IRS Notice CP22A

Taxpayer’s Guide to IRS Notice CP22A

The IRS sends Notice CP22A when it updates your return based on changes you provided to the agency. You may receive this notice if you amended your tax return or sent the IRS additional information about your return. The notice will outline how much tax you owe as a result of the changes. It will also provide payment options and tell you what to do if you didn’t make changes to your account. 

Want help now? Then contact us at the W Tax Group. Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about IRS Notice CP22A. 

What Is IRS Notice CP22A?

Notice CP22A means that the IRS has made changes to your account. Usually, this happens when the IRS receives additional information from you that was not reported on your tax return.

The notice will show the changes made to your return. Then, it will note if you are due a refund or owe money based on the updates. If you owe money, the notice will outline payment options. 

Why Did I Receive Notice CP22A

You may receive this notice if you amended your return. You may also receive this notice if you sent the IRS information about any of the following:

• Income that wasn’t reported on the original return.
• Changes to deductions that were claimed on the return. 
• Missing tax payments. 

What to Do If I Receive Notice CP22A

First, review the changes on the notice and see if you agree with them. If you agree, pay the tax bill or contact the IRS about making other payment arrangements. Then, update the tax return that you saved in your records so that it’s accurate. Alternatively, download a transcript from the IRS website so that you have the changes in your records. 

If you don’t agree with the changes, you need to contact the IRS or hire a tax attorney as soon as you can. Then, figure out why the changes were made to your account. If there was an error, you may need to appeal. If someone made the changes without your authorization, you may need to make an identity theft report.

How to Contact the IRS About Notice CP2A

You can call the IRS’s main phone number at (800) 829-1040, but for faster service, contact the agency using the number printed on the top right of your notice. The notice should also have this URL printed on the top right corner: www.irs.gov/cp22a. This directs you to an IRS website with basic details about this notice. 

What If I Can’t Afford the Tax Bill on Notice CP22A?

In most cases, Notice CP22A triggers a tax liability. If you receive an unexpected tax bill and don’t have the funds to pay it in full, consider the following options:

• Use a credit card, bank loan, or personal loan — The IRS accepts many different forms of payment online.
• Request a monthly payment plan — If you owe less than $10,000 and can pay off the tax debt in less than three years, you will be automatically approved. If you owe $50,000 or less and can pay off the balance in six years, you can usually get a payment plan fairly easily. In both cases, you must be up to date on filing requirements to qualify. 
• Consider an offer in compromise — If you cannot afford to pay the full balance, the IRS may let you settle for less than you owe. You must prove that you’re offering to pay the most you can possibly afford. 
• Ask for currently not collectible (CNC) status — The IRS will stop all collection actions on your account if you reach out and let the agency know that you cannot afford to pay the bill. To get your file marked as CNC, you must submit a financial disclosure to the agency. 

Depending on the specifics, there may be other options that can help you. For instance, if the changes are on a jointly filed return and the tax bill is due solely to your spouse, ex-spouse, or late spouse, you may qualify for innocent spouse relief. If it would be unfair to hold you responsible for the tax bill, you may want to check out the effective tax administration program. There’s also penalty abatement to help you reduce penalties. 

What If I Didn’t Make Changes to My Return?

If you didn’t make changes to your return, you may be wondering why you received Notice CP22A. To find out what’s happening, contact the IRS directly or reach out to a tax attorney for help. Make sure to reach out to the IRS by the deadline on the notice. Otherwise, the changes will become permanent, and they can be harder to dispute. 

Unfortunately, people sometimes receive this notice when they have been the victim of identity theft. If you believe that someone else has made unauthorized changes to your account, contact the IRS immediately. You may need to request an identity protection PIN to ensure that no one can submit tax returns using your Social Security Number. 

What If I Ignore Notice CP22A?

If you don’t respond to this notice, interest and penalties will accrue on your account. Depending on how much you owe, the IRS may issue a federal tax lien against you, and if you file a future tax return with a refund, the agency will seize your refund to cover your bill. 

Eventually, the agency may pursue collection actions such as garnishing your wages, taking money out of your bank account, or seizing your assets. You will generally receive several other notices before these things happen, but if the IRS thinks the tax collection is in jeopardy, it can move forward with collections very quickly. 

However, if you’ve ignored this notice, don’t panic. A lot of people find IRS notices very triggering, and sometimes, they just throw them in the trash rather than open them. If you’re in this boat, you are not alone, but you shouldn’t continue to ignore the situation. 

The IRS has a lot of different programs to help people get out of tax debt. If you’re struggling or not sure what to do, we can help you find the best option. Whether you owe hundreds of thousands or just a few thousand, we can help you. 

Get Help With IRS Notices

Dealing with tax debt can be extremely stressful, and unfortunately, the IRS often makes the problem worse by sending out notices that are hard to understand and a little bit scary. If you’ve received this notice or any other IRS notices, we can help you decipher the notice and find the best path forward. 

Don’t let IRS or state tax debt stress you out. To get help now, contact us at the W Tax Group. We’ll start with a free consultation and then guide you toward the best resolution for your unique situation.