IRS & Tax Issues
A letter from the IRS, a bill you can't pay, a mistake on a filed return, or a missed deadline can be stressful, but each has a clear next step. These guides explain what the IRS expects and how to respond.
11 guidesReviewed for the 2025 tax year
New to this topic? Begin here.
Questions this section answers
- I received a letter from the IRS. What should I do?
- What does a CP2000 notice mean?
- I can't pay my tax bill. What are my options?
- I made a mistake on my return. How do I amend it?
- I missed the tax deadline. What happens now?
- I'm being audited by the IRS. What happens next?
- Can the IRS remove my late filing or late payment penalty?
- How do I get an IRS IP PIN to protect my tax return?
- How do I get an IRS tax transcript?
- How do I authorize someone to talk to the IRS for me?
- My spouse's debt took our refund, or I owe tax my spouse caused. What can I do?
Every guide in this topic
I received an IRS letter. What do I do?
Most IRS notices are routine. Learn how to read the letter, identify the notice type, and decide your next step.
CP2000 notice: what it means and how to respond
An IRS notice proposing changes when third-party information does not match your return. What it means and your three response options.
I can't pay my tax bill — what are my options?
Owe more than you can pay? Why you should still file on time, IRS payment plans, and other options when you cannot pay in full.
I made a mistake on my tax return — how do I amend it?
When you need Form 1040-X, which mistakes the IRS may fix itself, one form per year, and the time limit for refund claims.
I missed the tax deadline — what happens now?
File as soon as you can: failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties, refunds for past years, and the 2026 automatic penalty relief.
I'm being audited by the IRS — what happens next?
How to confirm an audit letter is real, mail vs. in-person audits, records, how to respond, possible outcomes, and appeal rights.
IRS Penalty Relief: Automatic Exemption, First Time Abate, and Reasonable Cause
How to get IRS penalties removed: the 2026 Automatic Exemption from Penalty, First Time Abate, reasonable cause, Form 843, and appeals.
IRS Identity Theft and the IP PIN: How to Protect Your Tax Return
Tax identity theft and the IRS IP PIN: how to get one, dependents and joint returns, lost PINs, rejected returns, Form 14039, and scams.
IRS Tax Transcripts: Types, How to Get One, and Transcript vs. Tax Return Copy
The five IRS transcript types, how to get one online, by mail, or with Form 4506-T, when they are available, and Form 4506 copies.
IRS Power of Attorney: Form 2848 vs. Form 8821
Form 2848 vs. Form 8821: who can represent you before the IRS, information-only access, joint returns, online submission, and revoking authorizations.
Injured Spouse vs. Innocent Spouse Relief: Forms 8379 and 8857
Injured spouse vs. innocent spouse: recovering a joint refund taken for a spouse's debt, the four types of relief on Form 8857, and deadlines.
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