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? LT39
- What government agency sends this notice? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- What is this notice about? The IRS is required by law to remind you in writing about your overdue tax.
- What should you do if you receive this notice?
- Pay the balance due within 10 days using the envelope provided.
- If you’re already working with the IRS to resolve the balance, no action is required.
- If you’ve already paid the balance, call the telephone number listed on the letter.
- If you can’t pay the balance due, call the telephone number listed on the letter.
FAQs & Additional Information
- How much time do I have to respond? To avoid enforcement action, contact the IRS within 10 days from the date on the letter.
- What if I can’t pay the balance in full? Pay what you can now; any payments will reduce the amount of interest and applicable penalties added to the remaining balance in the future. You can enter into a payment plan to pay any remaining balance on your account over time.
- What happens if I don’t respond to this letter or don’t pay?
- The IRS may take enforced collection action to collect the amount including the filing of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, or garnishment of your wages or other income sources or bank accounts. A lien is a public notice to your creditors that the government has a right to your interests in your current assets and any assets you acquire after they file the lien. It can affect your ability to get credit.
- If the amount you owe includes a shared responsibility payment, the law prohibits the IRS from using liens or levies to collect that portion of your liability.
- What if I don’t agree or have already taken corrective action? If you don’t agree with this letter, call the IRS immediately at the number listed at the top of the letter. If you’ve already paid or arranged for an installment agreement, you should still call them to make sure your account reflects this.
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-lt39-notice
- Example copy of the notice - https://www.irs.gov/pub/notices/lt39_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.
