What is IRS CP 59 and How Should Taxpayers Receiving These Notices Proceed?

The IRS has announced a new initiative targeted at high income taxpayers who have failed to file federal income tax returns in recent years. In the past two weeks, the IRS has mailed over 125,000 compliance letters to taxpayers with income in excess of $400,000. The CP 59 notices are sent to alert higher income taxpayers to their failure to comply with federal tax filing requirements. The notices provide details about how the taxpayer can resolve the noncompliance, including by filing their returns immediately and completing Form 15103, Form 1040 Return Delinquency, to explain why they're filing late, why they don't have to file or that they have already filed the return. Taxpayers should detach a notice stub included with the CP 59 and mail it with the tax return and Form 15103 in the envelope that's included. The IRS also notes that it is stepping up enforcement and penalties for taxpayers who do not immediately respond to a CP 59 notice. For more information on the federal tax filing requirements, visit Tax Facts Online. : Q 647.