The IRS changed your return: reading a CP22A
- What it is
- We changed your return and you now owe
- Type
- Change to your return
- Your deadline
- If you agree, pay "by the date printed on your notice."
- To
- You
- From
- Blaga Veleva, EA
- Re
- Return changed, tax due
A CP22A means the IRS made changes to your tax return and, because of them, you now owe money. The notice may not explain the change in detail. Your first move is to find out exactly what changed, by calling the number on the notice, and then pay or dispute it by the date printed on your notice.
What does the CP22A notice mean?
The IRS adjusted your return and the result is a balance due. irs.gov notes that the notice does not always explain in detail what changed, and that you can call the number on the notice to find out. So the amount is clear, but the reason may not be.
How much time do I have?
If you agree, pay "by the date printed on your notice." That is the only deadline the irs.gov page gives (irs.gov CP22A page). Miss it, and interest accrues on what you haven't paid, with a late payment penalty on top. If something outside your control keeps you from paying, contacting the IRS by that due date may help with penalty removal later.
What happens if I ignore it?
What should I do this week?
- Note the notice date and the payment date printed on it.
- Get a copy of the return as you filed it.
- Call the number on the notice and ask exactly which lines changed and why. Write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with.
- Compare their explanation with your records.
- If you agree, pay by the date or set up a payment plan.
- If you disagree, gather the documents that support your original numbers and respond.
How an Enrolled Agent helps with a CP22A
Most of the value is in checking whether the change is right. Under a Form 2848 power of attorney, Blaga Veleva, EA can find out what the IRS changed, compare it with your return, and contact the IRS for you if the change is wrong. If it is right, she can set up a plan for the balance.
She can also ask for penalty removal based on reasonable cause or First Time Abate, and for 2025 and later returns check how the IRS's Automatic Exemption from Penalty applies. Hand her the CP22A at FM 1960 W in Houston or upload it to the secure portal wherever you live.
Which notice usually comes next?
Not in the decoder yet. Read it to us.
Call (281) 785-0460 Send it to us
That does not mean it is unusual. The IRS sends many different notices and letters. Read us the number and the date printed on it, and Blaga will tell you what it is and what it asks you to do.
Check the letters before the number too (CP, LT or Letter), in the top right corner. See every letter in the decoder.
Type the number from the top right corner of your letter, for example CP504 or LTR 1058. No number? Try a word like levy, lien or audit.
Which one is it?
Look at the letters printed just before the number, top right of the first page.
Still not sure? Call (281) 785-0460 and read it to us.
Which letter is it?
The number is in the top right corner of the first page, for example CP14 or LTR 1058. Type it above, tap a common one below, or see every letter the decoder covers.
- What it means
- Your deadline
- If it waits
- How an Enrolled Agent can help
Have Blaga read yours Full guide
Source: irs.gov. This is a plain-English summary, not advice on your case.
Questions people ask
Q1Why did the IRS change my return?
The CP22A may not say in detail. irs.gov suggests calling the number on the notice to find out. Ask which lines changed and what information the IRS used.
Q2Can I dispute a CP22A?
Yes. If you disagree, contact the IRS at the number on the notice with documents that support your return. An Enrolled Agent can do this for you with a signed Form 2848.
Q3Do I have to pay a CP22A right away?
If you agree with the change, pay by the date printed on your notice. If you can't pay all of it, a payment plan is available, and paying part of it still reduces interest.
Q4Can I get the late payment penalty removed?
Possibly. irs.gov says penalty removal may be possible if circumstances beyond your control kept you from paying. First Time Abate covers older years, and the Automatic Exemption from Penalty applies to 2025 and later returns.
Q5What should I have ready when I call about a CP22A?
Have the notice, a copy of the return as you filed it, and the records behind the lines that changed, such as W-2s, 1099s or receipts. Write down who you spoke with, the date, and what they said changed.