the certified mail receipt and tracking information for at least a year. I've had situations where the IRS claimed they never received something, and having that proof of delivery saved me from some serious headaches.
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Lydia Bailey
Has anyone successfully resolved a CP2100A without calling or using special services? I mailed my response with documentation two months ago for a similar issue and haven't heard anything back. Getting worried they lost my response or are ignoring it.
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Mateo Warren
•I resolved mine by mail only last year, but it took almost 3 months to get their confirmation letter. As long as you have proof you mailed it (certified mail), you should be fine. They're just incredibly slow with paper processing.
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