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CP21BStandardIndividual Filer

Requested Changes: Refund

The IRS made the changes you requested for a tax year, and those changes result in a refund.

Read the official IRS page

What a standard notice signals

Standard notices are the IRS opening a conversation: a balance reminder, a request for information, or a change it has made to a return. Receiving one does not mean you have done anything wrong, and there is normally time to respond before anything escalates.

What to do next

  1. Read the notice in full and find the response date printed on it. That date, not anything on this page, governs your case.
  2. Check the figures against your own records. Notices are sometimes issued on incomplete or mismatched information.
  3. Do not ignore it. Almost every escalation in the IRS collection sequence begins with an earlier notice that went unanswered.
  4. If the amount is disputed, you cannot pay it, or you are unsure what is being asked, speak with a licensed professional before the date on the notice passes.

Where Allies Tax Services comes in

Our team is made up of government-licensed CPAs and tax attorneys who deal with the IRS every day. With a signed authorization (Form 2848), we can speak with the IRS on your behalf, confirm exactly where your account stands, and handle the response so nothing is missed.

Start with a free consultation: we review your notice, explain what it means for your specific situation, and lay out the options actually available to you, before you commit to anything.

Related Notices

Others commonly sent to individual filers.

CP14

Balance Due Notice

The CP14 is often the first notice sent when you owe taxes. It explains the amount due, including penalties and interest, and provides payment instructions.

CP501

Reminder Notice

A CP501 is a reminder that you still have an unpaid tax balance. It encourages you to pay the amount owed or review available payment options.

CP2000

Proposed Changes to Your Tax Return

The IRS believes information reported by employers, banks, or other third parties does not match your tax return. This is a proposed adjustment, not a final tax bill.

CP11

Changes to Your Return: Balance Due

The IRS corrected one or more miscalculations on your return, and as a result you now owe a balance.

CP12

Changes to Your Return: Refund Adjusted

The IRS corrected one or more errors on your return, which changed your expected refund or overpayment amount.

CP22A

Data Processing Adjustment: Balance Due

The IRS made the changes you requested to your tax return, and those changes resulted in a balance due.

This page is a plain-language summary of what notice CP21B generally covers. It is not tax advice and it does not describe your specific case. The amounts, deadlines and instructions that apply to you are printed on the notice you received. The authoritative description is on IRS.gov.

Not Sure What This Means For You?

A licensed professional can review your notice, explain what it means for your situation, and lay out your options. The consultation is free.

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