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IRS notice decoder · Bills for a balance due

CP71A: a reminder for a balance in non-collectible status

A CP71A reminds you of a balance the IRS has put in non-collectible status. If nothing has changed, the IRS says no action is needed now.

By the Carry Forward Learning team Reviewed by Hunter Nottingham, JD, CPA

No dated figures Checked Review by

CheckedOct 19, 2026

What a CP71A means

A CP71A is a reminder that you have an unpaid balance. The IRS has placed the account in non-collectible status, which pauses collection until your financial situation changes. source 1

If your situation hasn't changed, the IRS says you don't need to act now. source 1

The balance is still real, though, and interest is still running on it. Paused is not erased.

The date that counts

The IRS page gives no due date. It says interest accrues until the balance is paid in full, so paying sooner limits what is added. source 1

Why people get one

  • The IRS earlier put the account in non-collectible status.
  • The IRS sends it as a reminder while the balance stays open.

First steps

  1. Check whether your finances have changed since the account was put in non-collectible status. source 1
  2. Check your IRS online account (typed in yourself at irs.gov) to confirm the notice is real and see the balance and any payments already posted.
  3. Keep filing your returns on time, which is how the IRS learns about a change. source 1
  4. If you can now pay, look at the payment options or a payment plan. source 1

What not to do

  • Don't read it as a new bill demanding payment. The IRS says no action is needed if nothing has changed. source 1
  • Don't pay through a link or phone number from an unexpected email or text. Use irs.gov, typed in yourself.
  • Don't stop filing returns. The IRS says filing on time is how it learns of a change. source 1
  • Related CP71 The balance reminder for an account that is not in non-collectible status.

Keep reading

Questions

Do I have to pay when I get a CP71A?

The IRS says that if your financial situation hasn't changed, you don't need to act now. source 1

Is interest still charged?

Yes. The IRS says interest accrues until the balance is paid in full, and a late payment penalty applies. source 1

Sources

  1. IRS, Understanding your CP71A notice (updated August 28, 2026) (external site) checked Oct 19, 2026

Every rule on this page comes from the IRS page in the list, read on the date shown. Your notice itself is the final word on its own dates and amounts.