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PROFESSIONAL IRS REPRESENTATION
Audit Representation
Getting an audit notice is one of the most stressful things that can land in a taxpayer's mailbox.
Most people's first instinct is panic, followed immediately by the urge to call the IRS and explain everything themselves. That instinct is understandable, and it's often a serious mistake.
What you say to the examiner, which records you hand over and how you answer follow-up questions all affect the outcome directly. Reviews that start narrow can expand into multi-year examinations. Discrepancies that might have been cleared up quickly can turn into formal assessments with penalties attached.
The single most important thing you can do after receiving an audit notice is get representation before you respond.
An audit is a review of your tax return to verify that the income, deductions and credits you reported are accurate.
The IRS selects returns through a mix of statistical formulas, random selection and specific items that fall outside normal ranges for your income level or filing category.
Being selected doesn't mean you've done something wrong. It does mean the IRS is asking questions, and the burden is on you to substantiate what you reported.
There are three main types.
Correspondence Audit. The most common. The IRS sends a letter requesting documentation for specific items, such as a charitable deduction, a home office claim or business expenses. You respond by mail. These look manageable, but how you respond matters enormously.
Office Audit. You're asked to bring records to an IRS office for review with an examiner. More involved than a correspondence audit, and the scope can expand based on what the examiner finds.
Field Audit. The most comprehensive. An IRS agent comes to your home or business to review records directly. These are typically reserved for complex business returns or cases with significant amounts at stake.
Once you authorize us, we become your point of contact. The auditor deals with us, not with you. Here's why that matters.
We review your return before responding. Before anything goes to the IRS, we analyze your return in detail. We know what the reviewer is looking for and what substantiation is required.
We control what gets provided. One of the most common audit mistakes is giving the IRS more than it asked for. Volunteering extra records or explanations opens new lines of inquiry. We keep the response complete and targeted, and nothing beyond that.
We prepare you if you need to be present. In some audits you'll participate directly. We prepare you thoroughly so nothing catches you off guard.
We negotiate on your behalf. If the auditor proposes adjustments, we review them carefully and challenge anything incorrect or unsupported. Many proposed assessments get reduced or eliminated through proper negotiation.
We handle appeals when necessary. If the examination produces an assessment you disagree with, we can file an administrative appeal with the IRS Office of Appeals and, if it comes to that, petition Tax Court.
Certain items raise the odds of selection:
Unusually high deductions relative to income
Home office deductions, especially for employees
Business meal and entertainment expenses
Cash-intensive businesses such as restaurants, retail and service operations
Large charitable contributions without proper documentation
Schedule C losses claimed year after year
Cryptocurrency transactions not fully reported
Very high income returns, which the IRS targets at significantly higher rates
If any of these apply to you, proactive recordkeeping is your best defense, and professional representation becomes essential if the IRS does come calling.
If the audit concludes with a proposed assessment you disagree with, you have options. You can:
Request a conference with an IRS appeals officer, where success rates are often better than at the examination level
File a petition in U.S. Tax Court
Pay the disputed amount and sue for refund in District Court or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
We work all of these paths and help you choose the one that makes the most strategic sense.
Taxpayers who represent themselves frequently pay more than they should. Not because the IRS acts improperly, but because they don't know what documentation is required, what the standards are, or how to push back on an incorrect adjustment.
Someone who handles these cases regularly knows all of it.
The cost of representation is almost always justified when measured against the difference in outcome.
If you've received a notice, don't contact the IRS until you've spoken with us.
Call 911 Tax Relief at 1-877-791-1829 for a free consultation. We'll review the notice, assess your situation and take it from there.
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