It may not have happened yet, but chances are pretty good that you could be audited by the IRS or a state taxation authority sometime in the future. No problem. You get all your files together and head to the IRS office for a reasonable discussion of the issues and everything will be cleared up. Right?

It sounds good, but let’s look at this from another angle. If you were in a civil dispute in court, would you go in front of a judge without the experience of a qualified attorney? Probably not. But a negative result in your examination hearing could cost you just as much in penalties and interest as a verdict against you in the civil trial.

IQ ACCOUNTING has represented clients in front of the IRS and state authorities in many cases during his years in practice, and understands the process and the best methods for obtaining a positive result in your particular situation. He has established a methodology for this representation service that maximizes your chances for a successful resolution to your circumstances. We’ll review a few of the topics that are integral to this service and how the overall process works.

When a client receives a Notice of Examination, the CPA immediately goes to work by discussing the particulars of the case with the client, and then formulates a response to the notice that is sent to the IRS. This response will outline the specifics of the case from the client’s perspective and may request a meeting with the IRS agent to further discuss the case. At the same time, the accountant will request that the client sign a power of attorney statement allowing the CPA to fully represent the client in front of the IRS.

During the meetings and negotiations with the IRS, the CPA will act on the client’s behalf, without the need for the client’s presence during this process. This part of the service has a couple of benefits. Sometimes a client’s emotional involvement with the case can lead to a confrontational situation with the IRS authorities. The CPA’s professional participation in the case allows him to be less affected by the proceedings and capable of acting in the client’s best interest. Another advantage to this approach is that it allows the CPA to be more candid with the examiner, again in an attempt to best represent the client.