Solution
Find out what you actually owe the IRS.
A notice or online balance can be confusing, incomplete, or already out of date. We help obtain your account records directly so you see a complete, current picture.
The problem
Why balances get confusing
Penalties and interest accrue daily on most IRS balances, so a number you saw last month may already be out of date by the time you act on it. If you owe for multiple years, each year carries its own separate balance, its own penalty calculation, and its own interest accrual — and it is easy to lose track of which is which when you are only looking at a single notice.
A notice also typically reflects the IRS's position at the moment it was generated. If you have made a payment since, or a penalty was later abated, the notice in your hand will not reflect that.
Sources compared
Where a balance figure can come from
| What it shows | How current it is | |
|---|---|---|
| A mailed notice | Balance as of the notice date | Can be weeks or months old |
| IRS phone line | Whatever the representative reads that day | Current, but easy to mishear or transcribe wrong |
| Account transcript | Full transaction history by tax year | As current as the IRS system itself |
The Initial IRS Review
What your review shows
Your Initial IRS Review breaks your balance down by tax year, showing the original tax assessed, penalties, interest, and any payments or credits applied — pulled directly from your actual account transcript rather than reconstructed from a single letter.
Key takeaways
- Balance shown per tax year, not just a single combined total.
- Penalties and interest broken out separately from the original tax assessed.
- Payments and credits already applied are reflected, so the number is current.
- Ongoing Monitoring keeps this figure updated after your review is complete.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why does my balance not match the letter I received?+
Notices reflect a snapshot in time. If interest has accrued, a payment posted, or a penalty was adjusted since that notice was generated, the current balance on your account transcript will differ.
Does this review tell me how to pay off the balance?+
The review shows you exactly what is owed and how it breaks down. It does not set up payment plans or negotiate on your behalf — that decision and any related arrangement is yours to make.
Ready to see where you stand?
Start your Initial IRS Review and we'll take it from there.