Tax audit help
IRS Tax Audit Help & Audit Defense
Updated
If you received an IRS audit letter, do not panic and do not respond on your own. The first response sets the entire scope of the audit. IRS audit defense by a licensed tax representative keeps the audit narrow, prevents expansion to other years, and protects against the most expensive mistake: saying too much.
The essentials, at a glance
- Three types
- Correspondence audits by mail, office audits at an IRS location, and field audits in person.
- How far back
- Three years normally, six if income was understated by more than 25 percent, unlimited if no return was filed.
- Who can represent you
- An Enrolled Agent, CPA or attorney, appointed on Form 2848.
- If you disagree
- The Independent Office of Appeals reviews the result separately from the examiner who made it.
Overview
Tax audit help: the essentials.
- Audit types
- Mail, office, field
- IRS looks back
- 3 years (6 if major)
- Do first
- Do not respond alone
- We attend
- In your place
An IRS audit is an examination of a taxpayer's financial records to verify a tax return. Its purpose is twofold: to confirm that income, deductions, and credits were reported correctly, and to ensure the right amount of tax was paid. The IRS conducts roughly half a million individual audits per year, spread across correspondence (by mail), office (at an IRS location), and field (at your home or business) formats.
The IRS can audit returns from the last three years. If a substantial understatement is identified, that window extends to six years. For unfiled returns or fraud, there is no statute. Being selected for audit does not imply guilt — many selections are statistical, based on the return's position relative to norms for similar filers.
How this case usually unfolds
Audit letter in hand · Audit defense
The first response to an audit letter sets its entire scope. The pattern that protects clients: pull the account transcripts, gather only the documentation the IRS asked for, review the return for positions that need support, and respond to exactly what was requested, without volunteering other years or topics.
Sound similar to yours?
No two cases are identical, but patterns repeat. Talk to one of our Enrolled Agents to find out which programs apply to your situation.
Get Free ConsultationWhy you were selected for a tax audit
Random selection and computer screening
A statistical formula compares your return against norms for similar returns. If yours sits at the edge of normal, it may be selected.
Related examination
If a partner, investor, or business associate is audited, your return may be pulled because of the shared transactions.
Document matching
If a 1099 or W-2 reported to the IRS does not match your return, the IRS will follow up. This is technically a CP2000 notice, not always an audit, but it is treated similarly.
Three types of IRS audit, and the tax audit help each needs
Correspondence audit (by mail)
The least intensive. The IRS asks for specific documentation. The entire audit is handled by mail. About 75 percent of IRS audits are correspondence audits.
Office audit
You (or your representative) meet with an IRS auditor at a local IRS office. The auditor reviews records you bring.
Field audit
An IRS revenue agent visits your home, business, or representative's office. Field audits are the most thorough and typically reserved for complex returns.
How our tax audit help works, step by step
Whether your audit is by mail or in person, we follow the same playbook: pull your account transcripts, gather the supporting documentation, review the return for any positions that need clarification, and respond only to what the IRS actually asked. We do not volunteer additional years or topics.
IRS audit attorney representation
Field audits, cases heading for appeal, and examinations touching prior-year positions are the ones where the credential on the Form 2848 matters most. Our national representation page covers how audit representation is staffed.
Federal programs
Nine IRS programs. We look through them all.
Most tax debt is resolved through one of these nine programs. Which one fits depends on your numbers, your filing history, and assessment dates.
Client reviews
What clients say about working with us.
5.0 on Google across 383+ verified reviews. A few of them below; read them all on our reviews page.
I worked with Victor and he made the entire process stress free. He was so patient with me and answered all my questions. This was a stressful time and he was very polite and understanding. Thank you Victor and Innovative Tax Relief you are amazing!
Upon enlisting help to resolve our tax issue, everyone has been very helpful. Especially our case manager Ivy Fernandez. She is kind, informative, knowledgeable and very supportive in what can be a stressful situation. We are grateful!
Every person along the way to help set up our case has been amazing, especially our case manager Ivy Fernandez. She has been extremely informative and has held our hand through the difficult parts of the process, ie documents needed & personal information required.
They really know what they’re doing. My rep Nicole explained the process very well and when I needed some documents she really came through in a timely matter. Would highly recommend ITR for any tax situation
Loreanne is truly amazing and has been sssssooooo helpful and attentive with helping me with getting my finances in order so I can be a true adult about taking care my business. Thank you, Loreanne, seriously for all that you do. Your Customer Service is top notch.
I was having issues understanding my tax documentation that was being sent to me, so I had Case Manager helped me with this. They done an awesome job of helping me and willing to continue helping when I need it. Appreciate everything they done for me. Thank you
Frequently asked
What people ask about Tax audit help.
Should I respond to the audit letter myself first?
How likely am I to be audited again?
How long does an audit take?
Can I appeal an audit result?
What triggers most IRS audits?
How much does a tax audit cost?
Can the IRS go back more than 7 years for an audit?
Who can help me with an IRS audit?
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Cases often touch more than one service.
Many cases start in one category and shift as we understand the numbers. Here are the services this one most often pairs with.
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Tax relief services are not one product. The IRS offers multiple tax debt relief programs, and which one fits your case depends on your income, assets, and filing history. A licensed Enrolled Agent walks every option with you and runs the one that costs you the least.
Learn moreNationwide · all 50 states
Tax audit help in all 50 states.
IRS representation is federal, so we handle Tax audit help for clients in all 50 states, remotely from our West Palm Beach headquarters. Florida is our home base, and we keep dedicated local pages for the metros we serve most.
Florida local pages
Straight from the IRS
Everything on this page traces back to these IRS sources. They are what we work from every day.
- IRS: IRS audits(opens in a new tab)Audit types, selection, and how long the IRS has.
- Publication 556: Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights and Claims for Refund(opens in a new tab)The authoritative guide to how an examination proceeds.
- Form 2848: Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative(opens in a new tab)The form that routes IRS contact to your representative.
- IRS Independent Office of Appeals(opens in a new tab)The independent office that reviews disputed determinations.
Links verified2026-08-26. irs.gov · taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov
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