The CP80A is a variant of the CP80 with additional urgency. The IRS has estimated tax payments or withholding credits sitting on your account, but you haven't filed the return needed to claim them. The CP80A may indicate that the refund statute deadline is approaching, adding urgency to the filing requirement.
The Three-Year Deadline
You generally have three years from the original due date to file a return and claim a refund. After three years, the credits expire permanently. If the CP80A is for tax year 2022, your deadline is April 15, 2026. Miss it and the money is gone forever, regardless of how much was withheld or how many estimated payments you made.
The CP80A is the IRS essentially telling you: we have your money, but you need to file a return to get it, and time is running out.
File Immediately
Don't wait. File the return for the year identified on the CP80A. Even an imperfect return filed before the three-year deadline preserves your refund rights. You can always amend later to correct errors. A perfect return filed one day after the deadline gets you nothing.
How Much Is at Stake
The CP80A may show the credits on your account. If your employer withheld $8,000 in federal taxes and your actual liability is $5,000, you're owed a $3,000 refund. But only if you file. Without a return, that $3,000 stays with the IRS.
If you received a CP80A, file your return today. If you need help, call us at (813) 229-7100.