Getting a certified letter from the government is enough to make anyone nervous. Whether it’s from the IRS, Georgia Department of Revenue, or another agency, your first instinct might be to panic—or worse, ignore it altogether.

Don’t. A certified letter usually means something important and time-sensitive, and how you respond can make all the difference.

Step 1: Open the Letter

Your first instinct when you get certified mail from the IRS or Georgia Department of Revenue is probably to leave it sitting on the kitchen counter. Maybe you tell yourself you’ll open it tomorrow. Maybe you tell yourself you already know it’s bad news, so why bother?

Ignoring that envelope doesn’t stop the government clock.

Certified letters are a legal safeguard—they prove the government attempted to contact you. Whether you sign for it, the agency can generally consider you notified once they send the letter. That means important deadlines for response, appeal, or action are already ticking, even if you’ve avoided tearing open the envelope.

So, the first step is simple but crucial: open it. Once you do, take a deep breath and review the key details.

Here’s what you need to identify right away:

• Which agency sent it? Is this a federal issue (IRS) or a state issue (Georgia Department of Revenue)? The two have different rules, timelines, and processes.
• What’s the notice type or number? For example, IRS notices might carry labels like CP2000 (proposed changes to your tax return), LT11 (final notice of intent to levy), or CP504 (urgent balance due). Georgia DOR notices have similar tracking codes.
• What is the issue? Are they claiming you owe money? Are they missing a return? Are they notifying you of a pending action like a lien, levy, or wage garnishment?
• What is the response deadline? This is usually printed right in the letter. Write it down—it’s your lifeline.

These letters are often auto-generated and can sound harsh. It may say you owe money, but that doesn’t mean the issue has been fully investigated or that you don’t have defenses. However, assuming it’s a mistake or ignoring it out of fear can land you in much deeper trouble.

Step 2: Figure Out What They Want

Once you’ve read the letter, you’ll probably be tempted to pick up the phone and call the agency directly. Don’t.

Here’s why:

Government agencies like the IRS and Georgia DOR are not neutral advisers. They are enforcement bodies. Their job is to collect as much as they legally can, not to help you minimize what you pay. When you call them, you may unintentionally say things that hurt your case—even something as simple as agreeing you “probably owe something” can be treated as an admission.

Here’s where a tax attorney comes in.

We know the language, the processes, and your rights. Before you reach out to the government, a tax lawyer will:

• Review the letter carefully to confirm exactly what the government is asking for.
• Compare it to your tax history and filings to see if the claims have merit or if they’re based on outdated or incorrect information.
• Identify deadlines and procedural opportunities—for example, are you within the window to appeal or challenge the claim, or has a final notice already been issued?
• Build a response strategy that protects your interests while keeping you compliant.

In many cases, we’ve seen clients in Georgia call the IRS or DOR thinking they’re just asking harmless questions—only to end up locked into a payment plan they can’t afford, or worse, having their case escalated to collections. The best way to protect yourself is to have someone in your corner who knows how to navigate the system before you make a move.

Step 3: Take Action Before the Deadline

After you’ve reviewed the notice and consulted with a tax attorney, the next critical step is to act before the deadline. Deadlines in tax matters aren’t suggestions—they’re legal cutoffs. Miss them, and you may lose appeal rights, be forced to pay by default, or face aggressive enforcement actions like liens or wage garnishments.

Depending on the situation, here’s what your attorney might recommend:

• Filing an official appeal or protest letter: If the notice proposes additional taxes or penalties you disagree with, you may have the right to formally challenge it. Filing an appeal pauses many types of collection activities and gives you time to argue your case. But you must file within the stated deadline—no exceptions.
• Negotiating a resolution or payment plan: If you do owe the balance, your lawyer can help work out an agreement that fits your financial situation. This could include an installment plan, partial payment agreement, or even an offer in compromise, where you settle the debt for less than the full amount owed.
• Submitting missing or corrected tax documents: Sometimes the issue is as simple as missing paperwork—maybe the IRS or DOR never received a return you filed, or maybe they’re missing records that would reduce your tax liability. Your lawyer can help track down and submit the right documentation to resolve the issue.
• Taking emergency action to stop enforcement: If you’re already facing or about to face a lien, bank levy, or wage garnishment, your attorney can act quickly to halt enforcement while you work out a resolution.

The worst thing you can do is freeze up. Many tax problems can be resolved efficiently if you act early. But once deadlines pass, your options shrink fast, and the government’s collection powers expand.

Don’t Let a Government Letter Wreck Your Life

Getting a certified letter from the government is scary. But it’s not the end of the world—and you don’t have to handle it alone.

The Law Offices of Alyssa Maloof Whatley helps Georgians just like you deal with IRS letters, Georgia DOR notices, and other tax-related surprises every day. We know the process, we know the pressure, and we know how to fight back when the government overreaches.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. Call our Atlanta office now for a confidential consultation—and let’s get ahead of the problem before it gets ahead of you.