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CP88, refund held because an earlier return wasn't filed

Internal Revenue Service · source: IRS sample notice CP88 (English) · 19 critical facts of 24

Placeholders in the agency's template were filled with made-up values; see the notice's source file in the repo.

Rewrites

Haiku, grade 6: 19 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 4.2

The judge found nothing lost.

The rewrite

From the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Notice CP88 Date: February 2, 2009 Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Dear Anthony Russo, We still have not received your 2006 tax form, called Form 1040. This is the form people use to report how much money they earned that year. We are holding your 2007 tax refund. This means we have not sent you the money back from your 2007 taxes yet. We need to check whether you owe more tax for 2006 first. What you need to do Send us your 2006 tax return. Include any papers that back it up. Send it by March 4, 2009, to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia, PA 19154 If we do not hear from you If we do not get your tax return by March 4, 2009, or a good reason why you did not file, we will figure out your taxes for you. We will use information that other people and companies sent us about your money. If we do this, you may not get some tax breaks you would have gotten if you filed your own return. These breaks can include exemptions, deductions, and credits, which can lower the amount of tax you owe. What happens next After you send your 2006 tax return, we will check if you owe more tax. This may take up to 12 weeks. If you owe taxes or other debts that we are required to collect, we may use all or some of your refund to pay them. You will get a letter that explains how we used your money. If any money is left over, we will send you a check for it. More information - Visit www.irs.gov/cp88 - For tax forms, instructions, and guides, visit www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-3676 - Keep this letter for your records. If you need help, please call us at 1-800-829-1040.
Sonnet, grade 6: 19 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 3.4

The judge found nothing lost.

The rewrite

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice: CP88 Date of notice: February 2, 2009 Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 **We did not get your tax return for 2006** **We are holding your 2007 tax refund** Our records show that you did not send us your 2006 tax return (Form 1040). Because of this, we are keeping your 2007 refund for now. We need to find out if you owe more taxes for 2006. **What you need to do** Please send us your 2006 tax return. If you do not, we will figure out your taxes for you. Send your 2006 return and any papers that go with it by **March 4, 2009**. Mail them to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia, PA 19154 **What happens if we do not hear from you** If we do not get your return by March 4, 2009, and you do not give us a good reason why you did not file, we will figure out your taxes ourselves. We will use information we got from other sources, like employers or banks. This could cost you money. You might not get some tax breaks you could have gotten if you had filed your own return. These include exemptions, deductions, and credits. **What happens next** After you send your 2006 return, we will check to see if you owe more taxes. This can take up to 12 weeks. If you owe taxes or other debts that we must collect, we may use some or all of your refund to pay them. We will send you a letter that explains what we did with the money. If there is money left over, we will send you a check for the rest. **More help** - Go to www.irs.gov/cp88 - To get tax forms and instructions, go to www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-3676 (1-800-TAX-FORM) - Keep this letter for your records. If you need help, please contact us.
Opus, grade 6: 18 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 2.3

What the judge found lost or changed

The rewrite

**From: The IRS (Internal Revenue Service)** **Notice CP88** **Date: February 2, 2009** **Phone: 1-800-829-1040** To: Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 ## You did not send us your 2006 tax form **We are keeping your 2007 tax refund for now.** Our records show that you did not send us your tax form for 2006. This form is called Form 1040. Because of this, we are keeping the money we owe you for 2007. We will keep it until we find out if you owe us money for 2006. ## What you need to do Fill out your 2006 tax form. Send it to us with any papers that go with it. **We must get it by March 4, 2009.** Mail it to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia, PA 19154 ## What happens if you do not answer You must send us your form by March 4, 2009. If you can't, you must tell us a good reason why. If you do neither, we will figure out your taxes for you. We will use information we got from other places, like your job or your bank. This could cost you money. If you fill out the form yourself, you may be able to pay less tax. If we fill it out for you, you may not get those savings. ## What happens next After you send your 2006 form, we will check if you owe us money. This can take up to 12 weeks. You may owe taxes or other debts that we have to collect. If so, we may use some or all of your 2007 refund to pay them. We will send you a letter telling you how we used your money. If there is any money left over, we will send you a check for it. ## More help - Learn more at **www.irs.gov/cp88** - To get tax forms and help with them, go to **www.irs.gov** or call **1-800-829-3676** (1-800-TAX-FORM) - Keep this letter in a safe place. If you need help, please call us at **1-800-829-1040**.
Sonnet, grade 4: 14 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 2.6

What the judge found lost or changed

The rewrite

**Department of the Treasury** **Internal Revenue Service (IRS)** Notice CP88 Date: February 2, 2009 Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 ## We did not get your 2006 tax form **We are keeping your 2007 tax refund for now.** Our records show that you did not send us your tax form for 2006. This form is called the Form 1040. Because we did not get it, we are holding your refund for 2007. We want to find out if you owe more taxes for 2006. ## What you need to do Please fill out your 2006 tax form and send it to us. If you do not, we will figure out your taxes for you. Send us your 2006 form by **March 4, 2009**. Send any papers that go with it, too. Mail it to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia, PA 19154 ## What happens if we do not hear from you If we do not get your form by March 4, 2009, we will figure out your taxes ourselves. We will use facts that other people and companies have sent us about you. This might cost you money. You could miss out on some things that lower your taxes, like exemptions, deductions, and credits. You would get these if you filed your own form. If you have a good reason for not filing, tell us by March 4, 2009. ## What happens next After you send your 2006 form, we will check if you owe more taxes. This can take up to 12 weeks. You may owe taxes or other debts that we have to collect. If so, we may use some or all of your refund to pay them. We will send you a letter that tells you what we did with the money. If there is money left over, we will send you a check. ## More help - Go to www.irs.gov/cp88 - To get tax forms and instructions, go to www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-3676 (1-800-TAX-FORM). - Keep this letter for your records. If you need help, please call or write to us.
Sonnet, grade 8: 19 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 3.8

The judge found nothing lost.

The rewrite

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice CP88 Date: February 2, 2009 Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 **We have not received your 2006 tax return (Form 1040)** **We are holding your 2007 tax refund.** Our records show that you did not file a tax return for 2006. Because of this, we are holding your 2007 refund. We need to find out if you owe more taxes for 2006. **What you need to do** Please file your 2006 tax return. If you don't, we will figure out your tax for you. Send us your 2006 return by **March 4, 2009**. Include any papers that support your return. Mail it to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia, PA 19154 **What happens if you don't respond** If we don't get your return by March 4, 2009, we will figure out your taxes using information we get from other sources, such as employers or banks. If we do this, you may not get some tax breaks you would have received if you had filed your own return. These include exemptions, deductions, and credits. If you have a good reason for not filing, tell us by that date. **What happens next** After you file your 2006 return, we will check whether you owe more taxes. This can take up to 12 weeks. If you owe taxes or other debts that we must collect, we may use some or all of your refund to pay them. We will send you a notice that explains how we used the money. If any money is left over, we will send you a check. **More information** - Go to www.irs.gov/cp88 - To get tax forms, instructions, or booklets, go to www.irs.gov or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). - Keep this letter for your records. If you need help, please contact us.
Sonnet, grade 6, 'keep everything' prompt: 19 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 3.7

The judge found nothing lost.

The rewrite

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice CP88 Notice date: February 2, 2009 Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 **We have not received your 2006 tax return (Form 1040)** **We are holding your 2007 tax refund** Our records show that you did not file a 2006 Form 1040 tax return. Because of this, we are keeping your 2007 tax refund for now. We need to find out if you owe more taxes for 2006. **What you need to do** Please file your 2006 tax return. If you don't, we will figure out your tax for you. Send us your 2006 tax return by **March 4, 2009**. Include any papers that support your return. Mail it to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia, PA 19154 **What happens if we don't hear from you** If we don't get your return by **March 4, 2009**, or a good reason why you didn't file, we will figure out your taxes for you. We will use information we got from other people, such as employers or banks. This could cost you. You might not get certain exemptions, deductions, or credits that you could have gotten if you had filed your own return. These can lower the amount of tax you owe. **What happens next** After you file your 2006 tax return, we will check whether you owe more taxes. This can take up to 12 weeks. If you owe tax or other debts that we must collect, we may use some or all of your refund to pay them. If that happens, we will send you a notice that explains how we used your money. If any money is left over, we will send you a check for that amount. **More information** - Go to www.irs.gov/cp88. - To get tax forms, instructions, and booklets, go to www.irs.gov or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). - Keep this notice for your records. If you need help, please contact us at 1-800-829-1040.
Rewrite tool (Sonnet, grade 6): 16 of 19 critical facts kept · grade 4.2

What the judge found lost or changed

The rewrite

**Department of the Treasury – Internal Revenue Service** **Notice CP88** Notice date: February 2, 2009 Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 ## We have not received your 2006 tax return We have no record that you filed your 2006 Form 1040. Because of this, we are holding your 2007 tax refund. We will hold it until we decide whether you owe more taxes for 2006. ## What you need to do Please file your 2006 tax return. Include any supporting documents. **Deadline: March 04, 2009** Mail your return to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia PA 19154 You do not have to file if you have a valid reason for not filing. If so, give us that reason by March 04, 2009. ## What happens if you do not respond Suppose we get no return and no valid reason from you by March 04, 2009. Then we will figure out your taxes for you. We will use information we get from other sources, such as third parties. If we do this, you may not get some exemptions, deductions, or credits. This only happens if you do not file your own return. If you file your own return, you may get the exemptions, deductions, or credits you would otherwise get. ## What happens next After you file your 2006 return, we will check whether you owe more tax. This can take up to 12 weeks. Your refund may be used to pay what you owe. This happens only if you owe tax or other debts that we must collect. We may use all or part of your refund for this. You will get a notice that explains how we used the money. If there is money left over, we will also send you a check for that amount. If nothing is left, we will not send a check. ## More information - For more about this notice, go to www.irs.gov/cp88 - For tax forms, instructions, and publications, go to www.irs.gov or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) - To reach the IRS, call 1-800-829-1040 - **Keep this notice for your records.** If you need help, please contact us.

The original letter

Highlighted: the passages behind the 19 critical facts.

Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service Notice CP88 Notice date February 2, 2009 Phone 1-800-829-1040 Anthony Russo 302 Birch Lane Lewisburg, TN 37091 ## We still haven’t received your 2006 Form 1040 We’re holding your 2007 tax refund Our records show that you didn’t file your 2006 Form 1040. As a result, we’re holding your 2007 tax refund until we can determine whether you owe additional taxes for 2006. ## What you need to do Please file your 2006 tax return, or we’ll determine your tax for you. File your 2006 tax return, along with any supporting documents, by March 04, 2009. Mail your return to: Internal Revenue Service Philadelphia PA 19154 ## If we don’t hear from you If we don’t receive your return or a valid reason for not filing by March 04, 2009, we’ll determine taxes for you based on information we’ve received from third parties. This means you may not receive certain exemptions, deductions, or credits that you would otherwise receive if you filed your own return. ## Next steps Once you file your 2006 tax return, we’ll determine if you owe additional taxes. This may take up to 12 weeks. If you owe tax or other debts we’re required to collect, we may apply all or part of your refund to the amount you owe. You’ll receive a notice explaining how we applied the money and a check for the remaining balance, if there is one. ## Additional information - Visit www.irs.gov/cp88 - For tax forms, instructions, and publications, visit www.irs.gov or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) - Keep this notice for your records. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.