Does Audit Defense Work?

October, 04 2021 by Charla Suaste

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, “Does audit defense actually work?”

The short answer, in our opinion, is: absolutely! Now’s let’s chat about how and why.

First and foremost, most people do not expect to receive a notice from the IRS or state taxing agency – but it happens to hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting taxpayers every single year. Some taxpayers believe that if their return is simple or uncomplicated, they will be exempt from such an experience. Unfortunately, that is not the case – any taxpayer may be subject to receiving an audit or notice in the mail.

Naturally, receiving one of these letters can invoke fear or panic. However, if you have an audit defense membership with TaxAudit, you can breathe easy and call us instead of worrying about how to respond. We will be there to walk with you through the audit process so that you never have to face the IRS alone.
 

So, what does the audit defense process look like?

First, upon calling us, you will reach one of our Customer Service team members. They will start a case file for you and ask you not to respond to the taxing agency yourself – that is what we are here for! Next, you will be assigned a Case Coordinator who will provide you assistance throughout the duration of your case. Their role is a supportive one – they will work with you to create an online account on our secure portal, help you get your notice and tax return sent in, and be there to answer administrative questions you may have.

Once we have received your documents, your case will then be assigned to one of our top-tier tax professionals. Upon receipt of your case, they will:

• Explain your options and develop a strategy.
• Review your documentation before presenting it to any taxing authority.
• Handle all communications regarding the audit, including letters and/or telephone calls with the IRS or state taxing agency.
• Prepare requests for appeals conferences.
• Prepare a U.S. Tax Court Petition, if necessary.

While we cannot guarantee that you will not owe additional taxes, we work tirelessly to make sure you pay no more than you rightfully owe. If it is determined you owe additional tax, your tax professional will provide a brief overview of the best way to make your payment with the IRS or state taxing agency.

If you do owe additional taxes and feel unable to pay the amount due, we may refer you to our Tax Debt Relief team. Their expertise is working with taxpayers to help them navigate their tax debt through installment agreements, penalty abatements, Offers in Compromise, and audit reconsiderations – among many other things! (Please note: This is an additional service not covered under your audit defense membership.)
 

Now that we've discussed the process, let's talk about the benefits!

Unparalleled Expertise

One of the most compelling reasons to purchase TaxAudit's audit defense is the pleasure of working with our tax professionals in the case of receiving an audit. While a typical tax professional may work a handful of audits throughout their career, our tax professionals represent hundreds of taxpayers every single year. Collectively, our team has over 1200 years of tax experience between them – and it shows!

Additionally, our tax professionals work in teams. So while you will have one tax professional specifically assigned to represent you in front of the IRS, that person is working alongside a team of knowledgeable professionals who all have unique areas of expertise!

Prepaid, Flat-Fee Representation

Many tax firms charge hourly rates – anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars – for full-service audit representation. However, the cost of a TaxAudit audit defense membership is a one-time, flat fee per tax return for the same level of expertise and service you would receive at a traditional tax firm. Whether your audit is simple or complex, you will not pay anything additional for us to represent you in front of the IRS or state taxing agency. So instead of risking a potential unknown expense, you have the peace of mind knowing both your federal and state tax returns will be represented by the best tax professionals in the business.

Easy and Secure Methods of Communication

Ease and security are two things we are passionate about here at TaxAudit. One of the ways we achieve our goal of staying in touch with you, while also keeping your information safe, is by using our Message Access Portal – also known as MAP. Whether you are using a computer or are on your phone, you can use MAP to submit documents to our team as well as exchange messages with your assigned tax professional.

Successfully Represented Audit Cases

It might seem easy enough for us to say, "Yes, audit defense works!" But don't just take our word for it – below, we have included several of the positive reviews we have received from taxpayers just this last month. While each audit situation is unique, these are just some of the individuals who have benefitted from our services. You can also check out our blog where we share monthly stories about some of the taxpayers we represent.
 

Keith is very professional, well organized and very courteous. He provided me with excellent service, very good advice and a friendly attitude throughout my tax audit. He communicated responsibly with the CA FTB and got very good results. Thanks to Keith I received an $11K tax refund check from the FTB. Thank you Keith for a job well done.

Bill was very professional and treated us with great respect and understanding. He was very helpful and I would recommend him to anyone. We are both senior citizens and my husband has a hearing impairment but Bill was very sensitive to this impediment. He returned phone calls promptly. Very customer focus and gave great service. Thank you for helping us through this difficult time for us.

Erin was fantastic. She was diligent, friendly, explained everything very clearly, and really seemed to care about getting the audit accomplished correctly and timely. It was clearly a tough year for the IRS dealing with agents working from home, but Erin stuck with it and made sure that the paperwork kept getting pushed forward, even when it kept taking steps backwards. We were very pleased with the outcome and will always include this extra service on our annual taxes. Thank you so, so much for having professionals like Erin working for you.

Tuong was knowledgeable and experienced enough about taxes. He was constant in following up and walking us through the process. He spent time explaining to us from the beginning till the conclusion of our case. He was patient to me because sometimes I asked silly questions. I haven't experienced having issues with IRS but Tuong assured me that he will take care of us and will be representing us till the end. Tuong is very professional and TaxAudit is very lucky to have him, he is an asset to TaxAudit! More power to TaxAudit!

All the agents were very responsive, easy website to share documents, positive result on my case. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!