Start with the official account information
Consult the IRS individual online-account resource for current access and feature guidance. Keep authentication details private. Identify the period relevant to the communication or question being examined, and distinguish that account view from an originally filed return. A combined or remembered amount may conceal which year actually needs explanation.
Retain the date and related evidence
Keep an appropriate dated reference to the information reviewed, with the relevant notice, return copy, and payment confirmations available. State the figure or entry that differs from your expectation rather than assigning an explanation without support. If a qualified review is proposed, clarify the covered year and task. An account screen does not automatically explain every underlying record or prove that another document is wrong. This guide helps preserve a source-based balance question without authenticating a view or determining an individual liability.