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IRS notice decoder

Identify your IRS notice

The decoder runs in your browser. We never receive, store, or transmit your notice content. Pick from the catalog of 40 codes, or paste any text from your notice — a client-side keyword match identifies the most likely codes.

Decoder · IRS notice or letter

Identify your notice

Pick from the list, or paste the notice text. Everything happens in your browser — we never receive your notice content.

40 notice codes indexed · primary-source verified

Information here is general and educational, not tax advice. The IRS is the only authority that can resolve your notice. For complex cases (CDP rights, 90-day Tax Court window, levy intent), verify with a licensed CPA, EA, or tax attorney before acting.

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Only the IRS can resolve your notice

We are not a CPA firm, not a law firm, not an Enrolled Agent firm, and not affiliated with the IRS. We don't accept payments on your behalf, settle your debt, or call the IRS for you. What we do: explain what your notice means, point you to the right IRS form, cite the statute that authorizes the action, and surface the appeal path. Then you call the number on the notice, file the form, or hire a licensed professional.

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Browse all notices by category

Don't know your code? Search or filter the catalog by what the IRS is doing — collection, examination, underreporter, identity verification, math-error correction, refund offset.

Category

Urgency

40 notices indexed · IRS.gov primary-source verified

Collection / payment due

14 codes
CP14Date on notice

First IRS bill telling you a balance is owed for a specific tax year. The notice states the amount due and a payment-due date printed at…

Collectionsee notice
CP501Date on notice

First reminder that a balance is still owed after a previous balance-due notice went unanswered.

Collectionsee notice
CP503Date on notice

Second reminder that a balance is still owed and prior notices have gone unanswered.

Collectionsee notice
CP504Time-sensitive

Notice of intent to levy: if the balance is not paid immediately, the IRS may seize state tax refunds and pursue further levy action…

Collectionsee notice
LT11Time-sensitive

Final Notice of Intent to Levy and notification of your right to a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing. The IRS may seize wages, bank…

Collectionsee notice
CP90Time-sensitive

Notice of intent to levy assets and notification of the right to a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing.

Collectionsee notice
CP22ADate on notice

Confirmation that requested or system-initiated changes were made to your return and a balance is now due as a result.

Collectionsee notice
CP71Date on notice

Annual reminder that an unpaid balance still exists on a tax account and that interest and penalties continue to accrue. Also addresses…

Collectionsee notice
CP297Time-sensitive

Notice of intent to levy assets for unpaid taxes, with notification of the right to a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing.

Collectionsee notice
CP297ATime-sensitive

Notice that the IRS has already levied assets for unpaid taxes, with notification of your right to a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing.

Collectionsee notice
CP297CTime-sensitive

Notice that assets have been levied for unpaid federal taxes, with notification of your right to a Collection Due Process hearing.

Collectionsee notice
CP298Time-sensitive

Notice of intent to levy up to 15% of Social Security benefits for unpaid taxes, with notification of the right to a Collection Due…

Collectionsee notice
CP508CTime-sensitive

Notification that the IRS has certified your seriously delinquent federal tax debt to the U.S. Department of State under IRC §7345,…

Collectionsee notice
CP523Time-sensitive

Notice of intent to terminate an installment agreement and seize assets due to default on the agreement.

Collection30 days

Underreporter (CP2000 family)

4 codes

Examination / audit

4 codes

Math-error correction

3 codes

Identity verification

3 codes

Filing compliance

6 codes

Refund applied / offset

1 code

Informational

5 codes