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You owe a balance

IRS CP14

First bill: you owe unpaid tax

Respond by

Pay the amount you owe by the due date on the notice

Who sent it

IRS
Facts on this page come from that IRS page, last updated by the IRS Jun 23, 2026; read by TaxScout Oct 19, 2026.

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What this letter asks of you, what to gather, and what to ask a professional if you need one. No phone number asked.

What this letter means

The IRS sent this notice because you owe money on unpaid taxes. It explains the amount owed and how to pay.

A bill for tax, penalty or interest the IRS says is unpaid.

What to do

  1. 1Read the notice carefully; it explains the amount owed and your payment options.
  2. 2Pay the full amount by the due date on the notice.
  3. 3If you cannot pay in full, set up a payment plan.
  4. 4If you disagree, call the number in the IRS Help section of your notice and have supporting paperwork ready, such as cancelled checks or an amended return.

If you do nothing

Interest accrues on unpaid amounts after the due date and a late-payment penalty applies if you do not pay in full.

Is this letter real?

IRS letters arrive by mail and carry a notice number, your name and the tax year. The IRS does not open contact by text, email or social media, and does not ask for payment by gift card.

Check the notice number against the official IRS site before you respond, and respond only to the address or number printed on the official page.

Common questions

What is IRS CP14?

The IRS sent this notice because you owe money on unpaid taxes. It explains the amount owed and how to pay. The IRS page for it is titled 'Understanding your CP14 notice'.

How long do I have to respond to CP14?

Pay the amount you owe by the due date on the notice. The date printed on your letter controls; the IRS page for this notice is the source.

What happens if I ignore CP14?

Interest accrues on unpaid amounts after the due date and a late-payment penalty applies if you do not pay in full.

Is CP14 a scam?

IRS notices arrive by mail with your name, a notice number and a tax year. Check the number on the official site before you respond, and never pay by gift card or wire on the strength of a phone call.

Do I need a CPA for CP14?

Not always. Upload the letter and the free report explains what it asks for and what to gather; if a professional makes sense, the report says why and what to ask. TaxScout never shares your request with any firm unless you ask for that on the report.

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TaxScout lists CPAs, EAs and tax preparers from public IRS records. You choose whom to contact; nothing about your letter is shared with any firm unless you ask for that on your report.

Not tax advice. TaxScout is not the IRS. Deadlines and steps above are quoted from the IRS page linked at the top and may change; the letter in your hand controls.