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You owe a balance

IRS CP71C

Annual reminder of an unpaid balance

Respond by

The date printed on the letter

Who sent it

IRS
Facts on this page come from that IRS page, last updated by the IRS Aug 27, 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

An annual reminder that you still have an unpaid balance on one of your tax accounts that requires your immediate attention; it also explains possible passport denial or revocation for seriously delinquent tax debt.

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

What to do

  1. 1Pay the amount you owe online; interest and penalties stop once the balance is paid in full.
  2. 2If you cannot pay online, mail a payment in the envelope provided with the bottom part of the notice.
  3. 3If you cannot pay in full, pay what you can and request a payment plan through the Online Payment Agreement tool, mail Form 9465, or call the toll-free number on your notice.
  4. 4If you face financial hardship, ask about a temporary delay in collection.
  5. 5Consider an Offer in Compromise using the IRS Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool.
  6. 6If you disagree, call the toll-free number on your notice with supporting paperwork ready.

If you do nothing

The IRS may file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, may assign your account to a private collection agency, and interest and additional penalties continue to accrue.

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 CP71C?

An annual reminder that you still have an unpaid balance on one of your tax accounts that requires your immediate attention; it also explains possible passport denial or revocation for seriously delinquent tax debt. The IRS page for it is titled 'Understanding your CP71C notice'.

How long do I have to respond to CP71C?

The IRS page for this notice does not state a fixed number of days. Use the date printed on your letter, and act before it.

What happens if I ignore CP71C?

The IRS may file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, may assign your account to a private collection agency, and interest and additional penalties continue to accrue.

Is CP71C 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 CP71C?

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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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.