Ignore them and they will come

My pulse stll quickens a bit when the mail comes. Sure, you know it's mostly bills and flyers, but once in awhile you get a letter from an old friend, or an unexpected check. But for pulse-quickening, there's nothing like a letter from the IRS.

Some people panic when they get a letter from the IRS. Others take a less practical approach - they put the letter in a drawer and forget about it. Neither approach is recommended.

When the IRS writes you, you should pay attention. Common letters from the IRS include:

- Adjustment to refund. Sometimes taxpayers forget to make an estimated payment, or forget that they did make one. These letters usually don't require a response, but you may need to adjust your current year payment schedule. If you do need to respond, they'll tell you so.

- Matching notice. If you don't report interest, dividends or wages that were on a W-2, the IRS will come asking. This kind of letter requires at least an explantion; sometimes the correct response is a check.

- Notice of examination. This one requires serious attention; it's probably time to visit your tax pro.

- Notice of deficiency. This "90-day letter" means business. If you get one of these, either you pay up or your plan to battle the IRS in Tax Court. You get one of these, you definitely need to check in with the tax pro.

- Notice of intent to Levy. If you get one of these, not only will they not go away, they're coming for you.

Kay Bell, proprietor of "Don't Mess With Taxes," has a nice summary of the different sorts of IRS correspondence. You can also learn more at www.irs.gov.

The moral? Deal with the early letters properly, and you aren't likely to get the later ones.