Got a Certified Letter From the IRS? Help From Licensed Tax Agents in Pasadena, CA
Signing for a certified letter from the IRS is a moment most people never forget. Your heart drops before you even open it. At Fresh Start Tax Relief Services in Pasadena, our licensed tax agents help you understand exactly what that letter means, what deadline it carries, and what to do next. We are a women-owned business with decades of experience dealing with the IRS, and we know that the sooner you act, the more options you keep.
What a Certified Letter Usually Means
In most cases, a certified letter from the IRS means your account is in collections. The IRS is preparing to collect the debt you owe in an aggressive manner. Unless you can pay the balance in full, this is the point to bring in a professional.
The IRS uses certified mail when it needs proof that a notice was sent, which is why it is reserved for the letters with the biggest consequences. Ordinary balance due notices arrive by regular mail. A certified letter signals that the IRS is moving from asking to acting.
Common IRS Letters Sent by Certified Mail
Not every certified letter is the same. The code printed on the notice tells you which one you have.
Final Notice of Intent to Levy
An LT11 or Letter 1058 is the final warning before a levy. It generally gives you 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing. If nothing happens by then, the IRS can move forward with a tax levy on your bank account or wages. Our Intent to Levy notice page explains this stage in more detail.
Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing
Letter 3172 tells you the IRS has filed a public lien against your property. A filed lien can tarnish your credit report until the debt is paid.
Notice of Deficiency
Sometimes called a 90-day letter, a notice of deficiency proposes additional tax. It gives you 90 days to petition the Tax Court if you disagree, or 150 days if the letter is addressed to you outside the United States. After that window closes, the IRS can assess the tax.
Why Waiting Makes It Harder
It is tempting to set the envelope aside until you feel ready to deal with it. Unfortunately, the deadlines inside these letters keep running whether you open them or not. Refusing to sign for the letter does not stop the process either, because the IRS only has to mail the notice to your last known address.
Once a deadline passes, rights you had, such as a hearing, may no longer be available. Calling us as soon as the letter arrives gives us the most room to protect you.
How We Respond on Your Behalf
When you bring us your certified letter, we identify what it is, confirm the deadline, and review your full tax picture. From there, we contact the IRS directly for you and pursue the resolution that fits your finances, whether that is an installment agreement, an Offer in Compromise, penalty abatement, or filing missing returns.
Serving Pasadena and Clients Nationwide
Our office serves clients in Pasadena, Alhambra, Sierra Madre, La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale, and across Los Angeles County. Wherever the letter landed, we can help: "Not only do we service every single county in California, but we service taxpayers nationwide." Learn more about the Tax Superwomen on the Fresh Start Tax Relief home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a certified letter from the IRS mean?
Most often, it means your account is in collections and the IRS is preparing to collect aggressively. Unless you can pay in full, it is time to call a professional.
Which IRS letters come by certified mail?
Common examples include the LT11 or Letter 1058 final notice of intent to levy, Letter 3172 notice of a federal tax lien filing, and the notice of deficiency, also called a 90-day letter.
How long do I have to respond to a final notice of intent to levy?
You generally have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing. After that, the IRS can proceed with a bank or wage levy.
How long do I have to respond to a notice of deficiency?
You generally have 90 days to petition the Tax Court, or 150 days if the notice is addressed to you outside the United States.
What happens if I refuse to sign for the letter?
The process continues anyway. The IRS only needs to mail the notice to your last known address, so refusing it does not pause any deadline.