Washington News

On May 12, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published IRS Tax Tip 2026-39 which reminded taxpayers to read any mail received from the IRS. The IRS emphasized that most letters and notices involve routine matters related to tax returns, account updates or payment issues and should be opened and reviewed carefully.

The IRS states that notices are typically sent to explain a specific issue with a taxpayer’s account. A notice may involve changes to a filed return, taxes owed, requests for additional information or questions regarding a claimed credit or deduction. Each letter generally includes instructions outlining whether any action is required.

Taxpayers are encouraged to carefully review the information in all IRS correspondence and determine if next steps are required. If the taxpayer agrees with the notice, no further action may be necessary beyond keeping the letter with their records. However, if the taxpayer disagrees or the IRS is requesting additional documentation, the taxpayer should respond promptly to minimize any potential penalties and interest. When a response is required, the notice will generally provide instructions along with a contact number specific to the issue involved. Taxpayers are encouraged to keep copies of all IRS correspondence with their tax records for at least three years.

The IRS also reminded taxpayers that the agency generally initiates contact through regular mail rather than by phone, email, text message or social media. The IRS never requests payment through gift cards or makes contact using social media. Because scams involving fake IRS communications continue to increase, taxpayers should remain cautious about unsolicited electronic messages requesting personal or financial information.

If taxpayers are uncertain if a notice is legitimate, they can log in to their IRS Online Account or compare the notice with examples available on IRS.gov. The IRS warns taxpayers not to click links or scan QR codes contained in suspicious messages claiming to be from the agency.