Criminal Defense Lawyers

IRS CP14 Notice – Notice of Balance Due & Start to Collections

You Got an IRS CP14 Notice – Now What?

The Dreaded Tax Notice Arrives

So, you open up the mailbox – and there it is, the ominous envelope from the Internal Revenue Service, you take a deep breath, “Well, this can’t be good.” You tear it open, and sure enough – it’s a CP14 notice, telling you that you owe the IRS money, but wait, you definitely filed and paid your taxes on time, right? What gives?Don’t panic, we’ve all been there – getting a notice from the IRS can be incredibly stressful, but take a deep breath, we’re going to walk through this step-by-step, and by the end, you’ll know exactly what to do.

What is a CP14 Notice?

Let’s start with the basics, a CP14 notice is what the IRS sends when they say you owe money for unpaid taxes, it’s one of their most common notices – and it’s the first step in their collection process, so yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.The notice itself will break down how much you allegedly owe, including penalties and interest, and it’ll give you a due date – typically 21 days from the notice date, to pay up, but we’ll get to what you should actually do in a bit.Now, there could be a few reasons why you got this notice:

1. You actually do owe money from a previous tax year that you didn’t pay in full.
2. There was a math error on your return that the IRS corrected.
3. The IRS processed a payment from you incorrectly.
4. Pure IRS mistake – it happens more often than you’d think.

So, before you start sweating bullets, take a minute to review the notice carefully, line-by-line, does the amount they say you owe seem right based on your records? If not, there’s a good chance this could just be an IRS goof.

Don’t Ignore It – That’s Rule #1

Look, I get it, dealing with the IRS is about as fun as a root canal, but ignoring a CP14 is basically like waving a red flag in front of a bull, it’s just going to make the situation way worse.If you don’t pay or set up some kind of payment plan within 60 days of getting that notice, the IRS can start hitting you with more penalties and interest, and before you know it, that tiny tax bill has snowballed into a massive headache.Even worse, they could eventually file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, which is kind of like the IRS putting up a big neon sign saying “Hey everyone, this person owes us money!” – not a good look.So yeah, as tempting as it might be to just toss that notice in the trash and pretend it never happened, trust me, you’re going to want to deal with this head-on, and the sooner the better.

Your Game Plan: The 3 R’s

When it comes to handling a CP14 notice, you’ve got three main options, I like to call them the three R’s:

1. Respond
2. Request
3. Resolve

Let’s break each of those down.

Respond: Don’t Agree? Don’t Stay Silent

If you look over that CP14 notice and you’re absolutely certain the amount they say you owe is wrong, your first move is to respond – directly to the IRS.You’ll want to call the number listed on the notice and explain the situation, have any supporting documentation like canceled checks or copies of your return handy to back up your case.Now, a word of warning here, calling the IRS can sometimes feel like your own personal circle of hell, but don’t get discouraged, just keep fighting politely for your case, and if the first representative you talk to isn’t helping, ask to speak to someone else, a supervisor, keep escalating until you get somewhere.The key here is to establish a clear paper trail of your disagreement, because if this does end up turning into a bigger dispute down the line, you’re going to want evidence that you did everything you could to handle it correctly from the start.

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2024-03-21

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Request: Need More Time? There are Options

On the other hand, if you look at that notice and the number does seem correct, well, your next best move is to request some kind of payment plan or alternative solution from the IRS.Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But Todd, I definitely can’t just pay that whole amount right now, I’m broke!”Don’t worry, the IRS has programs in place to help taxpayers in exactly that situation, you’ve just got to ask. Some of the most common options are:

• Short-term payment plan: If you can pay it all off within 120 days, the IRS will let you get on a short-term plan with no fees.
• Long-term payment plan: Need more than 120 days? You’ll have to pay a fee to get on a long-term payment plan, but it’ll let you stretch those payments out over several years if needed.
• Offer in Compromise: In some cases, the IRS may agree to let you settle your debt for less than the full amount if you can prove serious financial hardship.
• Currently Not Collectible: If paying anything at all would be a massive burden right now, you can request to be declared “currently not collectible” which puts your debt on hold until your situation improves.

The key thing to remember here is, you have to actually request one of these options, the IRS isn’t just going to offer it up out of the kindness of their hearts. So if you need some kind of alternative payment solution, pick up that phone and start making calls.

Resolve: When All Else Fails, Call in the Pros

But what if you’ve tried responding, you’ve requested all the payment plans under the sun, and you’re still stuck in IRS purgatory? Well, that’s when it’s time to consider bringing in some professional help.Now, I know what you’re thinking, “An accountant or tax lawyer? But Todd, I’m already broke from this tax bill!”Hear me out though, if you’ve got a legitimately complicated tax situation, or if the IRS simply won’t budge no matter what you do, having an experienced tax pro on your side can be worth every penny.These are people who deal with the IRS day-in and day-out, they know all the loopholes, all the negotiating tactics, all the angles to work to get you a fair resolution. Sure, it’ll cost you something upfront, but it could be what finally gets this tax mess solved once and for all.Just do your homework and find someone reputable with solid experience dealing with cases like yours. The last thing you want is to get stuck with some tax resolution firm that charges a fortune and then disappears on you.

Don’t Let the Fear Monster Win

Look, I know getting an IRS notice like this can feel incredibly overwhelming, it can trigger all kinds of fears about money, about getting in trouble, about your whole life being turned upside down. Believe me, I’ve been there.But you have to fight against letting that fear monster take over, because once it does, that’s when you start making rash decisions or no decisions at all – and both of those will only make your tax situation way worse.So take a deep breath, read through that notice again carefully, and start following the game plan. Respond if you disagree, request a payment plan if you need it, and if you’ve tried everything and you’re still stuck, don’t be afraid to call in the tax pros.You’ve got this. The IRS may seem like this big, scary, unstoppable force, but they actually have to follow rules and procedures just like everyone else. As long as you take it one step at a time and protect yourself, you can get through this.Just remember, the fear monster is lying to you, this isn’t the end of the world, it’s just a tax problem – and tax problems can be solved. You’ve got this!

What’s Next? The Potential Paths Ahead

Okay, so you’ve taken that first big step and properly responded to the CP14 notice, what can you expect to happen next? Well, there are a few potential paths things could go down:

Payment Plan Accepted

If you requested some kind of payment plan from the IRS and they approved it, congratulations! You’re on the path to resolving this debt in a manageable way.The key now is to follow that plan to the letter – make sure you’re paying at least the minimum amount on time, every time. Because if you miss a payment or fall behind, the IRS is going to revoke that plan and you’ll be right back to square one.Set up reminders, calendar notifications, whatever you need to do to make sure those payments never slip through the cracks. And if your financial situation changes and you need to modify the plan, don’t wait until you’re behind to call the IRS, get ahead of it.As long as you hold up your end of the bargain, that CP14 notice will just be an unpleasant memory before you know it.

Still Negotiating

On the other hand, maybe you tried to work out a payment plan, but the IRS didn’t accept your proposal, or they made a counteroffer you’re not thrilled about. Now what?This is the point where having an experienced tax pro in your corner can be invaluable. They’ll know all the angles to keep working with the IRS, which forms to file, which evidence to provide, how to properly negotiate from a position of strength.The key thing is, you don’t want to just let the IRS stonewall you into oblivion here. As long as you’re making a good-faith effort at resolving this debt, you have rights as a taxpayer, and you want to make sure you’re protecting them.

The Nuclear Option: Fighting It Out

In the worst-case scenario, maybe you’ve tried everything, you’ve dotted every i and crossed every t, and the IRS still won’t budge – they’re demanding an amount you truly can’t pay, and they’re refusing to give you any reasonable options to resolve this debt.Well, now we’re getting into the territory of potentially having to take legal action against the IRS. Things like filing an appeal, requesting a due process hearing, or even seeing if you have a case for filing suit in U.S. Tax Court.Now, I’m not going to sugarcoat it, this is a long, complicated, and often expensive process – which is why you absolutely want to have the best tax lawyer or tax litigation firm you can find representing you.This is essentially going to war with the full force of the IRS, so you’re going to want that elite legal firepower on your side. It’s not a path anyone wants to go down, but if the IRS simply won’t play fair, you may not have any other choice.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I know getting slapped with a CP14 notice can feel like a nightmare, no one wants those kinds of money problems, especially with an entity as powerful and intimidating as the IRS.But I’ll let you in on a little secret, this is something millions of Americans go through every single year – and they get through it. As long as you take it step-by-step, protect yourself, and if needed, aren’t afraid to call in the tax experts, there is a light at the end of this tunnel.So don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by fear, or panic, or worst-case scenarios. Just focus on that next right step in front of you, and take it. Then the step after that, and after that.Before you know it, you’ll be through this CP14 mess and back to spending your time and energy on way more enjoyable things than dealing with IRS notices. Just keep your head up, and keep pushing forward, you’ve got this!