IRS Tax Investigation Services for Civil Exams and Appeals

It's help for the moment the IRS starts asking questions: an audit letter, a request for records, a revenue officer chasing an unpaid balance, or a levy notice. We read the notices, pull your IRS transcripts, gather the records, prepare any missing returns, answer document requests and deal with IRS staff on your behalf. Our work is civil: examinations, collection and appeals. If a special agent from IRS Criminal Investigation contacts you, that's a different kind of case, and we'll tell you plainly that it falls outside our practice.

Yes. Our founder is an Enrolled Agent, licensed by the Treasury with unlimited practice rights before the IRS in every state. After you sign Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative), the IRS will deal with us directly on your audit, collection case, appeal, payment plan or penalty request.

First, don't panic and don't ignore it. Check the deadline and exactly which items and years the letter covers. A correspondence audit may only want proof of one deduction; an office or field exam is broader. Keep your records as they are, don't create new ones after the fact, and don't send more than was asked for. Answering clearly and on time is often what keeps a narrow audit from becoming a wide one.

Move fast. Find out which periods and balances are behind it and whether any deadlines are still open, especially the 30 day window after a final notice of intent to levy. Releases usually follow once the IRS sees a credible alternative: a payment plan, Currently Not Collectible status, missing returns filed, or a Collection Due Process appeal. The IRS needs documented financial information before it will agree.

Some people can, through an Offer in Compromise. The IRS will accept less than the full balance only if your income, allowable expenses, assets and future earnings show it can't collect more. You need to be current on filing and estimated payments, and the application requires full financial disclosure on Form 433-A or 433-B. We run those numbers before recommending one, since many applicants don't qualify.

The IRS can build a return for you, called a substitute for return, using W-2s and 1099s reported by employers and banks. It leaves out your deductions, business expenses and often the right filing status, so the bill is usually too high. Filing accurate returns yourself replaces that figure and is usually a requirement before any payment plan or offer will be approved.

Often, yes. First Time Abate relief covers failure to file, failure to pay and failure to deposit penalties for a single period if your prior three years were clean. Reasonable cause relief applies when something outside your control, like a serious illness, a natural disaster or wrong advice from a tax professional, caused the problem. Interest stays unless the penalty it was charged on is removed.

Anywhere from days to many months. Getting a levy released can be quick if the paperwork is ready. An audit with an appeal, an Offer in Compromise or a business case covering several years takes much longer, partly because of IRS processing times. Getting records and signed forms back to us quickly is the part you control.