Skip to main content
Department of Taxation and Finance

Respond to a letter requesting additional information

Respond to a letter requesting additional information

  1. Locate the letter you received from the list below, under Respond to a letter.
  2. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  3. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  4. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Find your letter

Note: If you received a letter telling you your refund was adjusted or denied (Form DTF-160 or DTF-161), see Your refund was adjusted.

The Tax Department has extended the due date for New York State personal income tax and corporation tax returns originally due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. See Tax Department response to COVID-19.

What to do while you're waiting

The best way to communicate with the Tax Department about your return is to open an Online Services account and request electronic communications for both Bills and Related Notices and Other Notifications.

Simply:

  1. Log in to (or create) your Online Services account.
  2. Select your name in the upper right-hand corner of your Account Summary homepage.
  3. Select Preferences, then choose Electronic communications from the expanded menu.
  4. On the Electronic Communications page, check the boxes next to Bills and Related Notices and Other Notifications.

Why you received a letter

If you receive a letter from us asking for documentation to support what you claimed on your return, it doesn't mean that you did anything wrong. It's just an extra step we take to ensure refunds—for the correct amounts—go out to only those who are entitled to them. Our goal is to stop questionable refunds before they go out the door, not to delay your refund.

Select an expandable to learn what you need to respond to your particular letter. You can:

Note: If you received a letter reminding you to file a previous year's income tax return (Form AU-222), see Respond to a reminder to file an income tax return to review and respond to your letter online.

Letter Example

Respond to a letter

Did your refund status recently change to "We sent you a letter requesting information to verify the amount of withholding you claimed"?

If your refund status recently changed to the status below, we will be sending you Form DTF-973.56-O. To view and respond to your notice now, follow the steps provided to submit the information requested online.

"We sent you a letter requesting information to verify the amount of withholding you claimed on your tax return."

Tip: To find your Document Locator Number (DLN), log in to your Individual Online Services account. The confirmation number for your 2019 income tax return is the same as your DLN.

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received and the checklists for responding to your letter to ensure you include everything we need in your response:
  3. Gather the documents we requested.
  4. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!
      

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  Create account

Due to school and other office closures, we're extending your time to respond to Form DTF-973.52 or Form DTF-973.73 by 30 days. You may now respond within 75 days of the date on your letter. We are also providing a list of alternate documents you may provide if you are unable to obtain those we requested. See Checklist for acceptable proof of a child or dependent.

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received:
  3. Review both checklists about responding to your letter to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  Create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received:
  3. Review our Checklist for acceptable proof of college tuition expenses to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead! 

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  Create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter and questionnaire you received: DTF-973.52 and DTF-973.52-ATT.
  3. Review our Checklist for acceptable proof of self-employment income to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead! 

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  Create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received: DTF-973.73.
  3. Review both checklists about responding to your letter to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  Create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received: DTF-973.66.
  3. Review our Checklist for acceptable proof of business loss to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received: DTF-973.65.
  3. Review our Checklist for acceptable proof of rental loss to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  Create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received: DTF-973.3.
  3. Review our Checklist for acceptable proof of taxi, limousine, or self-employed driver income and expenses to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

Log in  create account

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. View the letter you received: DTF-973.55.
  3. Review our Checklist for acceptable proof of itemized deductions to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  4. Gather the documents we requested.
  5. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Review our printer-friendly checklists that outline what you need to respond.
  2. Log in or create your Online Services account.
  3. Select the ≡ Services menu, then choose Respond to department notice.

LOG IN  Create account

If you received an audit notice that is not listed in any of the sections above, you can still use Respond to Department Notice to submit a response.  

Get ready to respond!

  1. Locate the form number of your letter in its bottom left-hand corner.
  2. Review your letter carefully to ensure you include everything we need in your response.
  3. Gather the documents we requested.
  4. Make digital copies of your documents. Hint: You don’t need a scanner to make a copy; use your smartphone to take and share a clear and legible picture instead!

Ready to respond?

  1. Log in to your Online Services account or create one. (Note: You will be able to view only future correspondence in a newly created Online Services account.)
  2. Select the ≡ Services menu in the upper left-hand corner of your Account Summary homepage.
  3. Select Respond to department notice, then select Respond to department notice from the expanded menu.
  4. From the drop-down menu, choose My return was selected for review or audit.
  5. Enter your case number beginning with the letter X found in the upper right-hand corner of your notice.

Log in  Create account

Demo: Respond to a Department Notice

Demo: Respond to a Department Notice
Updated: