IRS Tax Audit Appeals

IRS Tax Audit Appeals

If you have been audited by the IRS and disagree with the results, there are many avenues for appeals. A qualified IRS tax audit attorney can help guide you through the appeals process. Depending on how much time has passed since the end of the audit, appeals options include:

  • Filing an IRS appeal with the Office of Appeals
  • Litigating the issue in Tax Court or District Court
  • Requesting an audit reconsideration
  • Submitting a doubt-as-to-liability offer in compromise
  • Applying for a penalty abatement

After a State tax audit, you only have a certain number of days to file a written request with the Treasury Department for an informal appeals conference. There are time limits to other kinds of appeals. If you miss all the appeals deadlines, it is still possible to get the state to re-open your audit and correct your balance at any time, but only in cases involving a clear error.

Don’t wait one more day. If you want to appeal your audit, contact us immediately to speak to a qualified state and IRS tax audit lawyer to talk about how we can help.

When does the tax audit appeal process begin?

After your tax audit, you will receive a detailed report with the IRS’s claims regarding the back taxes, interest, and penalties you owe. You have 30 days from the date of that letter to begin the appeal process. If you are unable to prepare your appeal within 30 days, you will need to request one or more extensions until you have organized your strategy.

Filing an appeal will also enable you to take steps to prevent the IRS from seizing your assets, freezing your bank accounts, or levying your wages to pay the back taxes, interest, and penalties that the IRS claims you owe.

The state tax appeal process in Michigan

As with IRS audit appeals, after a State tax audit, you only have a certain number of days to file a written request for an informal appeals conference. Michigan has established additional time limits for different types and levels of appeals. If you miss an appeals deadline, you may be able to petition the State to re-open your audit and correct your balance at any time if you can establish a clear error in the State audit. Working with a Michigan tax audit and appeal lawyer will be your best option for bringing a successful appeal.

Criminal charges

Under certain extreme circumstances, an IRS auditor might refer a matter for a criminal investigation. The circumstances that might escalate a matter for a criminal referral include:

  • Overt omissions of income or excessive and unwarranted deductions
  • False statements or documents that are intended to perpetrate fraud
  • Failure to produce regularly maintained records
  • Efforts to conceal income or assets
  • Inconsistent income or deductions
  • Failure to cooperate with official IRS requests

Just because a tax audit has reached a conclusion doesn’t mean the IRS is not investigating the matter for criminal violations. A taxpayer will have a better opportunity to prevent criminal charges with a proper procedural response to the audit, including taking the necessary steps to file an appeal quickly and resolving problems early in the process.

Reach out for help appealing an IRS audit

Ayar Law is here to help level the playing field when you are facing a questionable audit from the powerful IRS. Facing an IRS audit without experienced legal representation puts you at an extreme disadvantage. It is critical to act quickly to retain a qualified IRS audit attorney before your appeal rights expire. We represent taxpayers in Detroit, Farmington Hills, and elsewhere in the State of Michigan. Contact us today to take the first step towards a reversal or reduction of your IRS audit penalty.