What CP 134B and CP 134R is
"A CP 134B, Federal Tax Deposit(s) (FTD) Discrepancy - Balance Due, notifies the taxpayer that the amount of Federal Tax Deposits (FTDs) or estimated tax payments credited differs from the amount reported resulting in a balance due," and the CP 134R is the same discrepancy "resulting in an overpayment" (IRM 21.3.1.7.9, Oct. 3, 2022; 21.3.1.7.10, Oct. 1, 2009). Both generate from math error codes 24, 26 or 39. On a Form 945 the cause is almost always a deposit posted under the wrong tax type or year: the 945 shows a CP 134B while a 941 or next-year 945 module shows an unexplained credit.
The deadline
A CP 134B balance is due on notice-and-demand terms. A CP 134R refund issues in "four to six weeks" unless the credit belongs to another period.
What to do
For a CP 134B where a payment is missing, the script is a payment tracer; have the EFTPS acknowledgment and ask for the credit transfer with the original date so the deposit penalty recomputes. For a CP 134R where the excess "were intended for another period," the script is "Initiate credit transfer to appropriate period" (IRM 21.3.1.7.10); do not let the refund issue if the money belongs on the module that is about to get a CP 134B.
Questions about CP 134B and CP 134R
Who receives CP 134B and CP 134R?
Business filers whose return claimed more or less in deposits than the IRS has posted, including Form 945 filers. "A CP 134B, Federal Tax Deposit(s) (FTD) Discrepancy - Balance Due, notifies the taxpayer that the amount of Federal Tax Deposits (FTDs) or estimated tax payments credited differs from the amount reported resulting in…
What is the deadline on CP 134B and CP 134R?
A CP 134B balance is due on notice-and-demand terms. A CP 134R refund issues in "four to six weeks" unless the credit belongs to another period.
What should I do when CP 134B and CP 134R arrives?
For a CP 134B where a payment is missing, the script is a payment tracer; have the EFTPS acknowledgment and ask for the credit transfer with the original date so the deposit penalty recomputes. For a CP 134R where the excess "were intended for another period," the script is "Initiate credit transfer to appropriate period" (IRM 21.3.1.7.10); do not let the refund issue if the money belongs on the module that is about to get a CP 134B.
Is CP 134B and CP 134R about my own income tax?
No. This decoder covers information reporting and withholding: the notices a payer, filer or payee sees because of Forms 1099, W-2, 945 and the TINs on them. Individual income-tax notices follow a different track.
Have a different notice? The IRS notice decoder lists all 89 in the order they tend to arrive.