I Received an IRS or FTB Notice. What Do I Do First?

By Marketbox Tax Advisory · September 8, 2026

Short answer: Identify the agency, notice number, tax year, requested action and response deadline. Read every page. A notice may address a balance, adjustment, missing information or another issue; the actual document determines the next step. Do not assume it is an audit, harmless or automatically correct.

What should I read first?

Identify the agency, notice number, tax year, requested action and response deadline. Read every page. A notice may address a balance, adjustment, missing information or another issue; the actual document determines the next step. Do not assume it is an audit, harmless or automatically correct.

How can I check whether the notice is genuine?

Use independently located official IRS or California Franchise Tax Board contact information when uncertain. Compare available account information with the notice. Do not provide credentials or payment information through an unverified link or unexpected caller. Verification should not become a reason to miss a real response deadline.

Should I pay immediately or dispute it?

First compare the notice with the return, payment records and supporting information. If you agree, follow the stated instructions. If you disagree or cannot pay, identify the applicable response or payment options promptly. Do not use a general guide to choose a legal remedy; deadlines and rights differ by notice. Obtain qualified assistance promptly when appeal, court or collection deadlines are involved.

Which records should I gather?

Keep the complete notice and envelope, relevant filed return, proof of filing, payment confirmations, prior correspondence and documents connected to the specific issue. For a mismatch, identify the corresponding income document and whether a corrected version exists. Send sensitive records through your advisor’s secure channel, not a website marketing form.

How do I keep the response organized?

Create a timeline with the notice date, receipt date, deadline, assigned reviewer and planned response date. Keep a copy of what you send and evidence of submission using the method required for that notice. Record calls and follow-up dates. Do not assume a phone call, extension request or advisor appointment automatically extends a deadline.

What should I bring to the first review?

Prepare a one-paragraph factual summary: what the agency says, what you believe differs and what records support that view. Hypothetical example: a notice claims an unpaid amount, while your payment confirmation shows a payment. The first task is to compare year, amount and account application—not promise cancellation. Leave the meeting with an owner and a dated response plan.

What should I review next?

Use the companion checklist below to identify missing information before your advisor meeting. Mark each item Ready, Missing or Not applicable; assign a responsible person and a follow-up date. Completion is preparation, not proof of eligibility or compliance.

Next step: Request a complimentary, no-commitment introductory call through https://911taxplanner.com/contact/ to identify the appropriate review. Do not send tax returns or sensitive identifiers through the public contact form. Se habla español.

Primary references

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-letter

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/letters/index.html

General education—not individualized tax, legal, accounting or investment advice. Eligibility, deadlines and outcomes depend on the facts and applicable rules. No professional relationship is created without an engagement agreement.