From Panic to Plan: What to Do When You Receive a Certified Letter from the IRS

There are few things more anxiety-inducing than getting a certified letter from the IRS.

Your stomach drops. Your mind starts racing. 

What is this about? How much do I owe? 

Am I in trouble?

Here’s what you need remember: Don’t panic. But don’t ignore it either.

Why You’re Getting a Certified Letter

The IRS sends certified letters when they want to be sure you see what they’re sending. It usually means:

• You have unpaid taxes

• You haven’t filed a return they were expecting

• There’s a lien, levy, or garnishment coming

• They’re proposing to seize assets or take legal action

It doesn’t mean you’re going to jail. But it does mean you need to act.

Step One: Open It

We know it’s tempting to toss it in a drawer and pretend it’s not there. But the longer you wait, the fewer options you’ll have. In many cases, you only have 30 days to respond before serious action begins.

Step Two: Don’t Go It Alone

The IRS is one of the most powerful collection agencies in the country. They can garnish your wages, freeze your bank account, and put liens on your property. You don’t want to call them without a plan. You don’t want to guess. And you don’t want to give them information they’re not entitled to.

That’s where we come in.

What We Do

At Watson on Taxes, we help clients respond to IRS letters with strategy, protection and results.

Our clients come to us in panic—and leave with a plan.

Like the client who came to us owing $95,000 and walked away paying just $600 after we negotiated a settlement. Or the one who faced $30,000 in tax debt and ended up paying only $2,000. Or the client that owed over $250,000 in back taxes and we negotiated a manageable installment payment plan.

These aren’t gimmicks. These are real cases where we applied IRS relief programs like Offer in Compromise or Currently Not Collectible status — and got relief for the taxpayer.

You Have Rights. You Have Options.

Receiving a certified letter from the IRS feels like the beginning of a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. One of your biggest rights is the Right to Proper Representation. With the right team on your side, it can be the start of a resolution.

A return to peace of mind. A new chapter in your financial story.

Get Help Now

If there’s a certified IRS letter in your hand or on your kitchen counter, take a breath, and then take action. We’ll help you make sense of what it means, what your options are and how to protect yourself.

Contact Watson on Taxes. For every tax problem, there is a solution.