How long do I have to respond?

Most notices give you 30 days from the date printed on the letter, and a Notice of Deficiency gives you 90. The IRS will often grant extra time on a mismatch notice if you ask before the deadline passes.

Should I just pay it so it goes away?

Only if the IRS is right. Proposed changes are sometimes based on incomplete information, and agreeing to them can also affect your state filings and future years. We'll check the numbers first.

What if I already missed the deadline?

You may still have options, including asking the IRS to reconsider. They narrow with time, so call us as soon as you can.

Do I need a tax attorney?

Often not. Many notices can be resolved with the right paperwork. If the IRS is alleging fraud, a criminal investigator has contacted you, or you want to challenge a Notice of Deficiency in Tax Court, you do, and we'll tell you so on the first call.

Do I have to talk to the IRS myself?

In most cases, you'll be the one the IRS speaks with, but you won't go in unprepared. With your written permission, we review your IRS records, prepare the paperwork, and walk you through what to expect before you talk with them. If your situation calls for someone who can formally represent you, we'll tell you that on the first call.

It depends on the type of letter and how much documentation is involved. You'll get a clear quote after the free consultation, before any work begins.

Austin Tax Pros

IRS Notice & Audit Help · Austin, TX · Serving business owners nationwide

IRS notice or audit letter? Let's read it together and answer it correctly.

A letter from the IRS can ruin a whole week, yet most of them turn out to be more manageable than they look. Send us what you received and we'll explain what the IRS is asking for, how long you have to respond, and what a complete answer looks like. Then we build that answer with you.

Get a free consultation

Call or text: (512) 996-5845

What you get from us once the letter arrives

A plain-English read of the letter. We tell you what the IRS is questioning, how serious it is, and when your reply is due.
A look at what the IRS already has. With your written permission, we review your IRS account records, so nothing in the letter is a surprise.
The documentation behind your numbers. We go into your books and source records to find the support, and we rebuild it where the trail is thin.
A complete, organized response. We prepare a reply that answers exactly what was asked, with nothing extra that invites new questions.
A second opinion before you sign anything. If the IRS proposes changes, we check its math and its reasoning before you agree to pay.
Deadline tracking through to the end. We keep track of every deadline until the IRS sends a closing letter.

From the day you open the envelope to the day the IRS closes the file

Send us the letter. Snap a photo of every page and share it during your free, confidential consultation. You'll hear what it means and how much time you have before the call ends.
We compare it to your records. We review your return, your books, and your IRS account side by side to see whether the IRS is right, partly right, or missing information.
We prepare the response with you. You see everything before it goes out, and you'll understand what we're sending and why.
We follow it to a close. IRS replies can take weeks or months. We track the case, handle follow-up requests, and review any proposed changes with you.
We deal with the cause. If the letter traces back to the books, payroll setup, or how a return was prepared, we correct it so the same letter doesn't arrive next year.

Start with a free consultation

Neither a notice nor an audit means the IRS has decided you did something wrong.

A notice is usually a question or a proposed correction, and an audit is a closer look at the records behind a return. The number in the top or bottom right corner of the first page tells you which one you have.

Letter	What it means in plain English	Typical window
CP2000 or CP2030	The IRS's records don't match your return, and it's proposing a change. This is a proposal that you can dispute, and no payment is due yet.	Usually 30 days
Letter 566	An audit by mail is opening, and the IRS wants documents supporting specific items.	Date listed in the letter
Letter 2205	An in-person audit is being scheduled, either at an IRS office or at your location.	Appointment date in the letter
Letter 525	The audit report is ready and proposes changes. You can agree, send more information, or ask for an appeal.	30 days
Letter 3219 or CP3219A	A Notice of Deficiency. This is the last stop before the IRS assesses the tax, and the deadline to petition the Tax Court cannot be extended.	90 days

If your letter isn't on this list, send it over and we'll explain it the same day.

Most audit trouble begins in the books, long before the letter is mailed.

A mismatch notice usually means income was recorded in the wrong place or a form was missed. A request for documentation is only hard to answer when receipts, payroll records, and bank activity live in systems that don't talk to each other. Once your case is closed, we can clean up the books and set up your software so every number on next year's return has support behind it.

Accounting Cleanup & Tech Stack Fix Business Tax Preparation Tax Strategy & Planning

Bring the letter to the table, and we'll go through it page by page.

Some conversations are easier in person, and this is one of them. After your free consultation, we are glad to sit down with you anywhere in the Greater Austin area. Owners anywhere else in the country get the same attention by phone and video, and we also help with notices from the Texas Comptroller.

Questions owners ask after opening an IRS letter

Usually not. Most notices are automated mismatch letters or balance reminders. An audit letter will say that your return has been selected for examination and will list the items under review.

The response window on that letter has already started.

The first conversation is free and confidential. Send us the letter, and you'll know what it means and what to do next before you hang up.

Call or text (512) 996-5845

Call now Text us

Austin, TX 30.27° N · 97.74° W Based in Austin, TX · Serving business owners nationwide · In-person meetings available across Greater Austin

Request a free consultation

Call or text: (512) 996-5845

Call Text Free consultation