Understand a tax notice: amount due, changes and next steps

The top shows the tax year, the notice date and your reference numbers. Next comes the summary: the amount due or the refund. Below it, the agency lists what it changed and why, followed by what you need to do and your options if you disagree.

Put your filed return next to the notice and compare line by line: estimated payments, credits, deductions. Changes often come from payments that were not matched, or deductions that were not accepted.

ExplainThisDoc puts the result first and explains each change in plain words. In the example, the explanation lists what the IRS changed on the 2025 return, including estimated tax payments and a deduction, which leads to the $804.16 now due.

The notice tells you what to do if you agree, and how to respond if you do not – usually with a deadline. If you disagree, gather your records first, such as payment confirmations. Contact the agency using the details on the notice, and check them against the official website. A tax professional or a free tax clinic can help with larger amounts.

With Pro, ExplainThisDoc gathers the amount, due date and payment options in one place, and you can turn the due date into a prepared calendar entry.

You will need the notice again for next year’s return or if a follow-up letter arrives. Search “IRS” or the tax year in your archive, and the notice, its explanation and your notes come back together. You can link the notice to your return.