CP14 · CP2000 · CP504 · LT11 · State Notices
IRS notice in the mail? Don’t panic. Get it resolved.
Most IRS notices are computer-generated, response-driven, and resolvable — if you respond correctly and on time. Few people respond correctly. We diagnose the notice, draft the response, and resolve the matter before it escalates from notice to problem.
What’s included
From notice to resolution.
Scope is matched to the notice in your hand. Most matters resolve in one or two written exchanges; harder matters move to phone or in-person representation.
- Notice diagnosisWhat is it, what’s at stake, what’s the deadline, what’s the right answer.
- Written response draftingForm 12203, response letters, supporting schedules, Form 8821 / 2848 representation.
- CP2000 underreporter responseSubstantiation packets, agreement or disagreement filings, Schedule M reconciliation.
- Penalty abatementFirst-time abatement (FTA), reasonable-cause requests, statutory exceptions.
- Installment agreementsForm 9465, online payment agreements, partial-pay installment agreements.
- Offer in CompromiseInitial scoping for OIC eligibility; deeper engagements per matter.
- CP504 / LT11 collection-stage mattersCollection Due Process (CDP) hearing requests; levy and lien releases.
- Identity-verification notices5071C, 4883C, identity theft affidavits.
- State revenue noticesIllinois, Indiana, multi-state. We have particular familiarity with IL and IN.
- Payroll tax noticesForm 941, 940, trust fund recovery penalty, deposit-frequency mismatches.
Who this is for.
Anyone holding an IRS letter feeling unsure about what to do next. Especially: business owners with CP2000 underreporter notices; taxpayers with mismatched 1099/W-2 income; owners with payroll tax notices; taxpayers approaching collection (CP504, LT11); anyone whose preparer filed and disappeared.
How it works
Diagnose first. Respond second.
Send Us the Notice
Free 30-minute consultation. We read the notice, identify the deadline, and tell you whether you need representation or can handle this yourself.
Engagement & Authorization
If we’re engaged, you sign Form 2848 (Power of Attorney). We become your authorized representative before the IRS.
Investigate & Draft
We pull your IRS account transcripts, identify the actual issue, and draft a response that fits the facts — not a templated reply.
Resolve & Document
Response submitted. We track follow-ups, escalate if needed, and document the resolution. You receive a closure memo — what happened, what changes, what’s next.
Pricing.
Scoped per matter. Simple correspondence is in the $500–$1,500 range. Penalty abatement, installment agreements, OICs, and CDP matters scale up.
Quoted in writing before any work begins.
Per matterscoped to the notice
Every project is priced so the tax liability savings and financial clarity exceed the cost of our fees.
“James consistently demonstrates a thoughtful and creative approach to achieving results, always keeping his clients’ best interests at the forefront. His ability to simplify complex financial matters makes him a trusted and invaluable partner.”
FAQ
Common questions.
What’s the difference between an IRS notice and an audit?
A notice is a letter — usually about a discrepancy, missing form, balance due, or proposed change. Most notices are computer-generated and resolvable with a written response. An audit is a formal examination of one or more returns. Many notices feel like audits but aren’t. We diagnose first, respond second.
Should I just respond myself?
For very simple notices (e.g., a CP14 reminder of balance due where you simply pay it), yes. For anything that proposes a change (CP2000), threatens collection (CP504, LT11), or relates to identity issues (5071C), get representation. Bad responses can convert a notice into a worse situation.
How fast do I need to respond?
Each notice has a deadline printed on it. CP2000 typically gives 30 days. CP504 starts a 30-day window before levy notice. LT11 / Letter 1058 gives 30 days before levy. Missing deadlines escalates the matter — sometimes irreversibly.
What does this cost?
Scoped per matter. Simple correspondence (response to a CP2000 with clean records) is in the $500–$1,500 range. More complex notices, penalty abatement, installment agreements, or offers in compromise scale up. We always quote scope upfront.
Can you handle state revenue department notices too?
Yes. State (Illinois Department of Revenue, Indiana Department of Revenue, others), payroll tax notices (Form 941 / 940 issues), and unemployment-tax notices are within scope. We have particular familiarity with Illinois and Indiana.
Do you handle audit defense?
Yes, but scoped per matter — audit representation is a different engagement than notice response. Our practice is led by an attorney with unlimited IRS representation rights, so representation can extend through audit, appeals, and (if needed) Tax Court.
Related services
What pairs with notice resolution.
Tax Preparation
Most notices stem from how a return was prepared. The simplest defense is a return prepared correctly the first time.
Explore tax prep →Tax Advisory & Planning
Strategic positions need contemporaneous documentation. Advisory engagements build the file you’ll want if a notice ever arrives.
Explore advisory →Fractional CFO
Clean books make notice resolution faster. They make audits faster too.
Explore fractional CFO →Holding an IRS letter? Send it over.
The first conversation is free. We’ll tell you what it is, what’s at stake, and whether you actually need us.
Schedule Your Free Strategy Session