IRS tax problems in all 50 states · English / 中文
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Resources

IRS tax problem guides, in plain English and Chinese

Answers to the questions people ask most when the IRS comes calling, written by a tax attorney and CPA.
Free tool
Estimate which IRS options may fit you in two minutes.
Notice guide
Look up the code on your letter and see what to do next.
Quick answers
Short answers to the most common questions.

Articles & guides

Levy

November 5, 2026

IRS froze my bank account: what to do in the 21-day window

Why the bank holds your money for 21 days, and the steps that can get a levy released.

CP2000

November 5, 2026

CP2000 notice: how to respond, agree or dispute

A CP2000 is a proposal, not a bill. Here is how to check the IRS’s numbers and respond on time.

Letter

November 5, 2026

Got a letter from the IRS? 5 things to check first

How to tell a real IRS letter from a scam, what the notice number means, and which deadlines matter.

Letter
[DATE]

Got a letter from the IRS? 5 things to check first

How to tell a real IRS letter from a scam, what the notice number means, and which deadlines matter.
CP2000
[DATE]

CP2000 notice: how to respond, agree or dispute

A CP2000 is a proposal, not a bill. Here is how to check the IRS’s numbers and respond on time.
Levy
[DATE]

IRS froze my bank account: what to do in the 21-day window

Why the bank holds your money for 21 days, and the steps that can get a levy released.
OIC
[DATE]

Can’t pay? Installment agreement vs. Offer in Compromise

Which option fits your situation, what the IRS looks at, and common mistakes.
Unfiled
[DATE]

Years of unfiled tax returns: how to catch up safely

How far back you need to file, and how to limit penalties.
Audit
[DATE]

IRS audit letter? How to prepare and what to expect

Correspondence, office and field audits, and when to bring in a tax attorney.
3520
Foreign accounts & gifts
[DATE]

Money from parents abroad: do I need to file Form 3520?

Reporting thresholds for foreign gifts, and what happens if you missed it.
FBAR
Foreign accounts & gifts
[DATE]

Missed FBAR filings: penalties and how to fix them

Who must file, how penalties work, and the options for catching up.
941
Business owners
[DATE]

Behind on 941 payroll taxes? The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty explained

Why unpaid payroll taxes can become your personal debt, and how to respond.
Q&A
IRS letters
[DATE]

Can my tax preparer handle the IRS for me?

What a tax preparer can and cannot do, and when you need an attorney.
Notice guide

Got a letter? Find your notice code.

The code is in the top-right corner of the letter. Each one has its own deadline, and missing it can cost you options.
CP14
Pay or respond in 21 days

What is a CP14 balance-due notice?

Your first bill. The IRS says you owe tax and asks you to pay or set up a plan.
CP501 / CP503
Reminder

Why did I get a CP501 or CP503?

Follow-up reminders that your balance is still unpaid. Collection is escalating.
CP504
Urgent

What does a CP504 notice mean?

Notice of intent to levy. The IRS can now take your state tax refund and is moving toward other levies.
LT11 / Letter 1058
30 days

Final notice of intent to levy: what now?

You have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing before the IRS can levy wages and bank accounts.
CP2000
Respond by the date shown

Got a CP2000? Is it a bill?

Not yet. IRS income records don’t match your return, and the IRS is proposing changes you can agree with or dispute.
Letter 566 / 525
Respond by the date shown

Is my return being audited?

The IRS is examining your return and asking for documents, or proposing changes after an audit.
Not sure what your letter means? Send it to us and we will tell you, free.