I received a letter or notification from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Missouri Department of Revenue (MO-DOR)!
The IRS and MO-DOR sends notices and letters to tax payers when the IRS/MO-DOR has questions or concerns about your federal or state tax return. Your federal tax return is managed by the IRS and your state return is managed by the MO-DOR. Those agencies contact you regarding your return(s) for the following reasons: (One or more of these reasons may apply to you and your tax return).
What do I do next?
First of all, do not panic. Getting a letter from the IRS/MO-DOR can be scary, frustrating, or confusing (or ALL of those!). Your notice or letter explains the reason for the contact and gives you instructions on how to handle the issue. If you agree with the information, there is no need to do anything further except to comply with what they’ve asked you to do.
Always read the letter. Each notice or letter contains a lot of valuable information, so it’s very important that you read it carefully. If they changed your tax return, compare the information provided in the notice or letter with the information in your original return.
Respond if they ask you to respond. If your notice or letter requires a response by a specific date, there are two main reasons you’ll want to comply. 1) to minimize additional interest and penalty charges and 2) to preserve your appeal rights if you don’t agree.
If you owe money, pay as much as you can. Even if you can’t pay the full amount you owe it is always a good practice to pay as much as you can so you demonstrate good faith. If you owe money to the IRS, you can pay online or apply for an Online Payment Agreement or Offer in Compromise. If you owe money to the MO-DOR, you can make a payment online or apply to make installments.
Keep a copy of your notice or letter. It’s important to keep a copy of all notices or letters with your tax records. You may need these documents at a later date. NEVER THROW AWAY ANYTHING YOU RECEIVE FROM THE IRS/MO-DOR for a (recommended) period of 3 years.
Contact them. Do not contact the VITA/TCE office where your taxes were prepared if you've received a letter from the IRS or MO-DOR. It is best to contact those offices directly in regards to the letter or notice they sent you. They always provides the phone number on the top right-hand corner of the notice or letter. Typically, you only need to contact them if you don’t agree with the information if 1) they requested additional information; or 2) if you have a balance due. You can also write to them at the address in the notice or letter. If you write, allow at least 30 days for our response and send the written correspondence by certified-registered mail if possible.
I got a letter from another state regarding another state return. Now what? Again, those letters or notifications should always have a contact number or address located on the letter somewhere. The same advice above is applicable to any state tax notification. Our advise: Contact that state agency at the number or address listed on the notice or letter you received.
Internal Revenue Service Website: https://www.irs.gov/
Missouri Department of Revenue Website: https://dor.mo.gov/personal/individual/
The IRS and MO-DOR sends notices and letters to tax payers when the IRS/MO-DOR has questions or concerns about your federal or state tax return. Your federal tax return is managed by the IRS and your state return is managed by the MO-DOR. Those agencies contact you regarding your return(s) for the following reasons: (One or more of these reasons may apply to you and your tax return).
- You have a balance due or you are due a larger or smaller refund than what is on your original return
- The IRS/MO-DOR has a question about your tax return
- The IRS/MO-DOR needs to verify your identity
- The IRS/MO-DOR needs additional information to finalize your return
- The IRS/MO-DOR changed your return
- The IRS/MO-DOR needs to notify you of delays in processing your return
What do I do next?
First of all, do not panic. Getting a letter from the IRS/MO-DOR can be scary, frustrating, or confusing (or ALL of those!). Your notice or letter explains the reason for the contact and gives you instructions on how to handle the issue. If you agree with the information, there is no need to do anything further except to comply with what they’ve asked you to do.
Always read the letter. Each notice or letter contains a lot of valuable information, so it’s very important that you read it carefully. If they changed your tax return, compare the information provided in the notice or letter with the information in your original return.
Respond if they ask you to respond. If your notice or letter requires a response by a specific date, there are two main reasons you’ll want to comply. 1) to minimize additional interest and penalty charges and 2) to preserve your appeal rights if you don’t agree.
If you owe money, pay as much as you can. Even if you can’t pay the full amount you owe it is always a good practice to pay as much as you can so you demonstrate good faith. If you owe money to the IRS, you can pay online or apply for an Online Payment Agreement or Offer in Compromise. If you owe money to the MO-DOR, you can make a payment online or apply to make installments.
Keep a copy of your notice or letter. It’s important to keep a copy of all notices or letters with your tax records. You may need these documents at a later date. NEVER THROW AWAY ANYTHING YOU RECEIVE FROM THE IRS/MO-DOR for a (recommended) period of 3 years.
Contact them. Do not contact the VITA/TCE office where your taxes were prepared if you've received a letter from the IRS or MO-DOR. It is best to contact those offices directly in regards to the letter or notice they sent you. They always provides the phone number on the top right-hand corner of the notice or letter. Typically, you only need to contact them if you don’t agree with the information if 1) they requested additional information; or 2) if you have a balance due. You can also write to them at the address in the notice or letter. If you write, allow at least 30 days for our response and send the written correspondence by certified-registered mail if possible.
I got a letter from another state regarding another state return. Now what? Again, those letters or notifications should always have a contact number or address located on the letter somewhere. The same advice above is applicable to any state tax notification. Our advise: Contact that state agency at the number or address listed on the notice or letter you received.
Internal Revenue Service Website: https://www.irs.gov/
Missouri Department of Revenue Website: https://dor.mo.gov/personal/individual/
