IRS notices, decoded

That letter from the IRS, explained in plain English.

Upload your notice and get a clear breakdown: what it is, whether you actually owe money, the dates that matter, and exactly what to do next.

Analyze my notice See how it works
Works on the full CP series · No ads, no lead funnel, no selling your data · Not a substitute for a tax pro
How it works

Three steps, about a minute.

No account, no forms to fill out, no jargon thrown back at you.

1

Upload

Drop in a PDF or snap a photo of your notice. The whole document, all pages.

2

Analyze

It reads the notice, identifies the code, and pulls out the amounts, dates, and what triggered it.

3

Understand

You get a plain-language breakdown and concrete next steps — including whether it's a bill or just a proposal.

The tool

Upload your notice.

PDF or a clear photo. It reads the actual document — your figures, your dates.

Drop your notice here
PDF or photo (PNG / JPG). Sent securely to be analyzed.
You can black out your SSN and name before uploading — the analysis only needs the notice code, amounts, tax year, and dates.
Coverage

The notices people actually get.

It reads whatever you upload, but here are the common ones — and whether each is a bill, a proposal, or just informational.

CP14
First notice of a balance due on your account.
Bill
CP2000
Proposed changes from income that didn't match your return.
Proposal
CP501 / 503
Reminder notices that a balance is still unpaid.
Bill
CP504
Intent to levy — the urgent one. Time-sensitive.
Bill
CP11
A miscalculation was corrected and you now owe more.
Bill
CP12
A correction changed your refund amount.
Informational
CP05
Your return is under review; refund held for now.
Informational
CP49
Your refund was applied to another tax debt.
Informational
LT11 / LT16
Letters escalating collection — treat as urgent.
Bill
Support the project

Free, because the alternative preys on people.

When a scary IRS letter arrives, the firms that find you first often charge thousands to do what this tool does in a minute. This stays free and ad-free so nobody has to gamble their savings just to understand a notice.

There's no lead funnel here. We don't sell your information, we don't call you, and we don't upsell "tax relief." Donations are the only thing keeping it that way.

No sales calls. No selling your data. Just a clear answer when you need one.

Make a one-time donation
$10
Covers a handful of notice analyses
Most common
$25
Helps a few dozen people decode a letter
$100
Keeps the lights on for a week
$

Secure checkout by Lemon Squeezy, which handles payment and any applicable tax as merchant of record. IRS Debt Relief is a free public tool — donations are voluntary and not tax-deductible unless otherwise stated.

Questions

Good things to know.

Does this mean I owe the money?

Not always. Some notices are bills (like a CP14), but others — most importantly the CP2000 — are proposals. They show what the IRS thinks changed and give you a chance to agree or dispute before anything is finalized. The tool flags which kind you're holding, front and center.

Is this tax advice?

No. It's a plain-language breakdown to help you understand a notice and your options. For anything high-stakes — large balances, disputes, penalties — talk to a CPA, an enrolled agent, or the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

What if I can't pay the amount?

You usually have options: pay what you can now and set up an installment agreement (Form 9465), or look into other payment arrangements. The breakdown points you to the right next step for your specific notice.

How do I know a notice is real and not a scam?

The IRS contacts you by mail first and never demands immediate payment by gift card, wire, or cryptocurrency, and never threatens to send police. If a "notice" does any of that, treat it as a scam. Real notices have a CP or LT code in the upper-right corner.

What happens to my uploaded notice?

Your notice is sent securely to be analyzed and isn't saved to an account, sold, or used for marketing. Still, you can black out your SSN and name before uploading — the analysis only needs the notice code, amounts, year, and dates.