IRS & FTB correspondence
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A considered response to the notice.
Most tax notices are not accusations. They are usually a mismatch between what was reported and what a third party reported, or a payment applied to the wrong year. Many are simply wrong.
What they all share is a deadline. We read the notice, work out what it is really saying, and respond in the form the agency expects.
From the first notice to the last letter
- Reading the notice and explaining what it actually means
- Responding to underreporting notices such as the IRS CP2000
- California FTB matters, including proposed assessments and return change notices
- Penalty abatement requests where grounds exist
- Payment plans and instalment arrangements
- Representation before the agencies on your behalf
Who it's for
- Anyone holding a letter from the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board
- Businesses facing a payroll or sales tax notice
- Taxpayers whose refund has been held or adjusted
- People who have been ignoring a notice and would like to stop
How it works
Send us the notice
All pages, including the ones that look like boilerplate.
We check it against your records
A surprising number of notices are incorrect or already resolved.
We respond before the deadline
In writing, in the format the agency expects, with the evidence attached.
Common questions
I just got a notice. What should I do first?
Find the deadline printed on it and do not ignore it. Most notices allow 30 to 60 days from the date on the letter, not from the day it reached you. Do not send money before someone has checked whether the notice is right, and do not throw away the envelope or any pages.
What is a CP2000? Is it an audit?
No, it is not an audit. A CP2000 says the income reported on your return does not match what someone else reported to the IRS about you: an employer, a broker, or a client. It proposes a change and invites you to agree or disagree. Disagreeing with evidence is entirely normal, and the proposed figure is frequently too high because it ignores related deductions or basis.
The IRS and the FTB are both writing to me. Are they connected?
Often, yes. California routinely picks up federal adjustments, so an IRS change can produce a matching FTB notice months later. They are separate agencies with separate deadlines and separate procedures, and both need answering in their own terms.
Can penalties be removed?
Sometimes. Relief exists for first-time situations with a clean compliance history, and for circumstances amounting to reasonable cause. It is not automatic and it must be asked for properly. Interest is harder to remove than penalties, which is why responding early costs less than responding late.
Often needed alongside
Tax planning & compliance
Year-round planning and accurate filings for individuals, businesses, and multi-entity structures.
Read more about tax planning & complianceInternational reporting & foreign filings
Guidance on FBAR, Form 8938, Forms 3520/3520-A, and reporting tied to foreign entities, gifts, trusts, and accounts.
Read more about international reporting & foreign filingsTalk to a partner
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