Ask Maxi · IRS letters
I got a CP502 from the IRS. What does it mean?
A CP502 is a follow-up reminder that you still owe a balance the IRS has already written to you about, and it asks you to pay by the date on the notice.
It sits in the same reminder stage as the CP501 and CP503. The IRS has not received your payment or a response to its earlier letters, and penalties and interest are still growing.
What to do:
- Confirm the tax year and amount, and check whether a payment you made has posted yet.
- Pay by the date on the notice, or as much as you can.
- If you cannot pay in full, set up a payment plan. Most people who owe under the online limits can do it without a phone call.
- If you think the balance is wrong, respond before the date on the notice with your proof.
What happens if it is ignored: more reminders, then a CP504 notice of intent to levy, and possibly a federal tax lien.
The good news is that at this stage the IRS is still asking, not taking. A plan set up now keeps it that way.
Send us a photo of the first page of the notice. We will tell you what it means for you and what to do next.
Want us to handle this for you? IRS letter help →