CP27: You May Qualify for the Earned Income Credit

Why you might get this

• The IRS reviewed your tax return and saw you did not claim the Earned Income Credit (EIC) elow money below a certain amount.
• Their records suggest you may be eligible for the EIC, which is a credit for certain people who work and earn income.
• You may qualify for a refund even if you have no dependent children and do not owe any tax.

The deadline

This notice asks you to fill out and mail back an eligibility worksheet if you think you qualify. There is no penalty for the notice itself — it is an offer to claim money you may be owed. Send your worksheet back promptly using the timing shown on your notice so the IRS can review it. If you are not eligible, you simply do not return the form.

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

What to do

1. Read your notice all the way through so you understand the steps.
2. Complete Form 15112, the Earned Income Credit Worksheet, using the version for your tax year.
3. If the worksheet shows you are eligible, sign and date Form 15112 and mail it back in the envelope provided.
4. If you lost the envelope, mail the worksheet to the address printed in the top left corner of the form.
5. If you are not eligible, do not return the form — just keep it for your records.
6. Note: for tax year 2024, the IRS says to ignore the inserts that came with the notice.

What happens if you ignore it

Nothing bad happens to you, but you may miss out on a refund you could have received. The Earned Income Credit is money the IRS believes you may be owed, so ignoring the notice simply means you do not get to claim it.

After you mail the worksheet, the IRS reviews it and decides. If you qualify, they send a refund in about 6 to 8 weeks (as long as you do not owe other debts they must collect). If they deny it, they send a letter explaining why. If you do not hear back after 8 weeks, call the IRS at 800-829-0922. You can also get free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

What a CP27 Notice Means for You

Getting a CP27 notice is actually good news. The IRS is telling you that you may have qualified for the Earned Income Credit (EIC) — a tax credit for people who work and earn income — but did not claim it on your return. This credit can put money back in your pocket, and you may even get a refund with no dependent children and no tax owed.

To find out if you qualify, complete Form 15112, the Earned Income Credit Worksheet, using the version for your tax year. If the worksheet shows you are eligible, sign it, date it, and mail it back in the envelope the IRS provided. If you lost the envelope, use the address in the top left corner of the form. If you are not eligible, you do not need to send anything back.

Once the IRS reviews your worksheet, they will either send your refund in about 6 to 8 weeks or mail a letter explaining a denial. If you do not hear anything after 8 weeks, call the number on your notice.

If you'd like an extra set of eyes, Solace can keep watch on your IRS account and let you know when things change.