Notice code CP22A
You got a CP22A. A change to your return created a balance.
You are holding a CP22A, so the IRS changed your return and you now owe a balance.
Pay by the date on the payment coupon, because interest grows on anything still unpaid after it.
If you want help checking the new amount or answering before that date, send us the notice details or call.
Briefing for CP22A
IRS pageAn IRS bill for a balance created by a change the IRS made to your return.
The IRS page sets no fixed day count.
- Call the number on the notice to ask what changed.
- Pay the balance by the date on the payment coupon.
- File Form 1040-X if the return needs another correction.
Which numbers matter?
Form 1040-X
If the change itself is wrong or incomplete, you fix it with an amended return.
File Form 1040-X only after you know exactly which line the IRS changed.
877-777-4778
If calls to the number on the notice go nowhere, the Taxpayer Advocate Service can step in.
Call 877-777-4778 if you cannot get an answer from the IRS.
800-829-1040
If the CP22A does not show in your online account or looks suspicious, you can check it.
Call 800-829-1040 before you pay a letter you cannot find in your account.
Check your CP22A balance first
Your CP22A has no fixed day count, so the date on its payment coupon is your deadline.
After that date, interest and a late penalty grow, but a licensed tax professional can check the change and answer for you.
Upload the CP22A in the form, or call now to review each changed line before the coupon date.
Call 855-964-5291What happens when you call
- You call during business hours and say you have a CP22A.
- A licensed tax professional asks for the date, the amount and the tax years on the letter.
- You hear your options for this notice and decide what to do. Nothing is filed without your yes.
A licensed tax professional answers, not the IRS. The call costs nothing, and you give up nothing by calling. IRS Code Lookup is a private tax help service.
Would you rather send your CP22A details?
Your CP22A lists the tax year, the changes the IRS made and the new balance with interest and any penalty.
With those details, a licensed tax professional can see whether the change and the amount hold up before you pay.
What is the IRS saying?
The letter starts with "We made changes to your return" for the year shown. It lists the new balance, which includes interest and any penalty.
Why did you get it?
The change often follows a request you or a preparer made, or a review of your return. Take Ben. He sent a correction for 2024 that removed a deduction.
Is it real?
The notice shows the tax year and a payment coupon. You can view your account and this notice in your IRS online account.
Still unsure? Search the code on the IRS notice search, or use the real or fake checklist.
When is your deadline?
The IRS page sets no fixed day count. Pay by the date on the notice's payment coupon, because interest starts on anything left after that date.
What if you agree?
Pay online or by mail. If you cannot pay in full, ask for a payment plan, a short delay in collection, or an offer in compromise.
What if you don't agree?
Call the number on the notice. If you need to make another correction, file Form 1040-X. If calls go nowhere, the Taxpayer Advocate Service is at 877-777-4778.
What happens if you ignore it?
Interest and a late payment penalty keep adding to the balance. If you contact the IRS about circumstances beyond your control, it can look at the penalty.
What should you read next?
Questions people ask
How do I find out what the IRS changed on my CP22A?
Call the number on the notice and say you got a CP22A with a balance due and need your account reviewed.
Am I charged interest on a CP22A?
Yes, if you do not pay the full amount by the date on the payment coupon.
Will I get a penalty if I cannot pay a CP22A?
Yes, a late payment penalty. Call the number on the notice if circumstances beyond your control kept you from paying.
Who can help if the IRS will not answer?
The Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent part of the IRS, at 877-777-4778.
Sources
- Understanding your CP22A notice. Published by irs.gov.
Last checked October 2026
What to do now
- Find the date on the CP22A payment coupon and mark it.
- Call the number on the notice and ask exactly what the IRS changed.
- Compare the change with your own return or the correction you sent.
- If you agree but cannot pay in full, ask for a payment plan.
Upload the CP22A in the form, or call now to review each changed line before the coupon date.
A licensed tax professional answers, not the IRS. The call costs nothing, and you give up nothing by calling. IRS Code Lookup is a private tax help service.