> Letter 6174– this is a soft notice informing the taxpayer that there is a likelihood that they did not report their virtual currency transactions. The notice asks them to check their return and, if necessary, file an amended return to correct the misreporting. The taxpayer is not required to respond to the notice and the IRS intends not to follow up on these notices. In short, this is information only to the taxpayer and education on how they comply.
> Letter 6174-A– this is a “not so soft notice” from the IRS. As in Letter 6174, this letter tells the taxpayer that there is potential misreporting of virtual currency transactions. However, this notices states that the IRS may follow-up with future enforcement action. Again, no response is required if the taxpayer believes that they are in compliance. Taxpayers who receive this notice should be aware that they have been put on “notice” that they have been identified as a noncompliant taxpayer for potential future enforcement.
> The last notice requires a response – Letter 6173. This notice requests a response from the taxpayer about the alleged noncompliance. The letter provides instructions on responding to the IRS. The IRS intends to follow up on these responses to determine if the taxpayer is in compliance.
The phrasing "requires a response" on Letter 6173 is a bit slippery. To be absolutely clear, if your lawyer thinks you shouldn't send a response, you don't have to. And if it's not already blindingly obvious, literally nobody should even dream of sending in a signed affidavit affirming "under penalty of perjury that they are in compliance with tax laws" without first consulting legal counsel - HN pooh-poohing about the IRS just trying to get its money notwithstanding.
> a signed affidavit affirming "under penalty of perjury that they are in compliance with tax laws"
Can you be forced to sign anything like this? I would never sign such a document out of my free will (what's the upside?). Tax law is so complicated that I wouldn't be surprised if nearly everyone is not super 100% in compliance. I mean completely independently of this particular Bitcoin issue.
Do you know that Letter 6173 makes such a request? I would guess that it's more likely it requires you to either simply acknowledge receiving the letter or to agree to something like the statement that you already had to sign to when submitting your taxes:
> Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and accurately list all amounts and sources of income I received during the tax year.
Though of course you are right that anyone should consult a professional in such a case.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-has-begun-sending-letters-t...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/chupoe/irs_we_have...
https://www.irsmind.com/audits/irs-begins-targeting-taxpayer...
> Letter 6174– this is a soft notice informing the taxpayer that there is a likelihood that they did not report their virtual currency transactions. The notice asks them to check their return and, if necessary, file an amended return to correct the misreporting. The taxpayer is not required to respond to the notice and the IRS intends not to follow up on these notices. In short, this is information only to the taxpayer and education on how they comply.
> Letter 6174-A– this is a “not so soft notice” from the IRS. As in Letter 6174, this letter tells the taxpayer that there is potential misreporting of virtual currency transactions. However, this notices states that the IRS may follow-up with future enforcement action. Again, no response is required if the taxpayer believes that they are in compliance. Taxpayers who receive this notice should be aware that they have been put on “notice” that they have been identified as a noncompliant taxpayer for potential future enforcement.
> The last notice requires a response – Letter 6173. This notice requests a response from the taxpayer about the alleged noncompliance. The letter provides instructions on responding to the IRS. The IRS intends to follow up on these responses to determine if the taxpayer is in compliance.