CP21C: We Made the Changes You Asked For — Your Balance Is Zero

Why you might get this

• You asked the IRS to change your tax return for a specific tax year, and they made those changes.
• After the changes, your account for that tax form and year came out to zero.
• You don't owe any money for that year, and you aren't due a refund for it either.

The deadline

This notice is mostly for your information — it confirms a change is done. There is no payment due and no refund coming. If you disagree with the changes, reach out to the IRS at the phone number printed in the "What you need to know" section of your notice, using the timing shown there.

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 and confirm the changes match what you asked for.
2. Update the copy of your tax return you keep for your records so it matches these changes.
3. If you disagree with the changes, call the IRS at the number in the 'What you need to know' section of your notice.
4. If you don't remember asking for this change, call that same number to find out what the IRS received.
5. If you need to make another correction, file Form 1040-X (the Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return).
6. If you think you're a victim of identity theft, call the number on your notice and check Identity Theft Central.

What happens if you ignore it

Because your balance is zero, there's usually nothing you must pay. But if the changes are wrong or you didn't request them, ignoring the notice means the error stays on your account — so it's worth reviewing and calling if anything looks off.

If you've contacted the IRS several times and still don't have answers, you can call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059). You may also qualify for free help from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

The CP21C notice is good news in most cases. The IRS sends it to tell you they made the changes you requested to your tax return for the tax year shown on the notice. After those changes, your balance for that form and year came out to zero — you don't owe anything, and you aren't due a refund.

Your main job here is simple. Read the notice and make sure the changes match what you actually asked for. Then update the copy of your return you keep at home so your records line up.

If something looks wrong — or you don't remember asking for a change at all — call the IRS at the phone number printed in the "What you need to know" section of your notice. That's also the number to use if you're worried about identity theft. Need to fix something else? You'd file Form 1040-X, the amended return.

If you call several times and still can't get answers, the Taxpayer Advocate Service can step in.

Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account, so you'll know if anything changes after this notice.