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What each CP and LT notice means, and how long you have
Type the notice number printed in the top right corner of the letter. See what the IRS is actually asserting, how long the response window runs, what happens when it lapses, and which form answers it.
Most balance-due cases move through a predictable ladder. CP14 is the first bill. If it goes unanswered, CP501 and CP503 follow as reminders, then CP504 as a notice of intent to levy a state refund. The pivotal step is the certified final notice, LT11, Letter 1058, or CP90, because that is the one carrying Collection Due Process rights and a hard 30-day clock. Each rung costs more in penalties and removes options.
Two letters showing the same dollar figure can carry completely different rights. A CP2000 is a proposal you can dispute with documentation. A final notice of intent to levy is a countdown with an appeal right attached that disappears if unused. Reading the code first, before the number, is what separates a routine response from a lost right.
Claremont Security handles managed compliance and AI governance for accounting and tax practices. More free tools at claremontsecurity.com/tools, including a federal filing deadline generator. If your firm is putting client data through Copilot or another AI assistant, we should talk.