View our interactive tax map to see where you are in the tax process. It could help you navigate your way through the IRS.
You have a balance on your tax account. If you disagree with an IRS employee decision regarding the collection of the tax, you may request a conference with the Collection manager. If you do not resolve your disagreement with the Collection manager, you can submit a written request for consideration by the IRS Independent Office of Appeals (Appeals) preferably via Form 9423, Collection Appeal Request if you have been contacted by a Revenue Officer or verbally or in writing if your only contact with the IRS has been via notice or telephone.
Instances in which you can pursue the Collection Appeals Program (CAP) include, but are not limited to:
CAP generally results in a quicker Appeals’ decision than a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing , (CDP) and is available for a broader range of collection actions. However, you cannot go to court if you disagree with the CAP decision. You may not challenge the existence or amount of your tax liability under CAP. Under CAP as opposed to CDP, Appeals does not consider alternatives to the issue under appeal, but solely determines the appropriateness of the issue under appeal.
The IRS has taken an action or has warned you action will be taken, and you have been advised, verbally or in writing, that you are entitled to request appeal using the Collection Appeals Program (CAP).
See Publication 594 and Publication 1660 for additional information on CAP.
For specifics on your particular notice, visit Understanding your IRS Notice or Letter.
You disagreed with an IRS employee’s decision regarding the lien, installment agreement, levy, seizure or other decision.
If you disagree with the IRS employee’s decision concerning lien or levy, or proposed lien or levy actions, you can contact the employee’s manager to request a conference. If the manager sustains the employee’s decision, you can submit a request for Appeals consideration verbally, in writing, or via Form 9423 to the IRS employee within three business days of meeting. If you have been in contact with a Revenue Officer and contact the employee’s manager to request a conference and still disagree with the decision, you may request an Appeal’s conference in writing, preferably via Form 9423, within 3 business days of the conference with the Collection manager and you must inform the Revenue Officer or the Collection manager within 2 business days of the conference that you want to appeal under CAP. Otherwise collection action will resume.
If you disagree with the IRS employee’s decision concerning rejection or termination of an installment agreement, you will have 30 days from the date of the notice. You can contact the employee’s manager to request a conference. If the manager sustains the employee’s decision, you can submit a request for Appeals consideration in writing, verbally, or via Form 9423, unless you were contacted by a Revenue Officer in which case your request must be in writing. Your written request must be postmarked within 30 days from the date of the notice to be considered.
If you disagree with the proposed modification or modification of your installment agreement, please follow the directions under the section of your notice entitled, “How do you appeal the termination of an installment agreement?”
You may represent yourself in CAP proceedings or you may be represented by an attorney, certified public accountant, or a person enrolled to practice before the IRS. Also, you may be represented by a member of your immediate family, or in the case of a business, by regular full-time employees, general partners, or bona fide officers. If you want your representative to contact the IRS or appear without you and to receive and inspect confidential material, you must file a properly completed Form 2848 (no earlier than 10/2011 revision), Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.
Under CAP, Appeals does not consider alternatives to the issue under appeal, nor will it consider the existence or amount of your tax liability, but solely determines the appropriateness of the issue under appeal. Appeals’ administrative decisions are final and there is no right to judicial review in court if you disagree with the decision. If your issue is not resolved through CAP you can explore “I Need Help Resolving My Balance Due” on the TAS website.
Understanding your notice or letter
For more specifics on your notice, visit Understanding your IRS Notice or Letter on IRS.gov
Understanding a Federal Tax Lien on IRS.gov
Get Help topics
Browse common tax issues and situations at TAS Get Help
If you think you’ll have trouble paying your taxes or the NFTL filing will cause economic hardship, it’s helpful to know what your options are to address your tax debt.
Liens on the TAS website
Levies on the TAS website
Levy on IRS.gov
If you still need help
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayers’ rights. We can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a financial difficulty, you’ve tried and been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS, or you believe an IRS system, process, or procedure just isn’t working as it should. If you qualify for our assistance, which is always free, we will do everything possible to help you.
Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 
1-877-777-4778.
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) are independent from the IRS and TAS. LITCs represent individuals whose income is below a certain level and who need to resolve tax problems with the IRS. LITCs can represent taxpayers in audits, appeals, and tax collection disputes before the IRS and in court. In addition, LITCs can provide information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities in different languages for individuals who speak English as a second language. Services are offered for free or a small fee. For more information or to find an LITC near you, see the LITC page on the TAS website or Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List.
Related Notices/Letters
This list is not all inclusive.
Taxpayer Requests Collection Appeals Program
