What this letter means
A CP2000 says the IRS found income, payments, or credits that don’t match your tax return. They got that information from forms others sent in, like W-2s from employers or 1099s from banks.
Based on that, the IRS is proposing changes to your return. The letter shows how much more tax they think you owe, plus any penalty and interest.
It isn’t a bill yet. Nothing has been officially charged. That’s good news. It means you can still push back before it becomes one.
How urgent is it?
It’s serious, and it has a deadline. You must reply by the date on the letter, often about 30 days. You can ask for more time, but ask before the date passes.
If you don’t reply, the IRS may make the change anyway. The next step is usually a CP3219A. That’s a legal notice with a strict 90-day deadline to go to Tax Court. After that, you get a real bill.
What we do
We check the amount first. Don’t assume the amount is right. CP2000 letters are often wrong. A common example: the IRS counts the full sale price of stock but not what you paid for it. That can make a small gain look huge.
We write the response. We gather the proof, fill out the form, and explain your side in plain terms. If the payer’s form was wrong, we help get it corrected.
We fight what’s unfair. If the change is right, we look at whether penalties should come off. Then we set up a payment plan you can keep, if you need one.