The IRS Wants Information From You — What to Do (and What Not to Do)
What This Video Covers
Few things produce anxiety quite like opening a letter from the Internal Revenue Service and seeing a request — or a demand — for information. Whether it arrives as a polite CP2000 notice asking you to verify a discrepancy, a formal Information Document Request during an audit, or a summons compelling production of records, the instinct is the same: something is wrong, and I need to respond immediately.
Key topics addressed include:
- The different types of IRS correspondence and what each one signals
- CP notices, audit letters, Information Document Requests (IDRs) and summonses — what they are and how they differ
- Your legal obligations: what you must respond to and what you do not
- Deadlines that actually matter versus deadlines with flexibility
- The difference between cooperating and volunteering information the IRS hasn’t asked for
- When you need a CPA and when you need a tax attorney
- How the Attorney-Client Privilege protects your communications — and its limits
- Common mistakes that turn a routine inquiry into a full-blown audit
Why This Matters
In our experience, the way a taxpayer handles the initial IRS contact shapes the outcome more than almost any other single factor. A well-prepared, carefully scoped response to a CP notice or an IDR can resolve the matter in weeks. A panicked, over-inclusive response to that same request can transform a routine inquiry into a multi-year examination.
This is not about being evasive. It is about being precise. The IRS asks for specific information — and you should provide exactly what they asked for, accurately and on time. No more, no less. If there are items you are uncertain about, if you suspect the inquiry relates to a position that could be challenged, or if the request touches on areas where criminal exposure is even theoretically possible, you need an attorney in the room before you respond.
About the Presenter
Benjamin A. Goldburd, Esq.
Goldburd McCone LLP
Benjamin brings focused experience in IRS collection defense, including lien and levy disputes, CDP hearings and negotiated resolutions. Our team’s combined backgrounds in accounting, business and wealth management ensure that enforcement responses account for the full scope of a client’s financial position.
Frequently Asked Questions About IRS Collecting Info
I received a letter from the IRS. Does this mean I’m being audited?
Not necessarily. The IRS sends millions of notices each year, and the vast majority are not audit notifications. Many are automated CP notices generated because of a discrepancy between your return and information reported by third parties — an employer, a bank, a brokerage. Others are simple balance-due notices or requests for a missing form.
Do I have to respond to every IRS letter?
You should respond to every IRS letter — but “respond” does not always mean “provide everything they asked for without question.” Some notices require a substantive response with documentation. Others are informational and require only that you verify you received them. And in certain circumstances — particularly when the inquiry touches on potential fraud, unreported income or criminal exposure — the appropriate response is to engage an attorney who can evaluate the request before anything is provided.
Can I call the IRS to explain my situation?
You can, but we generally advise against it — at least until you have spoken with an attorney or advisor who can help you understand the scope of the inquiry. When you call the IRS, you are speaking with a government agent. Anything you say can be noted in your case file and used in the examination.