What’s the first step to respond to an IRS notice about 1099 income mismatch?

[CharlesNL]

I just got a notice from the IRS about a discrepancy in my reported income from last year, and I'm trying to figure out how to start the process of responding. The letter mentions my 1099 forms not matching what I filed, but I'm not entirely sure which specific document they're questioning or the best first step to take.

[LukeT]

I got a notice like that a while back. They said my 1099s didn't match what I filed. I started by pulling every 1099 I had and my return, then compared line by line to spot where the numbers diverged.

[PaulM]

One concrete thing I did was call the number on the letter and ask which form or line item they were questioning. It felt clumsy, but they could tell me the exact mismatch they had on file, which helped avoid guessing.

[Matthew32]

I did end up filing an amended return after I confirmed things with the IRS, but man, it took weeks and I kept copies of everything in a folder just in case. The process dragged.

[Evelyn_T]

Maybe the problem isn’t your numbers at all. Sometimes it’s a mis-post, a duplicate 1099, or a payer mixup. It can feel like chasing ghosts and you still worry you’re missing something.