Educational notice: This page explains, in general terms, what an IRS CP15 notice is and why someone might receive it. It is not tax or legal advice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS.
CP15 notice explained (What it means when the IRS says you owe a penalty)
CP15 notice explained: A CP15 notice generally means the IRS assessed a penalty (and sometimes added interest) to your account. In plain English: “We charged you a penalty, and here’s what you owe and why.”
This page explains what CP15 usually signals, the common types of penalties involved, what to check on the notice, what happens if you ignore it, and how CP15 fits into the broader balance-due and collections letter sequence. Everything here is educational and general.
What Is a CP15 Notice (Plain English)?
A CP15 notice is commonly associated with the IRS telling you that a penalty was assessed on your account. That penalty can be connected to many different situations (late filing, late payment, incorrect deposits, etc.).
The notice usually explains:
- Which penalty was assessed
- Why the IRS believes it applies
- How much the penalty is (and whether interest was added)
- What to do next and any response/payment deadlines
Takeaway: CP15 is generally a “penalty assessed” notice, not a refund notice.
Why Would the IRS Send a CP15?
The IRS can assess penalties for different reasons, depending on the type of tax, form, and behavior involved. CP15 is a way of notifying you that a penalty was added to your account.
Common general situations include:
- Late filing or late payment situations
- Underpayment issues that trigger certain penalty calculations
- Deposit/payment problems (often with payroll-related taxes)
- Return issues that cause the IRS to assess a penalty after processing
CP15 doesn’t automatically mean you did something intentionally wrong. It usually means the IRS applied a rule and assessed a penalty based on what it sees on the account.
Takeaway: CP15 is often triggered by timing, payment, or compliance issues that the IRS penalizes under its rules.
CP15 vs CP14 (Penalty Notice vs Balance Due Notice)
A CP14 notice is commonly the IRS’s first “you have a balance due” bill. CP15 is commonly focused on a penalty assessment.
You can see both on the same account over time. For example: an account can have a tax balance due (CP14) and later have a penalty added (CP15), or a penalty can create/expand the balance due and then feed into further balance-due letters.
Takeaway: CP14 is commonly “you owe tax”; CP15 is commonly “we assessed a penalty.”
Does CP15 Mean You’re Being Audited?
Usually no. CP15 is typically an account notice related to penalties, not a traditional audit letter. Many IRS notices are automated or process-driven and don’t involve a full audit.
If you want the plain-English explanation: Does an IRS letter mean an audit?
Takeaway: CP15 is usually not an audit notice—it’s a penalty notice.
What Should You Check on a CP15 Notice?
CP15 becomes much less scary when you treat it like a checklist. Look for:
- Tax year or period (the notice should specify which year/quarter it applies to)
- Penalty type (what penalty was assessed)
- Reason statement (what the IRS says happened)
- Amounts (penalty amount and any interest)
- Deadline (pay-by date or response date)
If you’re trying to “decode” letters in general, start here: What does this IRS letter mean?
Takeaway: Identify the period, penalty type, and deadline first—then decide your next move.
What Happens If You Ignore a CP15 Notice?
Ignoring IRS notices is rarely a good idea because it can lead to escalation, additional notices, more interest, and eventually stronger collection activity if a balance remains unpaid.
Here’s the plain-English explanation: What happens if you ignore an IRS letter?
If the penalty increases your balance due and nothing is resolved, you may see the common balance-due chain: CP501, CP503, and CP504.
For the full map: IRS balance due letters explained
Takeaway: CP15 can be the start (or a step) in an escalation path if the balance is left alone.
How CP15 Connects to Levies, Liens, and “Can They Take My Money?”
CP15 itself is not a levy and not a lien. It is typically a notice that a penalty was assessed. But if penalties and tax balances remain unpaid long enough, levy/lien concepts can become relevant later in the process.
Start with the simple definitions: What is an IRS levy? and What is an IRS lien?.
If your fear is about specific assets, these pages explain it in plain language:
- Can the IRS take your bank account?
- Can the IRS take your paycheck?
- Can the IRS take your Social Security?
- Can the IRS take your tax refund?
Takeaway: CP15 is not “collections action,” but unresolved balances can eventually lead there.
Real-World Example (How CP15 Usually Shows Up)
Someone pays their tax late and assumes the story is over. Then CP15 arrives assessing a penalty (and possibly interest). The person gets angry because “I already paid,” but the IRS is saying, “Yes, but the timing triggered a penalty.”
The helpful move is to identify the penalty type and the tax period and then decide whether the penalty makes sense based on what happened.
Takeaway: CP15 often appears after the IRS applies a penalty rule based on timing or compliance details.
Helpful Related Pages
- Home
- What does this IRS letter mean?
- CP14 notice explained
- CP501 notice explained
- CP503 notice explained
- CP504 notice explained
- IRS balance due letters explained
- What happens if you ignore an IRS letter?
- Does an IRS letter mean an audit?
- What is an IRS levy?
- What is an IRS lien?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CP15 notice from the IRS?
A CP15 notice generally means the IRS assessed a penalty (and sometimes interest) on your account and is notifying you of the amount and reason.
Does CP15 mean I owe tax or just a penalty?
CP15 is commonly focused on a penalty assessment, but penalties can add to an overall balance due. If you also owe tax, you may see other balance-due notices like CP14.
Is CP15 an audit notice?
Usually no. CP15 is typically an account notice about penalties, not a traditional audit letter. See: Does an IRS letter mean an audit?.
What happens if I ignore a CP15 notice?
Ignoring it can lead to more notices, more interest, and escalation if a balance remains. See: What happens if you ignore an IRS letter?.
Can CP15 lead to a levy or lien?
CP15 itself is not a levy or lien. But if the balance remains unpaid long enough, stronger collection actions can become relevant later. Start here: What is an IRS levy? and What is an IRS lien?.
This page is for general educational purposes only and does not provide tax or legal advice. WhatThisIRSLetterMeans.com is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency.