With tax season 2025 currently upon us, this can be a high anxiety-producing time for many taxpayers. For most seasoned employees, filing taxes to the IRS is a fairly straightforward procedure, however, if you have never done it before or work as a freelancer, it can be a bit more complex. To add to the anxiety, receiving any sort of notification or letter from the IRS at any time of the year is not always welcomed, especially not so while you are in the middle of filing your taxes.
What are the reasons the IRS may send you a letter?
According to the official IRS website, if a letter from the IRS arrives during tax season, you must open and read it. Many taxpayers report feeling nervous and scared to see what the IRS is inquiring about, and sometimes will not open their notice for an extended time. However, it is an essential way the IRS communicates with you about your taxes, and important information must be conveyed to you as a taxpayer.
Generally, when a notice arrives from the Internal Revenue Service during tax season, it is to clarify information about your returns, to inform you of changes to your account, or to request a payment be made. Because of the heightened anxiety over receiving communication from the IRS, their website outlines specific steps to take if you are contacted by them in a letter during tax season. Remember not to panic, you have assistance on hand to resolve an issues.
What to do if a letter arrives from the IRS
According to the IRS, it is important that you read your letter carefully, with intent and accuracy. Usually, any communication from the IRS is related to federal tax returns or tax accounts. The IRS will always detail if any action is needed to be taken on your part in their letters, so you must go through it carefully to not miss any details. Ensure that you review all information in the letter, and only reply if the letter instructs you to do so.
If you feel the information contained in the letter from the IRS is inaccurate, or if you have any disputes, you should contact the IRS as soon as possible. The notice will generally outline what to do in the case of a disruption, but you should include all information and supporting documentation to back up your dispute.
Most importantly, always keep any letters from the IRS. Generally speaking, any communication from the IRS should be kept for up to three years. Always beware of scams: the IRS will never contact you through social media channels and platforms. Their first point of contact will always be directly through the mail. You can check to see if you owe the IRS money through their official website if you receive any communication from them regarding that and suspect that it may be a scam.
You may be due for a refund from the Internal Revenue Service
Be on the lookout for any notice or letter from the IRS alerting you to a refund. The IRS started accepting tax returns at the end of January. Generally speaking, you can expect to receive your tax refunds within 10 days if you are owed one. However, certain tax credits may only be refunded in March, as these take time to process and review. This is the case for the Child Tax Credit as well as the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you file your taxes towards the end of the tax filing season in April, you can expect delays on your refunds as this is peak filing time for the IRS.
