Legal Definitions - thirty-day letter

A thirty-day letter is a letter that comes with a report from a revenue agent. This happens after an audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or when a taxpayer's claim for a refund is rejected. The letter explains how the taxpayer can appeal the decision before the IRS. If the taxpayer doesn't appeal within 30 days, the IRS will send a statutory notice of deficiency.

John received a thirty-day letter from the IRS after they audited his tax returns. The letter explained that he had 30 days to appeal the decision before the IRS. If he didn't appeal, the IRS would send him a statutory notice of deficiency.

Another example is when Mary's claim for a refund was rejected by the IRS. She received a thirty-day letter that explained how she could appeal the decision before the IRS. If she didn't appeal within 30 days, the IRS would send her a statutory notice of deficiency.

These examples show how a thirty-day letter is used by the IRS to inform taxpayers of their right to appeal a decision before the IRS. It's important for taxpayers to understand the appeal process and respond within the 30-day period to avoid receiving a statutory notice of deficiency.