What to Do If You Receive an IRS Letter

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sends out millions of letters and notices to taxpayers each year. While many of these letters are harmless in nature, some contain accusations of income tax fraud, which is associated with harsh federal criminal penalties.

The following are some of the most common reasons why you received a letter from the IRS:

• You owe a balance
• The refund amount is smaller or larger than it should have been
• You are required to verify your identity
• The IRS has a question about your return
• The IRS changed your return
• There is a necessary delay in your payment
• You are required to submit additional information to process your return

How to Respond to the IRS

The letter will include the reasons for the notice and tells you how to respond. However, there are some letters that are simply notifications that require no response.

If you are required to respond, you must do so within the given deadline. If you delay your response, you may be subject to additional penalty fees and lose your right to appeal the adjustments.

If you do not agree with the agency’s adjustments, you can make an appeal in writing. Ensure you include any documents or information that supports your argument.

What Happens If I’m Accused of Income Tax Fraud?

Income tax fraud means willfully attempting to evade U.S. tax laws and defraud the IRS. Common examples include intentionally not filing a tax return, willfully failing to pay taxes, intentionally withholding income, making false or fraudulent claims, or filing a false return.

It is not uncommon for the IRS to assume a careless error is a sign of willful tax fraud. If you are being accused of income tax fraud, you must hire an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights and freedom.

At Martin G. Weinberg, Attorney at Law, we provide aggressive and personalized legal representation for taxpayers who are accused of income tax fraud. With more than 40 years of experience, Attorney Weinberg has represented clients in complex federal cases.

Contact us today at 617-227-3700 for more information about tax fraud.