nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

How do I use the Taxpayer Roadmap?

Contributed by: AndyS, FreeTaxUSA Agent, Tax Pro

Woman reading a paper map outdoors, representing navigating the IRS Taxpayer Roadmap after receiving a notice.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that provides free resources to help people understand and resolve tax issues. It can help with IRS letters, return changes, exams, and audits. One helpful TAS tool is the Taxpayer Roadmap. It looks a lot like a transit map for a bus or train system, and it can help taxpayers understand where they are in the IRS process and what may happen next.

What does the roadmap do?

Receiving a notice from the IRS can feel stressful. IRS notices can be hard to understand, and they don’t always make it clear what happens next. TAS created the roadmap to make the process easier to follow. It explains common tax terms in plain language and connects you to information about your rights as a taxpayer.

While there's a lot of information on the roadmap, it can be broken down into a few main sections.

Tax Return Preparation and Processing: This section walks you through the filing process, such as how returns are filed, sorted, and checked for accuracy.
Exam: Exam is the IRS’s way of saying audit. These are the steps the IRS may take if they need more information or want to review documents you used to file your return.
Collection: This section shows how the IRS handles balances due, including payment options and collection actions, such as levies, if necessary.
Appeals and Litigation: These are the steps you can take if you disagree with an IRS notice or decision, including the tax court process if needed.

How does the roadmap work?

The roadmap can look a little overwhelming at first, but you don't have to figure it out all at once. It can be helpful to enter the number from your IRS notice, and the roadmap will narrow things down to the track that applies to you and guide you through possible next steps.

For example, Sam received a letter in the mail from the IRS. He's not sure what to do next, so he goes to the Taxpayer Roadmap interactive tool.

Step 1: Look at the notice number found in your IRS letter.

This is usually found near the top of your IRS notice. It typically has letters and numbers, such as CP2000, CP14, or Letter 525. Sam received a CP2000, which is sent when information reported on a return doesn't match information the IRS received from other sources. The notice shows the IRS's proposed adjustment to the return.

IRS notice header showing the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Philadelphia address, and notice details: CP2000 for tax year 2017, dated January 30, 2018. Social Security number, AUR control number, and contact phone number are obscured.

Step 2: Enter the notice number into the roadmap

Once you have the notice number, enter it into the roadmap search field.

A webpage asks, “Did you get a notice from the IRS?” and instructs the user to enter a notice number. The search field contains “CP2000,” with a clear button and magnifying-glass icon.

Step 3: Select the option that appears below the search bar

Select the option that best matches your notice. This will take you to the starting position for the section of the roadmap that applies to you.

A webpage menu displays two expandable options: “Notice CP2000—Exam” and “Notice CP20 series—Exam,” each with a right-facing chevron. A large left-pointing arrow highlights the first option.

Step 4: Select the notice type.

A dark blue overlay on a tax assessment flowchart lists two exam notices: “Notice CP2000” and “Notice CP2501,” each with a right-facing chevron. A large left-pointing arrow highlights “Notice CP2000.”

Step 5: Review the steps that apply to your notice

A window will pop up on the top-left of the screen. This is where you can review the steps that apply to your notice. Select 'See notice details' to learn what you may need to do next.

A webpage panel for an “EXAM” labeled “Notice CP2000” presents an overview of a request to verify unreported income, payments, and/or credits that do not match information reported to the IRS by third parties. A “See notice details” button appears at the bottom, highlighted by a blue arrow.

The Taxpayer Roadmap is a helpful guide, but it doesn’t replace the instructions in your IRS notice. Be sure to read your notice carefully and respond by the deadline listed in the letter.

Sometimes the scariest part about receiving an IRS notice is not understanding what it means or what happens next. The Taxpayer Roadmap can help ease those worries and give you a clearer path as you navigate the U.S. tax system.