The Letter 5972C is mailed to you because there is a balance due (money you owe the IRS) on one of your tax accounts. Letter 5972C informs you that there is a balance due (money you owe the IRS) on one of your tax accounts and tells you how much you owe, when it’s due, and how to pay it. You can also view more information on IRS.gov Understanding your Letter 5972C.
If you can’t pay the full amount by that date, you need to figure out what payment options might work for your situation, and act to set up a payment plan or discuss other ways to pay off your balance. Being proactive in addressing the tax debt may prevent additional penalty and interest charges and eliminate the need for the IRS to take action to collect the balance. For specifics, see I got a notice from the IRS.
If you choose not to respond to the Letter 5972C, the IRS may send further taxpayer collection notices to you requesting payment for the tax balance owing. The IRS may also file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien or issue a levy.
For specifics on your notice, visit Understanding your IRS Notice or Letter.
You have a balance due on your tax account. This letter is being sent to you to let you know how much you owe, when it is due, and how to pay it.
The first thing to do is to check the return address to be sure it’s from the Internal Revenue Service and not another agency.
If it’s from the IRS, the notice will have instructions on how to respond to the notice received and who to contact. If the notice is not from the IRS, visit I Got a Notice From the IRS for further details.
Next, you should read the letter carefully. It explains how much you owe, when your payment and or tax return is due, and your payment options.
If it’s from another agency, such as a state tax department, you’ll need to call that office for an explanation.
If you disagree
If you disagree with the letter, call the IRS at the toll-free number on the top right corner of your notice. Please have your paperwork (such as cancelled checks, copy of filed returns, etc.) ready when you call. See also Publication 5, Your Appeal Rights and How to Prepare a Protest If You Don’t Agree.
If you can’t pay the full amount by that date, you need to figure out what payment options might work for your situation, and contact the IRS to set up a payment plan or discuss other ways to address your balance.
Being proactive in addressing the tax debt may prevent additional penalty and interest charges and eliminate the need for the IRS to take action to collect the balance.
If you believe you have an acceptable reason for interest or a penalty to be removed or reduced, you may complete Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement, or send a signed statement to the IRS explaining your reason why. For specific instructions, see Notice 746, Information About Your Notice, Penalty and Interest.
Understanding your notice or letter
For more specifics on your notice, visit Understanding your IRS Notice or Letter on IRS.gov
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The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS. TAS helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS, makes administrative and legislative recommendations to prevent or correct the problems, and protects taxpayer rights. TAS helps all taxpayers (and their representatives), including individuals, businesses, and exempt organizations. You may be eligible for free TAS help if your IRS problem is causing financial difficulty, if you’ve tried and been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS, or if you believe an IRS system, process, or procedure just isn’t working as it should.
TAS has offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To find your local advocate’s number:
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) assist individuals whose income is below a certain level who need to resolve tax problems with the IRS. They also provide education, outreach, and information on taxpayer rights to individuals who speak English as a second language. LITCs represent taxpayers in disputes before the IRS and courts and help taxpayers respond to IRS notices and correct account problems. Services are offered for free or a small fee. LITCs are independent from the IRS and TAS. For more information or to find an LITC near you, see the LITC Page or Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List. You can also request Pub. 4134 by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
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Taxpayer Roadmap
The taxpayer Bill of Rights is grouped into 10 easy to understand categories outlining the taxpayer rights and protections embedded in the tax code.
It is also what guides the advocacy work we do for taxpayers.
