A tax notice from the IRS or Maryland Comptroller's Office is stressful — but it doesn't always mean something is seriously wrong. I'm Kevin Burdett, a tax professional based in Columbia, Maryland, with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and businesses understand and respond to tax notices accurately and efficiently.
Deadlines Matter
Years Tax Experience
Both Authorities Covered
Direct Access to Kevin
When a letter arrives from the IRS or Maryland Comptroller’s Office, the instinct for many people is to set it aside either hoping it will go away or because it feels too overwhelming to deal with right now. Unfortunately, that approach almost always makes the situation more expensive and more complicated.
Most tax notices have a response deadline. Missing it can result in additional penalties, interest, or escalating collection action that could have been avoided with a timely, accurate response. Many notices that seem alarming are routine but they still need to be addressed.
Almost every IRS and Maryland tax notice includes a deadline — typically 30 to 60 days from the notice date. Missing that deadline doesn’t make the issue disappear. It usually results in additional penalties, accruing interest, or the IRS moving forward with collection action that could have been stopped with a timely response.
When you bring me a notice, the first thing I do is identify the deadline and what needs to happen before the deadline. Then we put together the right response — accurate, complete, and submitted on time.
The IRS received information (from a 1099 or W-2) that doesn't match what was reported on your return. A response is required — either agreeing or disputing the discrepancy with documentation.
The IRS made a change to your return — either reducing your refund or increasing what you owe due to a calculation issue. These notices require careful review before any action is taken.
The IRS says you owe money from a filed return that wasn't paid in full. This is the first step in the collection process and has a response deadline that should not be missed.
Escalating IRS collection notices indicating an unpaid balance. The CP504 is particularly important it signals the IRS intends to levy. Immediate action is strongly advisable at this stage.
This is a serious notice the IRS is advising you of its right to seize assets or garnish wages. There are specific rights and response options at this stage that need to be understood quickly.
The IRS is holding your current year refund because you have one or more prior year returns that haven't been filed. Getting those prior returns filed is the resolution.
Here’s exactly what happens from the moment you reach out to the moment your notice is resolved.
You share the notice with me by email, secure upload, or in person and we talk through what it says, why you received it, and what the deadline is. No charge for this initial review.
I will explain exactly what the notice means, how serious it is, what your options are, and what the consequences of each option look like. No jargon. No vague answers. A clear picture of where you stand.
I outline the recommended responsewhether that's a written dispute, an amended return, a payment arrangement, or another approach with a clear, fixed-price quote for the work involved before anything begins.
I prepare the complete response including any documentation, supporting records, or amended returns required and submit it to the IRS or Maryland authority correctly and before the deadline.
Tax authorities don't always resolve issues with a single response. I stay involved until the matter is closed handling any follow-up correspondence and keeping you informed throughout the process.
Every engagement is handled personally by me. When you have a question about your notice or where things stand, you reach me directly — not an assistant, not a call center, and not someone who has to look up your case file.
I've been preparing individual and business tax returns and handling tax authority correspondence for more than two decades. That depth of experience means I recognize notice types quickly and know the correct response.
Many tax professionals focus only on federal issues. I help with both IRS and Maryland Comptroller notices so you don't have to find a separate person to handle the state side of a problem.
Tax authority language is confusing by design. I translate every notice into plain English — so you understand exactly what you're dealing with and what happens next, without having to decode IRS jargon yourself.
If your notice was triggered by disorganized records or missing documentation, I can address the underlying bookkeeping issue at the same time — not just the notice itself.
I'm based in Columbia, Maryland and work with clients locally and remotely across the state and nationwide. Every step notice review, response preparation, and submission can be handled securely online.
Not always — many IRS notices are routine and can be resolved quickly with the correct response. However, every notice requires a response, and ignoring one almost always makes the situation worse. Contact me and I'll review yours and tell you exactly what it means and what needs to happen.
Whether it’s a routine IRS letter or something more serious — the right first step is understanding exactly what you’re dealing with. I offer a free notice review. Reach out today and let’s get this resolved.
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