CP2057: You may need to file an amended return

Why you might get this

• A third party — like an employer, bank, or business — reported income or other information to the IRS that isn't on your tax return.
• The IRS matched what you filed against these outside reports and found a difference.
• You may have left off income, entered it incorrectly, or received a form (like a 1099) after you already filed.
• In some cases, the information may be wrong, or it may be tied to identity theft using your name and Social Security number.

The deadline

This notice asks you to act, but it does not add a tax bill on its own. Read the notice for any timing it gives, and take action as soon as you can. If you need to file an amended return, do it promptly so you don't build up extra interest or penalties on any tax you owe.

This notice doesn't carry a fixed response deadline, but it still deserves attention — see what to do below.

What to do

1. Read the notice carefully — it explains exactly what information the IRS received.
2. Decide if the information is correct. If it is, file an amended return using Form 1040-X (the form used to correct a return you already filed). You can file it on paper or electronically.
3. If the information is wrong, don't file an amended return. Instead, contact the business or person who reported it and ask them to correct it — you don't need to call the IRS.
4. If you reported the information but made a mistake that didn't change your tax, you can call the IRS to fix it over the phone.
5. If you don't have your original return, order a tax transcript or ask your tax preparer for a copy.
6. If the mismatch is because someone else used your name and Social Security number, review the IRS identity theft steps and call the IRS to report it.
7. Keep a copy of the notice with your records.

What happens if you ignore it

This is a heads-up, not a bill, so ignoring it won't trigger an immediate charge. But if the missing income is real and you don't fix it, the IRS can later send a formal bill (often a CP2000) that adds the extra tax plus interest and possible penalties.

If you don't respond and the information was correct, the IRS may follow up with a formal proposed-change notice such as a CP2000, which can lead to an assessed tax bill. Free help is available from the Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if you qualify.

What a CP2057 notice means for you

A CP2057 notice is the IRS letting you know that information from someone else — like an employer, bank, or business — doesn't match what's on your tax return. It usually means income or another item may be missing or entered wrong.

The good news: this is not a bill. It's a nudge to check your return and fix it if needed. Start by reading the notice closely — it tells you exactly what information the IRS received.

If that information is correct, file an amended return using Form 1040-X. You can do this on paper or online. If the information is wrong, you don't need to amend anything or call the IRS — just contact whoever reported it and ask them to correct it.

If the mismatch looks like identity theft, review the IRS identity theft steps and call the IRS to report it.

Acting sooner rather than later helps you avoid extra interest or a later, more formal notice like a CP2000.

Not sure where things stand? Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account and give you a gentle heads-up if anything changes.