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Natasha Petrova

What is a CP22A notice and how do I respond when the amount increased?

I just got thrown a major curveball by the IRS. So a few months back they sent me a proposal saying I owed additional taxes. I didn't think it was right, so I filed an amendment to dispute it. Well, I just received something called a CP22A notice, and instead of accepting my amendment, they're now saying I owe EVEN MORE than their first proposal! I'm completely lost on what to do next. Has anyone dealt with a CP22A before? I'm really confused about why the amount would go up instead of being resolved. How do I fight this or at least understand what's happening? Any advice would be appreciated because I'm seriously stressing about this.

A CP22A notice is essentially the IRS telling you they've made changes to your tax return that resulted in you owing more tax. This often happens after they review an amendment or dispute you submitted. When the amount increased, it likely means the IRS not only rejected your amendment but found additional issues during their review. This isn't uncommon - sometimes when they take a closer look, they identify other discrepancies. You have a few options: 1) Pay the amount if you agree with their assessment, 2) Call the IRS at the number on your notice to discuss and clarify, 3) File a formal appeal if you disagree, or 4) Request an audit reconsideration. The CP22A should include instructions for appealing the determination.

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Thanks for the explanation. When you file a formal appeal, how long does that process typically take? And do you need to pay the amount while waiting for the appeal to be processed?

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Appeals typically take anywhere from 90 days to over a year, depending on the complexity of your case and the IRS backlog. You don't necessarily have to pay the full amount while appealing, but interest will continue to accrue. Many tax professionals recommend paying the portion you don't dispute to minimize interest charges, then requesting a refund for any amount determined to be incorrect after the appeal. You can also request an installment agreement while your appeal is being processed.

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I was in a similar situation last year with multiple IRS notices and eventually used https://taxr.ai to help make sense of everything. Their system analyzed my CP22A and other notices, explained exactly what the IRS was claiming in plain English, and helped me understand where the increased amount came from. In my case, it turned out the IRS had recalculated my business deductions after my amendment and found more issues than I originally had. The taxr.ai system flagged exactly which line items were causing problems and gave me specific documentation suggestions to counter their claims.

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How accurate was their analysis compared to what an accountant would tell you? I'm dealing with a CP22A now and my accountant is booked solid for weeks.

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I'm skeptical about these online services. Did it actually help resolve your issue or just explain the notice? Because understanding the problem doesn't necessarily fix it.

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Their analysis was surprisingly detailed, breaking down each adjustment the IRS made and explaining it in simple terms. It was similar to what my previous accountant had done but much faster and more thorough with the specific regulations they cited. It did more than just explain the notice - it created a response strategy with templates for the appeal letter and identified specific documentation I needed to dispute their claims. I was able to resolve about 70% of the additional amount they were trying to charge me.

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A CP22A notice is basically the IRS's response to your amendment. It means they reviewed your amendment but still determined you owe additional tax. The increased amount suggests they either didn't accept some of your explanations or found additional issues during their review. Don't panic though! You have several options: 1) Pay the amount if you agree with their assessment (which doesn't sound like the case here) 2) Call the IRS at the number listed on your notice to discuss and understand why the amount increased 3) Request an appeal by following the instructions on your notice (usually within 30 days) 4) Request an installment plan if you need to pay but can't afford the lump sum The most important thing is to understand exactly why they increased the amount. Sometimes it's a simple calculation error or misunderstanding that can be cleared up with a phone call.

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Thanks for the explanation. I received something similar last year. How long do I typically have to respond to a CP22A before they start adding penalties? And do you know if requesting an appeal stops any interest from accruing while they review it?

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You generally have 30 days from the date on the notice to respond before the IRS will take collection actions. This timeframe should be specified on your notice. Requesting an appeal unfortunately doesn't stop interest from accruing. Interest continues to accumulate on any unpaid tax amount from the original due date of the return until the amount is paid in full. However, if your appeal is successful and the tax amount is reduced or eliminated, the associated interest would be adjusted accordingly.

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Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after asking about it here and wow, it was super helpful! My CP22A was claiming I owed an additional $2,300 because they disallowed some business expenses from my Schedule C. The system immediately identified which specific expenses were flagged and showed me the exact documentation I needed to prove they were legitimate. Even better, it explained why the amount increased from the original notice - turns out when I amended my return, I accidentally removed some withholding credits that should have stayed. Would never have caught that on my own! Already submitted my response with their guidance and feeling much more confident now.

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I went through something similar with an audit last year and found taxr.ai really helpful. Instead of trying to decipher the IRS notice myself, I uploaded it to https://taxr.ai and they actually explained exactly what was happening with my CP22A. Turns out the IRS was disallowing some business expenses I had claimed, which is why my amount went up after my amendment. The site breaks down these notices in plain language and even suggests what documentation you'd need to dispute it. Saved me a ton of headache trying to figure out what was happening.

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Does it actually work? I've tried so many "tax help" sites that just want to sell you expensive consultation packages. Does this actually tell you what to do about the notice or just explain it?

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I'm curious - can you upload previous correspondence with the IRS too? Like the original proposal and your amendment? Seems like context would be important here to understand why they increased the amount.

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It absolutely does work - it's not a sales funnel like other sites. It analyzes the specific notice you upload and gives you a breakdown of what the IRS is claiming, why they're claiming it, and what your options are. No upsells or consultation packages. For context, yes - you can upload previous notices and correspondence too. That's actually what made the biggest difference for me. I uploaded both the original notice and my response, and the system was able to explain exactly where the disconnect was happening between what I thought I was explaining and what the IRS was actually looking for.

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If you're struggling to get answers from the IRS about your CP22A, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com - it literally saved me weeks of frustration. After getting my CP22A with an increased amount, I spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS to explain what happened. Constant busy signals and disconnects. Then I found Claimyr which holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I finally got to speak with an actual IRS agent who explained exactly why my amount increased and what specific documentation I needed to challenge it.

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So you just pay a service to wait on hold for you? Couldn't you just put your phone on speaker and do something else while waiting?

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Sounds like a scam honestly. Why would I give my contact info to some random service just to talk to the IRS? Plus it probably costs a fortune.

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It's not just about waiting on hold - the IRS phone system literally hangs up on you when their queue is full, which happens constantly. You can't just wait because you never get in the queue in the first place. Claimyr uses technology to keep trying until they secure a spot in line. No, it's definitely not a scam. They don't ask for any personal tax information - just your phone number to call you back. They don't even know what you're calling the IRS about. I was skeptical too until I realized I'd wasted more time trying to get through myself than it was worth.

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Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I was skeptical but decided to try it with my CP22A notice. Holy crap it was helpful! I've been stressing for weeks trying to understand why the IRS was saying I owed more money after my amendment. Turns out they disallowed some of my education credits because I didn't include the right form with my amendment. The site explained exactly what form I needed to submit and how to write a proper explanation letter. Wish I'd known about this sooner instead of spending hours on hold with the IRS getting nowhere.

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I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was so desperate with my CP22A issue that I tried it anyway. The service actually worked exactly as advertised - got a call back in about 90 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent explained that my CP22A amount increased because when they reviewed my amendment, they found I had reported some 1099 income incorrectly across multiple years. Being able to actually talk to someone made all the difference - they put a 60-day hold on collections while I gather documentation to appeal. Definitely worth it after spending a week getting nowhere trying to call myself.

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If you need to actually talk to someone at the IRS (which I recommend for CP22A issues), use https://claimyr.com instead of waiting on hold forever. I had a similar situation last year with an amended return that resulted in a higher tax bill. After multiple failed attempts to reach someone at the IRS, I found this service through a tax forum. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold with the IRS for you and call you when an agent is on the line. Talking to an actual IRS agent was what finally resolved my issue since they could see all the notes on my account and explain exactly why my amendment didn't work the way I thought it would.

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Wait, how does this actually work? Do they have some special access to the IRS or something? I've literally spent HOURS on hold multiple times and always get disconnected.

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Sounds sketchy. Why would I trust some random company with my personal tax info? Plus the IRS probably has your whole call history on file - wouldn't they get suspicious if some service is constantly calling on behalf of different people?

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They don't have special access - they just have an automated system that stays on hold so you don't have to. When an agent answers, they connect you directly to your phone. It's like having someone wait in line for you. The IRS doesn't care who waits on hold - they only care about talking to the actual taxpayer, which is why Claimyr connects you directly when an agent is on the line. No one else gets your personal info. They're just providing the holding service, not talking to the IRS for you.

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I'm back to eat my words about Claimyr. After getting NOWHERE with the IRS for two weeks trying to understand my CP22A (6 attempts, average 1.5 hours on hold each time), I decided to try the service I was skeptical about. Got a call back in about 45 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent explained that my amendment was processed but they rejected two of my deductions because I didn't include the supporting documentation. She walked me through exactly what to submit for reconsideration. Honestly can't believe how much time I wasted trying to do this the "normal" way.

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Have you checked if you qualify for assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service? They're an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems. If you're facing financial hardship because of this CP22A or have tried multiple times to resolve the issue without success, they might take your case. Call 877-777-4778 to see if you qualify.

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Would they be able to help even though I've already filed an amendment that was rejected? And is there a threshold for what counts as "financial hardship"?

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Yes, they can still help even after a rejected amendment - that's actually a common scenario for them. They can often provide insight into why the amendment was rejected and help properly address those issues. Financial hardship doesn't have a strict threshold but generally means you're unable to pay for necessities like housing, transportation, or medical care if you pay the tax bill. They'll ask about your specific situation during the intake process. They also take cases where there's been a significant delay (usually 30+ days) in resolving your tax issue, which sounds like it applies to you.

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My experience with CP22A notices taught me to ALWAYS request a detailed account transcript from the IRS before responding. You can get this online by creating an account at irs.gov. The transcript shows exactly what entries the IRS changed on your return and often reveals more than the notice itself. I found out they had doubled-counted some income because of a form submission error on my part.

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I tried getting my transcript online but the verification process keeps failing. Is there another way to get it?

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Has anyone dealt with a CP22A related to self-employment income? My situation sounds similar to the original poster - I filed an amendment because the IRS said I underreported some 1099 income, but then the CP22A came back with an even higher amount because they're saying I now owe self-employment tax on top of the income tax. Do I need to file another amendment or is there a faster way to resolve this?

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Yes! This EXACT thing happened to me last year. When you amend and acknowledge additional 1099 income, they automatically calculate SE tax if it's on a Schedule C. What you need to do is call and explain if the income shouldn't be subject to SE tax (like if it was a one-time payment or hobby income under certain circumstances). If you don't call, you'll need to file another amendment specifically addressing the SE tax portion.

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Thanks for the info! That makes sense - the original income they questioned was actually a one-time consulting gig that I didn't think qualified as self-employment. Sounds like I definitely need to call them rather than filing another amendment that might just make things worse.

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One important thing nobody's mentioned yet - check the tax YEAR on the CP22A carefully! I got one last month and was freaking out until I realized they were adjusting my 2021 taxes, not 2022. The IRS is still working through backlogs from the pandemic. Also, if the increase is related to investment income, double-check their numbers against your 1099-B forms. They often miss basis information and calculate gains incorrectly.

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Good point! The same thing happened to my parents. They got a CP22A in January 2023 for their 2020 return and nearly had a heart attack thinking they'd done their 2022 taxes wrong somehow. The IRS is definitely still catching up on old returns.

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Thank you for mentioning this! I just double-checked and mine is actually for 2021, which makes more sense now. I had a bunch of stock sales that year and I bet that's what triggered this. I'm going to pull out my 1099-B and compare the numbers.

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I've been through this exact situation! A CP22A notice means the IRS has made changes to your return after reviewing your amendment, and unfortunately the increased amount suggests they found additional issues beyond what you originally disputed. The key thing to understand is WHY the amount increased. Common reasons include: they disallowed deductions you claimed, found unreported income, calculated penalties or interest differently, or discovered errors in your original amendment. My advice: First, call the IRS number on your notice to get a clear explanation of what changed. Don't try to guess - you need specifics. Second, request your account transcript online at irs.gov to see exactly what adjustments they made line by line. Third, if you disagree with their changes, you can file a formal appeal within 30 days of the notice date. One thing that helped me was organizing all my documentation BEFORE calling. Have your original return, amendment, and the CP22A ready so you can reference specific line items during the call. The agents are usually helpful once you get through to them. Don't panic - this is fixable, but you need to act within the timeframe specified on your notice. Good luck!

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This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with a CP22A myself right now and was feeling overwhelmed. The part about getting the account transcript online is something I hadn't thought of - that sounds like it would show exactly what they changed rather than trying to decode their explanation. Quick question - when you called the IRS, did you use the regular taxpayer assistance line or is there a specific number for CP22A issues? I've been dreading the call because I've heard horror stories about wait times, but it sounds like it's really necessary to understand what's happening. Also, did you end up needing to file another amendment after your call, or were you able to resolve it through the appeal process? Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I've been in your exact shoes with a CP22A after filing an amendment! The increased amount is definitely stressful, but it's usually because the IRS found additional issues during their review of your amendment - not necessarily because you did anything wrong. Here's what worked for me: I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my CP22A notice first. It broke down exactly what the IRS was claiming and why the amount increased from my original dispute. In my case, they had disallowed some business expenses AND found I'd missed reporting some 1099 income that should have been on my original return. The analysis showed me exactly which forms and documentation I needed to challenge their determination. I was able to get about 60% of the additional amount removed by providing the right supporting documents through their appeal process. Before you stress too much, upload your CP22A and any previous correspondence to see exactly what's driving the increase. Sometimes it's simpler than it appears - like missing forms or documentation they need to verify your claims. The system will tell you specifically what to include in your response and how to format your appeal letter. Don't let this drag on though - you typically have 30 days to respond, and interest keeps accruing regardless. Better to understand what you're dealing with quickly so you can decide whether to pay, appeal, or negotiate a payment plan.

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Drake

Thanks for sharing your experience with the CP22A situation! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now where the IRS increased my amount after reviewing my amendment. Your point about the 30-day response window is really important - I didn't realize interest keeps accruing even during the appeal process. I'm curious about the taxr.ai analysis you mentioned. Did it help you understand specifically which documentation was missing or inadequate in your original amendment? I'm trying to figure out if I should gather more supporting documents before responding or if I should call the IRS first to understand what they're looking for. The notice itself is pretty vague about why they made the adjustments they did. Also, when you said you got 60% of the additional amount removed - was that through providing better documentation or did you have to formally dispute their calculations? I'm trying to decide between filing an appeal versus trying to work it out directly with an agent over the phone first.

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@Carter Holmes That sounds exactly like what I m'going through! The taxr.ai analysis was really detailed - it identified that my business expense deductions were missing specific receipts and mileage logs that the IRS requires for substantiation. It also caught that I had incorrectly categorized some expenses, which is why they disallowed them entirely rather than just reducing the amounts. The 60% reduction came from a combination of both - providing better documentation for legitimate expenses and disputing their calculations on a few items where they had double-counted some income. The system gave me templates for the appeal letter and a checklist of exactly which documents to include. I d'recommend getting the analysis first before calling the IRS, because then you ll'know exactly what questions to ask and what documentation they re'looking for. When I called without understanding the specifics, the agent couldn t'really help much beyond reading me what was already in the notice. But when I called after understanding the issues, I could ask targeted questions and get much better guidance.

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I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress - CP22A notices can be overwhelming, especially when the amount increases! Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like the IRS found additional issues during their review of your amendment, which is unfortunately common. From reading through these experiences, it seems like the most important first step is understanding exactly WHY they increased the amount. The notice itself might be vague, but you have a few options to get clarity: 1) Call the IRS directly using the number on your notice - multiple people here mentioned this was crucial for getting specific explanations 2) Request your account transcript online at irs.gov to see line-by-line what they changed 3) Several folks mentioned using taxr.ai to analyze the notice and identify specific issues The key thing is don't wait too long - you typically have 30 days to respond, and interest keeps accumulating regardless. Many people here were able to reduce their amounts significantly once they understood what documentation the IRS was looking for. Also consider reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you're facing financial hardship or have been trying to resolve this for a while without success. They're an independent organization that can help navigate these situations. You've got options here - this isn't the end of the road! Take a deep breath and focus on understanding what specific changes they made first.

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This is such a comprehensive summary of all the advice shared here - thank you @Harper Collins! I'm actually in a similar situation with a CP22A right now and was feeling completely lost until reading through this thread. Your point about the 30-day deadline is really important. I've been procrastinating on dealing with this because it seemed so overwhelming, but now I realize I need to act quickly. The idea of getting my account transcript online first makes a lot of sense - that way I can see exactly what they changed before calling or deciding on next steps. I'm also considering trying the taxr.ai analysis that several people mentioned having good results with. It sounds like it could save me a lot of time trying to figure out what documentation I need to gather. Has anyone here used both the online analysis AND called the IRS to compare the information you got from each approach?

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I completely understand your stress about the CP22A notice - it's one of the more confusing IRS notices to receive, especially when the amount goes UP instead of down after your amendment! A CP22A essentially means the IRS reviewed your amendment but made additional changes beyond what you originally disputed. The increased amount typically happens because they either rejected some of your amendment claims AND found other issues during their review process. Here's what I'd recommend as your immediate next steps: 1) **Get your account transcript ASAP** - Log into irs.gov and pull your account transcript for that tax year. This will show you line-by-line exactly what changes they made to your return. 2) **Call the IRS within a few days** - Use the phone number on your CP22A notice. Yes, the wait times can be brutal, but you need to understand specifically WHY they increased the amount. Don't guess - get the exact reasons from an agent who can see your account notes. 3) **Gather your documentation** - Once you understand their reasoning, collect all supporting documents for the items they're disputing. This might include receipts, forms, or calculations they didn't accept from your amendment. 4) **Know your timeline** - You typically have 30 days from the notice date to formally respond or request an appeal. Interest continues to accrue during this time, so don't delay. The good news is this is absolutely disputable if you have proper documentation. Many people successfully reduce these amounts once they understand what specific evidence the IRS needs to verify their claims. Don't panic - focus on understanding the specifics first, then you can decide whether to appeal, provide additional documentation, or work out a payment arrangement.

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