The IRS says take action tax topic 151 your appeal rights (2024)

FAQs

The IRS says take action tax topic 151 your appeal rights? ›

Tax Topic 151 is part of the IRS's effort to inform taxpayers of their rights and options when they disagree with an IRS decision. Typically, it accompanies notices or letters that inform you about changes to your tax return, such as adjustments to your refund amount or additional taxes owed.

IRS Tax Topic 151 explains your appeal rights. If the IRS makes changes to your tax return, the IRS will send you a notice outlining the changes, and then you have a chance to appeal or dispute the changes. During the appeal, you will explain your side of the story and present documents to make your case.

After this first letter, you should wait approximately four weeks, or possibly longer, for an additional letter from the IRS that will provide you with instructions about what additional documentation and information they need from you in order to finish processing your return.

The first Tax Topic 151 letter you will receive is simply a courtesy notification. The IRS is letting you know that it is reviewing your tax return and that your refund might be affected due to outstanding debts that you owe.

Tax Topic 151 means that you're getting a tax offset, which is where the Department of Treasury will be taking your refund to pay for something you owe. The most common reasons for getting a tax offset are unpaid taxes, unpaid child support payments, and offsets for Federal student loans in default.

It sounds like you have a refund offset. This is when the IRS reduces your refund to pay off delinquent debt. If this happens, you will receive a letter explaining why your refund was offset. Tax Topic 151 is the code referring to your right to appeal in this situation.

Tax Topic 151 means your tax return is now under review by the IRS. The agency either needs to verify certain credits or dependents, or it has determined that your tax refund will be reduced to pay money that it believes you owe.

Denial code 151 is used when the payer determines that the information provided does not justify the number or frequency of services billed. In other words, the payer believes that the documentation or evidence submitted does not support the need for the amount or frequency of services claimed for reimbursement.

Tax topic 151 usually means there is an offset. However, reference number 1242 is a dependency exemption issue. You will receive a letter from the IRS, usually within 2–3 weeks, advising you of the specific issue and telling you what you need to do next, if anything.

What is federal tax code 151? ›

§151, Personal Exemption

A taxpayer whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds an applicable threshold amount based on filing status must reduce the amount of his or her otherwise allowable deduction. The applicable threshold amounts are also adjusted annually for inflation.

They might do this if something doesn't seem right. If you claimed the earned income tax credit or a state income tax refund, they might check to ensure everything is correct. If the IRS decides to audit your refund, they will send you a letter explaining what they need from you.

Code 151 means IRS is reviewing your return. There is nothing you need to do right now. IRS will send you a letter of explanation in approximately 4 weeks. The letter will provide details of the reason for the review and give instructions about what you need to do next.

You can contact the agency with which you have a debt to determine if the debt was submitted for refund offset by calling the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 800-304-3107 (or TTY/TDD 800-877-8339), Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

The IRS uses code 1242 to indicate in its system that your return was received and is under review. From there you'll be issued a CP05 Notice from the IRS requesting that you verify some of the information you provided in your tax return.

This just means the IRS wants to confirm your identity and that you filed the tax return. If you receive this message, be on the look out for your letter in the mail.

Getting a Tax Topic 151 from the IRS with a reference number 1242 usually means you 've been flagged for potential identity theft .