Balance Due Notice After Payment

NATP

Balance Due Notice After Payment

When an electronically filed return posts and a corresponding payment is not in the system, a notice is automatically generated. Since a payment mailed the same day as the return is e-filed takes additional time to post, notice issuance has increased as the number of returns filed electronically has increased.

In the past several years, the IRS has taken steps to prevent this from happening during the peak filing season. Beginning in June 2009, all balance due notices will be delayed for two weeks to allow any mailed payments to post. This should greatly reduce the number of erroneous notices.

The IRS has also become aware that some notices may be issued when payments have been made using EFTPS. Again, there is a short lag time as the information is transferred from EFTPS to the IRS and, because of the timing, a notice may be issued. The reprogramming in June 2009 should eliminate this situation as well.

Please note that all balance due notices state: If you have already paid your tax in full or arranged for an installment agreement, please disregard this notice. Therefore, if a payment has been sent, no further action is needed unless a second notice is received. These notices may also be avoided by using electronic funds withdrawal for the tax due, interest, and penalties.