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IRS Audit Representation
Professional representation during IRS examinations to protect your interests.
Talk To A Real Tax Attorney
One honest conversation. You'll hang up knowing exactly what the IRS can — and can't — do to you, and how we'll stop them.
Call (877) 829-5267Tax Attorney · Villanova University School of Law · Admitted in Delaware, New Jersey, United States Tax Court
The Truth About IRS Audit Representation — And What To Do Right Now
An IRS audit doesn't have to be a nightmare. With the right tax attorney representing you, audits can often be resolved favorably — sometimes with no additional tax owed at all.
What Is an IRS Audit?
An IRS audit (formally called an "examination") is a review of your tax return to verify that the information you reported is accurate. The IRS uses computer scoring systems, data matching, and random selection to choose returns for audit. Being selected doesn't mean you did anything wrong — but how you respond matters enormously.
Types of IRS Audits
Correspondence Audit
The most common type. The IRS sends a letter asking you to verify specific items — usually deductions, income, or credits. You respond by mail with supporting documentation. While these seem simple, an improper response can trigger a more intensive audit.
Office Audit
You're asked to appear at a local IRS office with specific records. These typically focus on particular issues like business expenses, rental income, or charitable contributions. Having a tax attorney present you at the office audit is critical — you should never attend alone.
Field Audit
The most intensive type. An IRS agent comes to your home or business to examine your records in person. Field audits typically cover a broader range of issues and multiple tax years. These require comprehensive representation from an experienced tax attorney.
What Triggers an IRS Audit?
While the IRS doesn't publish its exact selection criteria, common audit triggers include:
- High income: Returns with income over $200,000 are audited at significantly higher rates
- Large deductions: Deductions that are disproportionate to your income level
- Unreported income: When W-2s, 1099s, or other third-party reports don't match what you reported
- Home office deductions: Still a common audit trigger, especially for large claims
- Cash-heavy businesses: Restaurants, retail, construction — businesses where cash transactions are common
- Filing amended returns: Amended returns claiming large refunds attract scrutiny
Your Rights During an IRS Audit
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights protects you throughout the audit process:
- The right to professional representation — you never have to speak to an auditor directly
- The right to know why the IRS is asking for information and how it will be used
- The right to appeal any disagreements to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals
- The right to confidentiality — auditors cannot disclose your information
- The right to a fair and just tax system
Why You Need a Tax Attorney During an Audit
Anything you say to an IRS auditor can and will be used against you. Our attorneys handle all communication, all meetings, and all document submissions on your behalf. We know what auditors look for, what questions they'll ask, and how to present your case in the strongest possible light. Our goal is simple: minimize any additional tax, penalties, and interest — or eliminate them entirely.
People Just Like You Have Sat In This Exact Chair
They were terrified. They were ashamed. They thought they were the only one. Then they made one phone call — and everything changed.
Small Business Facing Full Field Audit
A Philadelphia contractor was selected for a comprehensive field audit of 3 years of returns. We organized his documentation, represented him through the entire process, and the IRS accepted all but $3,200 of his original positions.
High-Income Earner with Complex Deductions
A Princeton executive was audited over $180,000 in deductions. We substantiated every deduction with documentation, and the audit closed with zero changes.
Restaurant Owner Under Income Scrutiny
A Haddonfield restaurant owner was audited after the IRS suspected unreported cash income. We reconstructed his income using bank deposits, POS records, and vendor invoices — proving the reported income was accurate. No additional tax was assessed.
That Letter In Your Hand? Here's What It Really Means.
The IRS writes notices in code on purpose. If any of these landed in your mailbox, irs audit representation is exactly how we fight back — and the clock is already ticking.
You're being audited. The IRS wants to examine specific items on your tax return and is requesting documentation.
Deadline: Varies (typically 30 days)
The IRS believes you didn't report all your income. They've received information (W-2s, 1099s) that doesn't match your return.
Deadline: 30 days
This is your legal right to challenge the IRS in Tax Court before paying. Miss this deadline and you lose that right.
Deadline: 90 days
CP210 (and the related CP220) notifies a business that the IRS has adjusted its tax account — typically a math correction, a credit transfer, or a penalty assessment on a payroll or business return. The notice shows the adjusted balance and may demand additional tax, penalties, and interest.
Deadline: 30 days
The IRS has no record of your federal tax return for a prior year and is asking you to file it. CP59 is the IRS's first formal step toward filing a Substitute for Return (SFR) on your behalf — which almost always overstates what you owe.
Deadline: Respond promptly (typically 30 days)
CP2501 is the IRS's first letter telling you third-party income data (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, 1099-NECs) doesn't match what you reported. It's the prelude to a CP2000 adjustment if you don't respond.
Deadline: 30 days
Every Day You Wait, The IRS Wins A Little More.
Penalties stack. Interest compounds. Legal options quietly disappear. One free call ends the spiral.
Exactly How We Take This Off Your Shoulders
The hardest step is the first one. Everything after that, we carry for you. No surprises. No runaround. No lectures.
- 1
Review the audit notice
We analyze which years and items the IRS is examining, and assess the strength of your position on each issue.
- 2
Gather & organize documentation
We help you locate receipts, bank statements, and records that support your return positions. We organize everything for maximum impact.
- 3
Represent you at the audit
You never speak to the IRS directly. We attend all meetings, respond to all inquiries, and handle all communication on your behalf.
- 4
Negotiate adjustments
If the IRS proposes changes, we negotiate to minimize any additional tax, penalties, and interest — or eliminate them entirely.
- 5
Appeal if necessary
If we disagree with the audit results, we file a formal appeal to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, where we often achieve better outcomes.
Trusted by Thousands of Taxpayers
Real results from real clients
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
"McCauley Law resolved my $180,000 IRS debt for a fraction of what I owed. I was facing wage garnishment and bank levies — they stopped everything and negotiated an incredible settlement."
Robert M.
Philadelphia, PA
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The Questions Keeping You Up At Night — Answered
Other Ways We Shut The IRS Down
Offer in Compromise
Settle your tax debt for less than what you owe through IRS settlement programs.
Installment Agreement
Set up manageable monthly payment plans to pay off your tax debt over time.
Currently Not Collectible
Prove financial hardship to temporarily halt IRS collection activity.
Penalty Abatement
Remove or reduce IRS penalties through first-time abatement or reasonable cause.
One Phone Call. Or Another Sleepless Night.
Stop Letting The IRS Own Your Mornings.
You already know what happens if you do nothing. Pick up the phone for a free, confidential conversation with a real tax attorney — 30+ years inside the IRS playbook — and finally start fighting back.
Call (877) 829-5267 NowPrimary Sources & Authority
We cite the underlying IRS publications and statutes so you can verify everything on this page.