How to See If You Owe the IRS Taxes
This guide details the official government methods for confirming your tax balance and explains the information required to access your account securely.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides taxpayers with several direct and secure methods to verify their tax account status. These official channels are designed to give you access to your personal tax information, including any outstanding balance you may have. Utilizing these resources allows you to confirm your financial standing with the agency.
Information Required to Verify Your Identity
Before you can access your personal tax data through any official IRS channel, you must first prove your identity. You will need to have several specific pieces of information ready. This includes your Social Security Number (SSN) or, if applicable, your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You will also need your date of birth and the filing status from your most recently filed tax return, such as single, married filing jointly, or head of household.
The mailing address on file with the IRS, which should match the address on your last return, is also required for verification. For online access, the IRS uses a third-party service, ID.me, to confirm you are who you say you are. This process requires you to provide a government-issued photo ID, such as a valid driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
To complete the ID.me verification, you must also have access to a mobile phone with a camera. You will be prompted to take a photo of your ID and a selfie with your device’s camera.
Using the IRS Online Account Tool
The most direct way to see an outstanding balance is by using the IRS’s individual online account tool. You can find this service by navigating to the “View Your Account” page on the official IRS website. Once there, you will be prompted to sign in using your ID.me credentials.
After successfully signing in, you will be directed to your account dashboard. This dashboard provides a summary of your tax information. Look for a section labeled “Balance” or “Amount You Owe,” which will display the total amount of tax, penalties, and interest the IRS has calculated. This information is broken down by tax year, allowing you to see which specific periods have an outstanding liability.
The online account provides more than just your total balance. You can also view up to five years of your payment history, including any estimated tax payments you have made. The platform lets you see key data from your most recently filed tax return, such as your adjusted gross income. Digital copies of certain IRS notices may also be available for your review directly through the portal.
Requesting an IRS Account Transcript
An alternative method for checking your balance is to request a specific document known as an IRS “Account Transcript.” This document provides a detailed summary of your account activity for a single tax year. It lists transactions such as payments made, penalties assessed, and interest charged, showing if a balance is owed for that particular year.
You can request this transcript through the “Get Transcript Online” tool on the IRS website. Once verified, you can typically view and download the transcript for the specific year you need immediately.
If you prefer not to use the online tool or cannot complete the identity verification, you can request a transcript by mail. To do this, you must complete and mail Form 4506-T, “Request for Transcript of Tax Return.” This form can be downloaded from the IRS website and must be mailed to the address specified in the form’s instructions. Transcripts requested by mail are sent to the address the IRS has on file for you.
Reviewing an IRS Balance Due Notice
If you have received a letter or notice from the IRS in the mail, it may already contain the information you are seeking. The most common notice for a balance due is the CP14, “Notice of Tax Due and Demand for Payment.”
When examining the notice, locate the notice number, often found in the top right-hand corner, to confirm the type of correspondence you have received. The notice will clearly state the tax year or period in question. It will feature a summary section that shows the total amount you owe as of the date the notice was issued.
The notice also provides a detailed breakdown of that total amount. This section itemizes the original amount of tax that was due, any penalties that have been applied for late payment or late filing, and the interest that has accrued on the unpaid balance.