3 reasons why Audit Defense is worth it

January 23, 2020 by Robin Scott-Hutchens, EA
Tax Audit written on financial paper

Reason #1: Knowing what to say (and what not to say) to a tax examiner can be extremely stressful. Instead, you could have a tax professional who understands tax jargon communicate with the tax agency on your behalf.

Reason #2: Taking time to put together requested documents in a manner that will be easy for a tax examiner to understand is time-consuming and can be frustrating. Instead, you could have a tax professional provide time-saving guidance on the documentation necessary to defend your tax return as well as having that tax professional submit a well-organized response package on your behalf.

Reason #3: If you’re not familiar with the steps of an audit or inquiry or how long they can take, this can cause sleepless nights as you find yourself wondering where your case may be in the exam process. Instead, you could have a tax professional guide you through the entire ordeal, providing education, updates, and insight along the way.

Still not convinced? Read on.

Home improvements, car maintenance and repairs, furniture assembly – what do all these things have in common? They are all things most of us have attempted to do on our own at one time or another. We often come away from the task feeling frustrated and with less than desirable results. Even with the guidance of a handy how-to online video, it seems that there’s always something a little off-center or a leftover part that brings on an uneasy feeling. It should be noted, however, that another thing these tasks have in common is that, usually, you can find a professional to perform them on your behalf.

The same holds true when dealing with a letter from a tax agency, such as the IRS. Sure, you could attempt to decipher what the agency is inquiring about, but reading through a tax agency letter can feel like reading through the legal disclaimer paragraph in an ad. Tax agencies have a language all their own with their own set of rules and regulations. A tax professional generally can spend anywhere from four to ten hours or more defending a taxpayer’s tax return and communicating with the tax agency – and that’s someone who understands the process and speaks the language. Just think of the stress and time you could save yourself with the help of a tax professional for a nominal one-time fee!

TaxAudit shield deflecting audit letters

Enter TaxAudit’s pre-purchased Audit Defense membership, which can be yours for less than the annual cost of that half-caf, lite-whip, extra-pump-of-vanilla coffee you get every day. Paying a flat amount one time will provide you with the service of a dedicated tax professional who will represent you and help defend your tax returns for as long as they are open to being audited. This can be three years with the IRS and even longer for some state agencies. Follow this link to read about the details and current pricing: https://www.taxaudit.com/prepaid-audit-defense

If you have made the wise decision to purchase Audit Defense and then receive an agency letter, a few simple steps will get you connected with a dedicated tax professional ready to assist you. Now you can sit back and let your representative provide you with a full array of services, with minimal effort on your part. Of course, you may need to provide a few background details about the tax item in question, or you may need to provide some supporting documentation for an item claimed on your return. After you have given your tax professional what they need to defend your return, they will communicate with the tax agency to help clarify any items under examination. They will answer questions on your behalf based on the information you have provided and relay information back to you in plain and simple terminology.

But wait, there’s more! Your tax professional will also advise you on what to expect throughout the process of dealing with a tax agency. They will review any subsequent agency communications and clarify and verify the information given by the agency. They will then translate all this information for you. Once you have reached the end of this ordeal, they will advise you on any next steps, if needed, or options available if you should have a tax balance due. And finally, they will review your entire tax return for the year in question and advise you if they see any other errors or omissions not related to the tax agency inquiry. All of this is done with the idea of educating and assisting you through the entire process.

Still not convinced? See the testimonials of other satisfied and less-stressed taxpayers who knew the do-it-yourself route was not for them: http://www.taxaudit.com/audit-defense-reviews.

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Karen Reed, EA

 

During her years as an audit representative for TaxAudit, Karen successfully defended the company’s members throughout the entire federal and state audit processes, handled cases assigned to US Tax Court, and developed procedures to make the audit process easier for taxpayers. Karen attributes a great deal of her tax acumen to the six tax seasons she spent as a return reviewer, analyzing thousands of returns. Responding in writing to questions from taxpayers, she became familiar with the common mistakes self-preparers make. Karen was previously the manager of the Tax Education and Research Department and the Director of Communications at TaxAudit. Her tax advice has been featured in U.S. News and World Report, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and other publications.


 

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