Urgent - Action Required Soon

IRS CP503 Notice

Second Reminder Notice

Urgent reminder - action required immediately

What is CP503? CP503 is the second reminder notice, indicating the IRS has still not received payment or a response to your tax debt.

What This Notice Means

CP503 is the second reminder notice, indicating the IRS has still not received payment or a response to your tax debt. This notice is more urgent than CP501.

Why You Received This Notice

1
Previous notices (CP14, CP501) were not addressed
2
No payment or payment arrangement has been made

Important Deadline

Read your notice: the IRS states it explains how much you owe, when your payment is due, and your payment options. It states no number of days on the CP503 page — the due date shown on your notice governs.

What You Should Do

Take action now before receiving CP504
Contact the IRS or set up a payment arrangement
Consider speaking with a tax professional

Resolution Options That May Help

Payment Plan

Taxpayers with steady income who can afford monthly payments

CNC Status

Taxpayers experiencing severe financial hardship

OIC

Taxpayers who cannot pay their full tax liability

What NOT to Do

Do NOT wait for CP504 - that notice has serious consequences

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I do not respond?

The IRS states that if you do not pay the amount due, make payment arrangements, or contact it at the toll-free number on your notice, it may file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien if it has not already. It describes a lien as a public notice to creditors that can affect your ability to get credit.

Can I appeal before collection action?

The IRS states you can request an appeal under the Collection Appeals Program before collection action takes place, by following the instructions on your notice. See our Collection Appeals Program entry for what that route does and does not preserve.

Need Help With This Notice?

Use our free tools to understand your options and connect with professionals who can help.

See resolution options Find Best Option

Recommended Next Steps

This is your last chance before levy warning
Set up payment plan or explore resolution options immediately

Sources and last reviewed

Understanding your CP503 notice — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-20

Sourced to primary IRS materials and editorially reviewed on 2026-08-20. Not reviewed by a tax professional. Not tax advice. This page explains a notice in general terms and is not tax or legal advice about your situation. Always use the dates and instructions printed on the notice you actually received. Report a correction.