---
title: CP71 Notice Explained: What to Do Next (2026) | TaxTruce
url: https://taxtruce.com/notices/cp71
updated: 2026-10-29
---

# CP71, explained

Yearly reminder of a balance.

Updated October 8, 2026[Fact checked](/editorial-standards)

How urgent**Medium**

Yearly reminder of a balance.

The short answer

A CP71 reminds you that you still have an unpaid balance. It also warns that the State Department can deny or take back a passport for seriously delinquent tax debt. Pay what you can and set up a plan for the rest.

## Key facts

* It is a reminder of a balance you still owe.
* Interest and penalties stop once the balance is paid in full.
* Seriously delinquent tax debt can lead to a passport being denied or taken back.
* If you paid in full in the last 21 days, it may already be fixed.

## What to do next

* Check your balance in your IRS online account.
* Pay in full, or pay part and set up a plan.
* In hardship, ask the IRS to delay collection.

Check your balance in your own [IRS online account](https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account), and use the phone number on the notice or on irs.gov.

Results depend on your situation. Not every case qualifies.

## Common questions

What is a CP71 notice?

A CP71 reminds you that you still have an unpaid balance. It also warns that the State Department can deny or take back a passport for seriously delinquent tax debt. Pay what you can and set up a plan for the rest.

How urgent is a CP71?

Medium. Act by the date on the notice so it does not move up the ladder. The date on your notice is the one that counts.

## Sources

1. [IRS: Understanding your CP71 notice](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp71-notice)

Run the numbers with our [free tax tools](/tools), like the penalty and payment plan math.