IRS Tax Audits & IRS Tax Appeals

Facing the IRS

There is never a good time to find out that you will be the subject of an IRS tax audit.  There is, however, plenty of help available if you hire an experienced tax relief attorney to approach the IRS on your behalf.  

• The first thing such an attorney will tell you is that there really is no reason to panic.  Even if the worst happens and the IRS determines that you owe back taxes (plus any interest payments or penalties that may have accrued), your IRS debt attorney can file for an appeal and/or set up a reasonable payment plan.  It is important to remember, however, that if your case is handled correctly then the "worst case scenario" rarely materializes.

Being selected for an IRS audit is not necessarily an indication of any wrongdoing on your part.  Even if you don't have any unfiled tax returns, have never sought back tax help, and are certain that all of the information you have provided to the IRS is correct, you may still get audited.  As any experienced IRS tax attorney will tell you, sometimes an IRS tax audit is nothing more than a standard procedure that is used to verify the accuracy of a taxpayer's returns.

What Are My Rights During an IRS Tax Audit?

If you are being audited, your IRS tax attorney will introduce you to something known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.  This document is designed to protect you against unfair treatment by Internal Revenue Service auditors.  It includes advice on how to handle your initial visit from an IRS auditor; which questions you are (and are not) required to answer; and how to establish a favorable position for yourself throughout the auditing process.

The first and best thing you can do in the event of an IRS audit is to invoke your right to legal counsel before answering any questions or providing any documentation regarding your case.  Do not volunteer any information to the IRS regardless of how amicable your auditor may seem.  Remember that it is your IRS tax attorney's job and no one else's to represent your best interests during an audit.

How Do I Appeal the IRS' Findings?

In the event that the IRS finds you in default of taxes owed or finds that you filed inaccurate returns, you may be assessed penalties and informed of the IRS' intent to collect back taxes.  At that time, you may be eligible to file for an IRS Tax Appeal.  In order to start the appeals process, your tax relief attorney will submit a formal protest letter and request a copy of the IRS auditor’s file.  The protest letter will state that you disagree with the IRS' findings and will provide facts in support of your position. 

If you have received documentation from the IRS informing you of your rights during the IRS Appeals process, you should act quickly to obtain legal tax representation.  Contact Tax Attorney Kenneth Sheppard for a free consultation today at 1-877-505-9455.