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New IRS Law Aims to Make Math Error Notices Clearer and Fairer

Fewer Headaches from “Math Error” Letters

Each year, millions of taxpayers receive IRS letters claiming there’s an error in their math. In 2022 alone, more than 9 million of these notices were issued, leaving many filers confused about what went wrong and how to fix it.

To address this confusion, Congress has passed the IRS Math and Taxpayer Help (MATH) Act, a bipartisan effort designed to make IRS error notices more transparent and easier to understand.

Why the Change Was Needed

Under the IRS’s long-standing “math error authority” in the tax code, the agency could correct arithmetic or clerical mistakes on a return without going through the normal deficiency process.

The catch? Taxpayers had only 60 days to dispute the correction. Many of the notices were vague, listing multiple possible errors without pinpointing which one actually applied — leaving filers frustrated and sometimes paying additional taxes unnecessarily.

What the MATH Act Will Do

The new law makes several key changes intended to improve accuracy and communication:

  • Pinpointing the Problem – The IRS must now identify the exact line item and provide a clear reason for the correction.

  • Showing the Work – Each notice will include an itemized calculation that shows what changed and why.

  • Contact Information – Notices must include a direct phone number for taxpayers to request an account transcript.

  • Clear Deadlines – The specific date for requesting an abatement must appear clearly on each notice.

  • Flexible Response Options – Taxpayers can now request an abatement online, by mail, phone, or in person.

  • Improved Delivery – A pilot program will test sending certain notices by certified or registered mail to confirm receipt.

Key Takeaway

The IRS MATH Act gives taxpayers clearer explanations, better access to their information, and more time and flexibility to fix mistakes. It’s a practical move toward a simpler, more user-friendly tax system.

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