An envelope from the Internal Revenue Service or the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance can be unsettling. Each letter explains what it is about and what, if anything, you need to do. A few calm steps make it easier to handle.
It is tempting to put it aside. Open it, read it to the end, and note the date it was sent and any date it gives for a reply.
Scams often imitate tax agencies. The IRS says it does not start contact by email, text message or social media to ask for personal or financial information. Before you call a number in a letter, check that it matches the number on the agency's own website, irs.gov (opens in a new tab) or tax.ny.gov (opens in a new tab). A letter, call or message that demands payment by gift card is a scam.
A letter left unanswered can become harder to resolve. At the same time, there is no need to pay or reply the same day without understanding what is being asked.
The letter names the tax year and the return it is about. Find your copy of that return and the documents that went with it.
If we prepared the return, or you would like us to look at the letter, send us a copy of the whole letter through the client portal, never by email, and tell us when it arrived. We will read it and tell you what we see.
Keep the letter, the envelope, copies of anything you send back, and notes of any calls, with the date and the name of the person you spoke to.