How to Answer an IRS Letter
With Supporting Documents
Read the request, choose records that answer it, and keep proof of your reply.
By Refund Talk • Updated November 4, 2026
To answer an IRS letter with supporting documents, start with the notice number, tax year, and response deadline. Read all pages before scanning anything. The letter tells you which facts the IRS wants verified and how to reply.
Check the deadline first. If the letter is a statutory notice of deficiency, identify the separate Tax Court petition deadline. Sending records to the IRS does not file a petition or extend that deadline.
Read the request
Find the tax year, requested action, and due date.
Match the records
Explain what each attachment shows and the period it covers.
Save proof
Keep your exact reply and the submission confirmation.
1. Identify what the IRS wants you to do
Some letters request evidence. Others ask you to verify your identity, review a proposed adjustment, or take another action. Use the instructions for your actual letter. If you doubt its authenticity, look up the notice independently on IRS.gov before sharing personal information.
Write down each item the IRS questions. If the letter has a response form, check which boxes, signatures, and notice pages it requires. If you agree with one item and dispute another, identify them separately and follow the instructions for a partial disagreement.
2. Match each question to a supporting document
| Issue | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Wages and withholding | Use the records the notice accepts. A CP05A may ask for pay statements or an employer letter that verifies wages and withholding. The IRS specifically says not to send a W-2 copy in place of the requested pay records. |
| Child residency | For a CP75 or CP75A review, check the enclosed evidence list. School or childcare records may show names, addresses, and dates. Explain any move or gap in coverage. |
| Income mismatch | Compare the proposed amount with your filed return and source records. Explain whether the amount was reported elsewhere, duplicated, or otherwise differs. |
Label attachments A, B, and C, then reference them in your reply. For example, “Attachment B shows the child’s recorded address from January through May.” If a record covers only part of the period, explain what other evidence covers the remaining dates.
If a record is missing, contact the office shown on the notice before the deadline. Explain what you have, what you requested, and when you expect it. Ask how to proceed and document any extension the office confirms.
Reply to [notice number] for tax year [year]
[Name and mailing address]
[Date]
[Reference information requested by the notice]
I am responding to the notice dated [date] concerning [issue]. My response is [brief factual explanation, including the relevant dates or amounts].
Attachment A: [document and what it shows].
Attachment B: [document and what it shows].
[If applicable, explain a discrepancy or missing record and the steps you took to obtain it.]
[Signature and contact information, as instructed]
Include the response form or notice copy when required. This template does not replace a formal appeal or Tax Court petition.
3. Send the reply using an authorized method
- Prepare readable copies. Check page order, dates, and amounts. Keep originals unless specifically requested. Include identifiers needed to match your case and leave unrelated records out.
- Use the method allowed for your notice. If upload is available, select the correct letter and save the confirmation. The IRS Document Upload Tool does not process tax returns.
- Keep proof of submission. Save the upload confirmation, fax transmission report, or appropriate mailing evidence. If mailing close to a deadline, check the rules that apply to that response.
- Keep your case file together. Save the exact response, every attachment, and any later IRS letter. Review new correspondence for fresh deadlines.
Proof that your reply was transmitted or delivered does not mean the IRS agreed with it. Follow the notice’s instructions for checking status. If asked to supplement your reply, identify the earlier submission and explain what the new records add.
Before you send
Frequently asked questions
Should I send my entire tax file?
Send the required pages and records relevant to the request. Keep the rest in your own file.
Should I upload and mail the same documents?
Use an authorized method and retain its confirmation. Avoid duplicate submissions unless the IRS directs you to send the records again.
Does sending documents release my refund?
No. Submission provides records for review. It does not establish approval or a deposit date.
Make it easy to see how you answered.
Use the letter as your outline, connect each answer to its records, and save proof of your reply.
Official sources
- IRS Document Upload Tool
- CP05A documentation
- CP75 and CP75A response guidance
- CP2000 series notice
- Statutory notice of deficiency
Reviewed November 4, 2026. Follow the instructions and deadlines applicable to your notice.
