Responding to a Tax Audit in Richmond

If you need help responding to a tax audit in Richmond, a seasoned tax attorney at Whiteford Tax Defense is ready to help. We are proud to assist individuals, businesses, and organizations through this stressful time.

Your response to a tax audit should be thoughtful and planned. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a federal entity with tremendous power and has been known to abuse or misuse that power.

How to Respond to a Tax Audit

The IRS will notify a taxpayer of their intent to audit via a notice sent in the mail. Initially, they may request many documents for the individual or business to respond with via mail, fax, or email as an initial step of the audit in Richmond. These include (but are not limited to):

  • Bank records
  • Offshore bank records
  • Medical bills
  • Paid invoices that prove expenditures
  • Business and personal credit card statements
  • Reports from personal or business bookkeeping software
  • Proof of income via W-2 forms, 1099s, and self-reported income

The IRS will spend some time reviewing these documents, or they may request an in-person meeting to review them.

What Happens During an IRS Audit?

Many taxpayers spend a lot of time chasing down documents during an IRS audit. Larger organizations usually have a bookkeeper, accountant, or tax lawyer to handle these tasks. Individuals, partnerships, small business owners, and smaller organizations may need to hire extra help to either run the business or handle bookkeeping tasks during this time. Therefore, handling an audit as quickly and professionally as possible makes sense.

Some IRS representatives will demand in-person meetings. When responding to an IRS audit in Richmond in person, always remain calm and polite, even if extra costs are piling up quickly or the timing is inconvenient.

In-Person IRS Audits

In-person audit meetings can be highly frustrating to taxpayers, especially if the filer needs to travel for work or attend other daily duties at home, like caring for a family member. The IRS usually grants a single extension for taxpayers who need to reschedule their meeting, but only one. An experienced attorney could help by attending most of these meetings on behalf of the filer.

Do Not Send Original Documents to the IRS by Mail or Fax

When you respond to the IRS audit, never mail your original financial documents unless the IRS specifically asks for an original document.

IRS auditors usually prefer hard copies over electronic ones because they are more difficult to edit or manipulate. They may ask a taxpayer to send some documents via fax, and this can become a hassle if the fax machine damages the documents or if the fax line is busy.

The time spent chasing paperwork, scanning documents, and attempting to send them to the IRS will be a hassle, which is why many filers contact an experienced lawyer for help responding to tax audits.

Call an Attorney Today for Help Responding to a Tax Audit in Richmond

At Whiteford Tax Defense, we have helped many individuals and businesses with responding to a tax audit in Richmond. Our tech-savvy, diligent team knows how to remain calm under pressure. We will work to protect your assets and rights. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to responding to a tax audit on your behalf.