IRS NOTICE REFERENCE

Understanding your CP87A notice

We received a tax return from another taxpayer claiming a dependent or qualifying child with the same Social Security number as a dependent or qualifying child listed on your tax return. We listed the last four digits of…

General information only. Not legal or tax advice.

Notice details

Notice code
CP87A
Category
Refund and adjustment
Severity tier
Tier 1 — Routine. Informational or administrative notice; no response typically required.
Governing law
§6213(b); §6402 (Internal Revenue Code sections)
Source
IRS.gov — Understanding Your IRS Notice

What this notice is

We received a tax return from another taxpayer claiming a dependent or qualifying child with the same Social Security number as a dependent or qualifying child listed on your tax return. We listed the last four digits of the Social Security number for each dependent or qualifying child we’re concerned about on the notice for your review.

Source: IRS.gov. Reproduced for reference. General information — not legal or tax advice.

What the IRS says to do

Compare the Social Security numbers from your notice with the Social Security card for each dependent or qualifying child you listed on your tax return. Review the rules for claiming each dependent or qualifying child. After reviewing the rules: If you find you’re entitled to claim the dependent, you don’t need to write or send anything to us. If you find you listed someone who doesn't qualify as your dependent or qualifying child, you must correct your return by filing a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return . The instructions for this form will guide you through the steps to correct your return. Mail your amended return to the IRS service center shown in the instructions. If you find you’re entitled to claim the dependent, you don’t need to write or send anything to us. If you find you listed someone who doesn't qualify as your dependent or qualifying child, you must correct your return by filing a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return . The instructions for this form will guide you through the steps to correct your return. Mail your amended return to the IRS service center shown in the instructions.

This is the IRS’s own guidance reproduced from the IRS notice page. It describes the IRS’s process — it is not legal or tax advice from TaxRiskOS.

Official IRS reference

Read the official notice page on IRS.gov: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp87a-notice

Related tools

TaxRiskOS is workflow software for practitioners — it captures the notice, computes the deadline, surfaces the escalation tier, and builds a document checklist. It documents process; it does not give advice or draft responses.