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Department of Taxation and Finance

Did You Receive a Letter from the Tax Department? Don’t Ignore It

Take advantage of online resources to accurately and promptly respond to a request for additional information about your tax return

For Release: Immediate,

For media inquiries only, contact: Ryan Cleveland, 518-457-7377

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today explained important steps taxpayers should take if they receive a letter or notice from the Tax Department asking for additional information about their tax return.

“Taxpayers who receive a letter from the Tax Department shouldn’t panic,” said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller. “The Tax Department needs to ensure that returns are filed accurately so refunds can be processed properly.”

Taxpayers who receive a letter or notice:

  1. Don’t panic – Receiving a letter from the Tax Department doesn’t mean a taxpayer has done anything wrong. It's just an extra step the Tax Department takes to ensure refunds go out to only those who are entitled to them. Our goal is to review questionable refunds before they go out the door, not to delay taxpayer refunds.
  2. Read carefully – Each letter or notice has specific “next step” instructions. It will explain exactly what taxpayers need to do.
  3. Be organized – Make sure the information submitted is accurate and supports credits, expenses, or income claimed on the tax return. Review the request for additional information checklists to include everything needed to respond. In addition, keeping good records is an important part of being a responsible taxpayer.
  4. Respond promptly – Don’t ignore the letter or notice. If taxpayers receive a request for additional information, the fastest and most convenient way to respond is through an Online Services account. For screen-by-screen instructions on responding through an Online Services account, see Respond to Request for Information: walkthrough. If taxpayers don’t already have an account, it’s easy to create one.

For more guidance on responding to a letter requesting additional information, visit the Tax Department’s website at www.tax.ny.gov (search: letter).

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