Did You Receive a Letter from the Tax Department? Don't Ignore It
Visit the Tax Department’s Website for Resources on How to Respond to a Letter Requesting Additional Information
For Release: Immediate, Thursday, May 15, 2025
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 requesting additional information about their tax return.
“Taxpayers who receive a letter from the Tax Department shouldn’t feel alarmed,” said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller. “The Tax Department needs to ensure that returns are filed accurately, which sometimes requires additional information.”
Tips for taxpayers who receive a letter or notice:
- Don’t panic – Receiving a letter from the Tax Department doesn’t mean a taxpayer has done anything wrong. The Tax Department sometimes needs more information to ensure that returns are processed accurately and that refund amounts are correct.
- Read carefully – Each letter or notice explains why the information is being requested and has specific “next step” instructions explaining exactly what taxpayers need to do.
- Be organized – Make sure the requested information is complete and accurate to support credits, expenses, or income claimed on the tax return. Review the request for additional information checklists to ensure everything needed to respond is included. In addition, keeping good records is an important part of being a responsible taxpayer.
- Respond promptly – Don’t ignore the letter or notice. Taxpayers who receive a letter should respond by the date noted on the letter so the Tax Department can continue processing their return. Taxpayers can respond to a request for additional information through an Online Services account. For step-by-step 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).