Income mismatch & return changes

CP22 notice — Handle it this month

The IRS changed your account from data it processed — for example, information from an amended return, a corrected document, or an internal adjustment — and the change produced the result this notice shows (a balance, on the CP22A variant).

Handle it

What this letter is

The IRS changed your account from data it processed — for example, information from an amended return, a corrected document, or an internal adjustment — and the change produced the result this notice shows (a balance, on the CP22A variant).

Why you got it: A document or correction reached your account and changed the numbers: a payer's corrected form, a reprocessed return, an adjustment from another notice.

What it is not

Not an audit finding. But unlike its cousin CP21, you may not have asked for this change — so verify it instead of assuming it.

Your first move: Ask the transcript what changed, or call and have the change explained item by item. If it's wrong, dispute with documents now, while the source records are easy to get.

Your deadline, counted

The clock on this letter: If it shows a balance: pay or respond by the printed date.

A balance on a CP22-series notice bills like any other — the printed pay-by date controls, and the standard plan/dispute rights apply.

Your options, in the order most people should try them

1. Verify the source change

Corrected W-2/1099? Amended return? Know which one this is before arguing.

2. Dispute with paper

The document that proves your figure beats the one that doesn't.

Your rights on this letter

  • Full dispute rights on the underlying change, with documents.
  • Payment plan rights on any resulting balance.

How to respond

Phone number on the notice; written disputes to the address shown.

Scam check

Confirm the change on your account transcript — fakes invent adjustments to sell 'fixes'.

If you ignore it

A wrong adjustment hardens into the account; a right one starts billing interest.

Where this sits on the ladder: CP14 →

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Sources, checked 2026-10-19: