IRS Is Pausing Collection Notices... but Not Penalties and Interest

The IRS has stopped sending some automated collection notices in the mail this tax season due a massive backlog of unprocessed tax returns that won't likely be cleared until 2023. The 13 letters that the IRS has paused include balance due notices and unfiled tax return notices.

Why is this happening? The IRS says that it is "taking this step to help avoid confusion for taxpayers and tax professionals," since some automated notices might be outdated or inaccurate due to unprocessed tax returns or payments. However, even though the collection notices will stop, taxpayers who owe tax returns or money to the IRS are still required to file their taxes and pay their debts.

The IRS entered 2022 with a backlog of 24 million unprocessed returns and is hiring 10,000 new employees to help resolve the issue, according to the Washington Post. The agency does not expect to clear the backlog until the end of 2022.  

The decision will stop inaccurate IRS collection notices, but it also means those who owe money or are required to file a previous year's tax return won't be reminded by the IRS, possibly resulting in further penalties. The IRS "encourages those who have a filing requirement and have yet to file a prior year tax return or to pay any tax due to promptly do so as interest and penalties will continue to accrue."

We'll tell you which notices have been suspended and what it means for taxpayers this year. For more information on the 2022 tax season, here's how to track your tax refund after your return has been filed, 13 deductions that might save you money this year and a list of CNET's best tax software.

Why has the IRS suspended certain tax notices?

The COVID-19 pandemic and IRS staffing issues have created an unprecedented number of unprocessed tax returns and payments. Due to that processing backlog, the IRS had been sending some automated letters that were inaccurate. For example, IRS notices claiming delinquent tax returns or past due balances were sent to taxpayers whose tax returns or payments simply hadn't been processed yet. 

On Jan. 27, the IRS announced it was suspending CP80 notices, which warn taxpayers of unfiled tax returns. A few days later, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives urged the IRS to halt automated collection practices until at least 90 days after the tax filing deadline of April 18. The IRS announced it was suspending the 15 notices listed below on Feb. 9. The letters will be paused until the IRS backlog has been eliminated.

Which automated letters are paused?

Typically, the IRS sends automated collection notifications to taxpayers, for example if they owe money or haven't filed a required return. To avoid confusion, the IRS is pausing sending more than a dozen notices till it clears the backlog of returns.

Here are the individual taxpayer notices the IRS is pausing:

• CP80: Unfiled tax return = IRS credited payments to taxpayer but hasn't received a tax return.
• CP59/CP759: Unfiled tax return, first notice = No record of a prior year return being filed.
• CP516/CP616: Unfiled tax return, second notice = Request for information on a delinquent return.
• CP518/CP618: Final notice, return delinquency = Final reminder notice when there is no record of a prior year's return being filed.
• CP501: Balance due, first notice = There's an outstanding balance on a taxpayer's account.
• CP503: Balance due, second notice = Second reminder that there's an outstanding balance.
• CP504: Final balance due notice, third notice, intent to levy = A payment has not been received for an unpaid balance.
• 2802C: Withholding compliance letter = Sent to taxpayers who have been identified as having underwithholding of federal tax from their wages.

Here are the business notices the IRS is pausing.

• CP259/CP959: Return delinquency = There's no record of a prior year return being filed.
• CP518/CP618: Final notice of return delinquency = Final reminder notice of no record of a prior-year tax return.

How will taxpayers be affected by this notice suspension?

The IRS made the decision to suspend automated collection notices in order to reduce the stress and confusion arising from potentially inaccurate letters. The end will surely be a relief to some tax filers and tax professionals.

However, the suspension of these tax notices will definitely not provide relief for taxpayers who actually do need to file a previous year's return or pay their owed tax balance. In its Feb. 9 press release about pausing collection notices, the IRS stressed that "interest and penalties will continue to accrue" for those who have an unfulfilled filing requirement or owe back taxes. The interest on IRS penalties and balances compounds daily.

What if one of these letters arrives?

Since the IRS only recently stopped these automated notices, it's possible you could still receive one of these letters in the mail. If you do, the agency says there's no need to call or respond to the notice as it's working to "process prior year tax returns as quickly as possible." If you've already filed your tax return and you receive a notice saying it hasn't been received, it's likely that letter is outdated.

However, if you receive a notice that says you owe taxes and you didn't file the previous year's tax return, the IRS encourages you to promptly pay that tax due. If you don't, interest and penalties will continue to accrue.

For more, here are six smart ways to use your tax refund this year. Also, you can get your refund two days faster if you use Venmo, PayPal or Cash App.