Receiving a tax notice or letter is never a pleasant experience. It can be confusing and frustrating if you don't understand why you received the notice in the first place. That's why we wrote The Ultimate Guide to Tax Notices and created a tax notice library filled with the most common tax notices and letters you might receive. We believe the process of staying compliant with your taxes should be as effortless as possible.
General Information
- What is the notice number? CP21A
- What government agency sends this notice? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- What is this notice about? We made the changes you requested to your tax return for the tax year on the notice. You owe as a result of the changes.
- What should you do if you receive this notice?
- Read your notice carefully. It will explain why you owe.
- Contact the IRS if you disagree with the changes they made.
- If you agree with their changes, correct the copy of your tax return that you kept for your records.
- Pay the amount you owe by the due date on the notice's payment coupon.
- Make payment arrangements if you can't pay the full amount you owe.
FAQs & Additional Information
- The notice says, "Based on the information you provided, we changed your 20XX Form 1040 to correct your:...," but I don't remember sending any change to IRS. How can I find out what you received to make this change? Call the IRS at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.
- What do I say when I call the IRS? Mention that you received a CP21A notice with a balance due and you need to review your account. Be sure to have a copy of your notice and your tax return before you call.
- What should I do if I disagree with the changes the IRS made? Call the IRS at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.
- What happens if I can't pay the full amount I owe? You can arrange to make a payment plan with the IRS.
- Am I charged interest on the money I owe? Yes, interest will accrue if you don't pay the full amount you owe by the date on the payment coupon.
- Will I receive a penalty if I can't pay the full amount? Yes, you'll receive a late payment penalty. You can call the IRS at the number listed on your notice if you’re unable to pay the full amount shown because of circumstances beyond your control. If you contact the IRS by the due date of your payment, they may be able to remove the penalty, depending on your situation.
- What if I need to make another correction to my account? You'll need to file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
- What if I haven't been able to get answers after contacting IRS several times? Call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 or for TTY/TDD 800-829-4059.
- What if I think I'm a victim of identity theft? Call the IRS at the number listed on the top right corner of your notice. See the IRS Identity Theft resource page for more information.
What does it look like?
Resources
Looking for more information about this notice? Here are some helpful resources:
- About the notice - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp21a-notice
- Example copy of the notice - https://www.irs.gov/pub/notices/cp21a_english.pdf
How can we help you today?
Are you looking for more information about your tax notice or other challenges? DiMercurio Advisors has a dedicated team supporting tax notices, audits and more. We are passionate about ensuring you are well-informed and in control of your tax situation.
