IRS Letter 4800C Never Arrived? 3 Ways to Get a Copy

October 12, 2026 by Jean Lee Scherkey, EA

I never received IRS LTR 4800C. How can I obtain the letter to respond to it?  

-Cullen, Florida



Dear Cullen,  

Thank you for reaching out with your question. The IRS sent you a Letter 4800C, but you did not receive it. You would like to know how to obtain a copy of the letter so you can respond to it. Good news! There are several ways you can retrieve a copy of Letter 4800C to review the information the IRS is requesting. Some methods are definitely more efficient than others.  

 

Why does the IRS send a Letter 4800C in the first place? 

Before contacting the IRS, it is helpful to understand why the IRS issues Letter 4800C to taxpayers in the first place. While we cannot provide specific details about what the IRS may be questioning on your tax return, we can point you in the right general direction.  

Generally, the IRS issues a Letter 4800C when there is a contradiction between your submitted return and the withholding and credits reported to the IRS by third parties. For this letter, examples of discrepancies might include: 
 

• The difference between the wages and withholding reported on your return versus the wages and withholding reported by your employer on Form W-2, which may impact the amount of your Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.   
• The amount of education expenses claimed for your American Opportunity Tax Credit versus the tuition reported as paid on Form 1098-T by your college or university. 
• The amount of your Premium Tax Credit versus the information reported on Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. 

A Letter 4800C is not a final determination, but a proposed adjustment to your return. If you disagree with the proposed changes, you can submit a response explaining your position and include any supporting documentation within 30 days of the date on the letter. If you miss the 30-day window, you will still have more time to respond, but your window will be closing. The next notice the IRS will send is Letter 3219, Notice of Deficiency, where you will have an additional 90 days to either resolve your issue with the IRS or petition the Tax Court. If you do not agree with the adjustment listed on Form 4800C, and you have not resolved the issue with the IRS, it is vital that you submit a timely petition to the Tax Court. Under most circumstances, the IRS does not accept late-filed Tax Court petitions. For more information about IRS Letter 4800C, please review the following blogs “IRS Letter 4800C | Change Proposed to Your Tax Return” and “I got an IRS Notice Deficiency. What should I do?” 
 

Easiest Ways to Access IRS Records and Notices Mailed by the IRS 

Over the last couple of years, the IRS has taken significant steps to improve and enhance its online services, with the goal of making it easier for taxpayers to access important tax information. The two quickest ways to secure the information you need to respond to the IRS are through 1) the IRS’s online account portal for individual taxpayers or 2) through its new mobile app.  

 

IRS Online Account for Individuals 

Through the IRS online account for individuals, taxpayers may: 
 

• Access varied information about their tax account, including refund and audit statuses, 
• View available information return documents you were issued, such as Forms W-2 and 1099, 
• Make payments, 
• View up to 5 years of payment history, and 
• Set up payment plans, like an installment agreement.  

While the IRS online account portal for individual taxpayers has been active for several years, additional features have been added over the past couple of years, including an expanded list of more than 200 available digital notices for taxpayers to review. Even though the IRS does not list which notices are available digitally, it would be surprising if you could not view a copy of the Letter 4800C it issued.  

To access your IRS online account, you will need to establish an “ID.me” account, which is often described as a secure, online, portable identification wallet that holds the specifics of your personal identity. Federal and state government agencies, as well as medical providers, use ID.me to securely verify a person's identity online, ensuring that the person accessing an online account is who they claim to be. The good news is that if you already have an ID.me account, it will work when accessing your IRS online account. You only need one ID.me account to access any government or medical online sites that use this technology.  

I do not have an “ID.me” or IRS online account. How do I create one? 
If you do not have an ID.me Wallet (account), you will need to set one up before establishing your IRS online account. You can start the process of creating an ID.me account by logging in to the IRS’s Sign In or Create a New Account webpage.  

When you initially set up your ID.me account, you will need to create an ID.me Wallet by entering your personal email and creating a unique password. To complete your ID.me account, you will need the following: 
 

• A smartphone with a camera to take a selfie and take pictures of the required documentation that will be used to prove your identity. If needed, you can also use a computer that is connected to the internet.  
• A photo ID, such as your U.S. driver’s license, a state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. passport card. 
• A document that proves your Social Security number.  
  • This can be your actual Social Security card, your W-2, Form 1099, SSA-1099 Form, Form 1098, etc.  
  • If you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number, or only have a non-U.S. passport, please review the following ID.me webpage for further instructions: https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/202211610-Providing-your-Social-Security-number-during-verification.  

For more information on how to sign in to your IRS online account using ID.me, please review the following webpage: https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/4402761374231-Sign-in-to-the-IRS-with-ID-me-to-access-online-services.  

 

New Mobile IRS App 

On Friday, September 25, 2026, the IRS launched its new mobile app, aptly called “IRS App.” It replaces the IRS’s former mobile app, “IRS2Go.” The new mobile app provides account-specific features, including basic taxpayer account information and several service functions, including the ability to: 
 

• Review notice and letters issued by the IRS; 
• Update your email address and bank account information; 
• View and pay tax balances due; 
• Check the status of your refunds or whether your amended return has been processed; 
• Download tax transcripts 

The new mobile IRS App also allows taxpayers to make guest payments and file tax returns for free without creating an account. The official app may be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play. Remember, there are many scams out there. Be sure to download the official IRS App. The IRS provides links to the IRS App through the Apple App Store and Google Play on its “IRS App” webpage: https://www.irs.gov/help/app. Always keep in mind that the IRS never asks for personal information by text, email, or a pop-up message. If you encounter a potentially fraudulent IRS app, please notify the IRS through the following link: https://www.irs.gov/help/report-fraud. 

 

Contacting the IRS the old-fashioned way, by phone 

If you are unable to access a copy of your notice electronically, you may have to let your fingers do the walking and call the IRS’s main Individual assistance line at 800-829-1040. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. When speaking with the IRS representative, please let them know you need a copy of Letter 4800C that was issued to you. If you know the tax year the IRS is inquiring about, please include this information as well.  

If the IRS needs to mail you a copy of the notice, please ask the representative for the telephone number listed on the letter so you can contact the campus immediately and request additional time to submit your response. If you are experiencing immediate economic hardship because of this notice, you can contact the Tax Advocate Service (TAS) at 877-777-4778. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that assists taxpayers in resolving their IRS tax issues. For more information on the requirements you need to meet before requesting help with the Tax Advocate Service, please review the following Tax Advocate Service webpage: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/can-tas-help-me-with-my-tax-issue/.  

I hope you can quickly access a copy of IRS Letter 4800C through your IRS account for individuals or the mobile IRS App. However, if you do not have access to these online tools, your best bet is to call the IRS’s main individual assistance line. If you do need to call the IRS, bring your patience and be prepared for long wait times. Another option is to contact a tax practitioner in your area for help. A tax professional can help you access the information you need, explain your options, and help to resolve the issue.  

Wishing you a quick resolution to your issue and many happy returns. 

Jean Lee Scherkey, EA