The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, consumer financial protections, and a plain reading of what an audit letter actually means.
The IRS formally adopted these ten protections to summarize existing taxpayer rights found throughout the tax code.
Clear explanations of the law and IRS procedures in all forms, instructions, notices, and correspondence.
Prompt, courteous, and professional assistance, and to speak with a supervisor about inadequate service.
Taxpayers owe only the legally correct amount of tax, including interest and penalties, and no more.
Raise objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal IRS actions or proposed adjustments.
A fair, independent administrative appeal of most IRS decisions, including many penalties, plus a right to judicial review.
Know the maximum time allowed to challenge an IRS position and the maximum time the IRS has to audit a particular tax year.
Any IRS inquiry, examination, or enforcement action will comply with the law and be no more intrusive than necessary.
Information provided to the IRS will not be disclosed unless authorized by the taxpayer or by law.
Retain an authorized representative in dealings with the IRS, including access to low-income taxpayer clinics if unable to afford one.
The IRS must consider individual facts and circumstances, including through the Taxpayer Advocate Service for unresolved hardship cases.
Consumer financial protection rules govern how tax preparation companies, refund advance products, and prepaid refund cards can advertise fees and terms — separate from the IRS itself, which does not regulate tax-prep pricing.
If a refund anticipation loan or prepaid card comes with unclear fees, that falls under consumer protection law, not tax law — a distinction worth knowing before signing anything at a filing counter.
Refund advance loans and prepaid refund cards are offered by private companies, not the IRS, and carry their own separate fee structures.
Preparers must disclose fees clearly before you agree to a refund product — vague or bundled pricing is a red flag worth questioning.
Concerns about a tax-related financial product can be reported to consumer protection authorities, separate from any IRS dispute process.
Every IRS notice has a code in the top corner (like CP2000 or CP14). That code determines what the letter is actually asking for — most are informational or request a payment, not an audit.
Most notices give 30 days to respond. Missing the deadline can convert a simple correction into an assessed balance, so the date matters more than the dollar figure at first.
Match the notice against your own return and records before responding. Most notices point to a specific line, form, or reported income mismatch.
Written responses create a paper trail. Keep copies of everything sent, and consider certified mail for anything with a firm deadline.
If a notice goes unresolved after a proper response, the right to appeal and the Taxpayer Advocate Service both remain available paths forward.
Reach the support desk for general guidance on reading notice codes — for anything involving your specific case, a licensed preparer or Taxpayer Advocate is the right next step.
Contact the Desk