Taxpayers have been told for years that the IRS never sends a text message. But under the 2026 digital rules, they can reach out for three specific reasons.

IRS sends notices and letters when it needs to ask a question about a taxpayer’s federal tax return, let them know about a change to their account or request a payment. Don’t panic! They say they’re there to help.

When a taxpayer receives mail from the IRS, they should:

1) Read the letter carefully. Most IRS letters and notices are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Each notice deals with a specific issue and includes any steps you need to take. A notice may reference changes to a taxpayer's account, taxes owed, a payment request or a specific issue on a tax return. By taking prompt action, you can minimize additional interest and penalty charges.

Congress passed a law requiring the IRS to use private collection agencies (PCA). These agencies assist the IRS in collecting certain overdue tax accounts.  So, if you are approached, how to you know it is legit and not a scam?  Read on...

They will place your account with a PCA for collection of your unpaid tax liability because you met one of the following criteria:

The Internal Revenue Service has announced work is underway on the Simple Notice Initiative, an effort to simplify and clarify about 170 million letters sent annually to taxpayers.  It's about time and those who have received one can certainly testify to that.

The Simple Notice Initiative will review and redesign hundreds of notices with an immediate focus on the most common notices that individual taxpayers receive. The redesign work will accelerate during the 2025 and 2026 filing seasons, improving common IRS letters going out to individual taxpayers and then expanding into notices going to businesses.