Ask Maxi · IRS letters
I got a CP90 from the IRS. What does it mean?
A CP90 is a final notice that the IRS intends to levy certain assets for unpaid taxes, and it tells you about your right to a Collection Due Process hearing.
It works much like an LT11 or Letter 1058. The IRS has sent earlier notices, the balance is still unpaid, and the next step is taking money it can reach, which can include payments the federal government sends you.
What to do:
- Check the date on the notice. You generally have 30 days from that date to request a hearing on Form 12153.
- If you can pay, pay in full and keep proof.
- If you cannot, ask for a payment plan, or look at whether an offer in compromise or a temporary collection delay fits your situation.
- If you think the balance is wrong, use the hearing request or send documents through the upload tool listed on the notice.
Why the hearing matters: a timely request generally pauses the levy while an independent appeals officer reviews your case, and it gives you a formal place to propose a payment arrangement.
Unpaid tax debt that stays unresolved can also affect your passport. This is a letter to answer this week, not this month.
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.
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