Taxes & IRS
Response to IRS Notice CP2000: Certified Mail letter template
Pre-filled template, USPS tracking and Electronic Return Receipt
A CP2000 notice is not a bill and not an audit: it is a proposal to change your return because income reported by employers, banks, or brokers does not match what you filed. The notice gives you a limited time to agree, partially agree, or disagree.
Responding in writing by the deadline is essential. If you disagree, your response should address each proposed item and enclose the documents that support your position, such as brokerage statements showing cost basis, a corrected Form 1099, or the schedule where the income was already reported. If the notice goes unanswered, the IRS generally moves to assess the full proposed amount.
Sending your response via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt gives you dated proof that it arrived before the deadline shown on the notice.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
The letter template
The parts in blue and in brackets should be replaced with your information: they are pre-filled automatically when you use the template online.
Your contact details
Filled in automatically from the addresses step.
Recipient
Name and address entered at the addresses step.
Re: Response to Notice CP2000, Tax Year [tax year], AUR Control Number [control number shown on the notice]
Sent via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt
Taxpayer: [your full legal name as shown on the return], SSN ending in [last four digits]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I received Notice CP2000 dated [date of the notice] proposing changes to my [tax year] federal income tax return based on income reported by third parties. I [disagree with all of the proposed changes / disagree with part of the proposed changes / agree with the proposed changes but wish to explain].
Specifically: [explain each item: the income was already reported on Schedule X line Y, the Form 1099 amount is incorrect, the income belongs to another taxpayer, the transaction has basis that offsets the reported proceeds, etc.].
Enclosed are the completed response form from the notice with the appropriate box checked, and copies of the following documents supporting my position: [list: brokerage statements, corrected Form 1099, Schedule D and Form 8949, employer records]. Please do not assess the proposed amount until this response has been reviewed.
This response is being mailed before the deadline shown on the notice. The USPS Certified Mail proof of mailing and the signed Electronic Return Receipt document the date of this response. Please confirm receipt in writing and send me your determination.
Sincerely,
Mr. First name Last name
How to send this letter online
- 1
Enter the addresses
Your details and the recipient's: they are placed automatically in the letter heading.
- 2
Personalize the template
At the writing step, this template is ready to complete: replace the bracketed placeholders with your information.
- 3
Review the exact preview
What you see on screen is exactly what will be printed and mailed.
- 4
We handle the rest
Printing, sealing, and hand-off to USPS as Certified Mail. Proof of mailing and the Electronic Return Receipt are stored in your account.