Navigate Tax Audits

Taking Control When the IRS Comes Calling

An IRS audit notice creates instant anxiety, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Most people’s first instinct—gather every receipt and send it all to the IRS—actually makes things worse. Audits aren’t about proving your innocence; they’re about controlling what information gets reviewed and how that information gets presented.

The difference between a minimal adjustment and a devastating assessment often comes down to strategy, not facts. When you understand how audits really work and how to present your case effectively, what seems like an impossible situation becomes manageable.

At Frazier Law, we don’t just respond to audits—we control them from start to finish, protecting both your current situation and your future relationship with the IRS.

What Really Happens When Audits Go Wrong

Most taxpayers think cooperation means sending everything the IRS asks for, but uncontrolled audit responses create problems that extend far beyond the years under examination:

Scope Expansion Without Warning Careless responses can trigger examination of additional years, related entities, or different tax issues. What starts as a simple correspondence audit can become a multi-year field examination.

Unnecessary Documentation Exposure Sending too much information or the wrong documents can raise new questions and create new adjustment opportunities that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

Precedent Setting for Future Years How issues get resolved in your audit affects how the IRS will treat similar items in future years. Poor audit results create ongoing compliance problems.

Appeals Limitations Incomplete or poorly managed audit records make Appeals advocacy more difficult and less effective, reducing your negotiation options.

Collection Acceleration Large audit adjustments can trigger immediate collection action, including liens and levies, before you have time to plan an appropriate response.

How We Transform Audit Threats Into Controlled Outcomes

Strategic Correspondence Management

For mail audits and simple document requests

• Analyze audit notice to understand actual scope and requirements versus IRS requests
• Prepare targeted responses with precisely the documentation needed—nothing more, nothing less
• Craft explanatory letters that address examiner questions while protecting against scope expansion
• Monitor processing and prevent automatic assessment due to incomplete examiner follow-through

Comprehensive Examination Representation

For office audits and complex document production

• Attend all IRS meetings as your authorized representative, keeping you out of potential problem situations
• Organize and present documentation the way examiners expect to see it—clear, cross-referenced, and complete
• Control information flow to address legitimate IRS concerns while protecting unrelated items
• Manage examiner relationships and expectations throughout the audit process

Field Audit Coordination

For business audits and complex technical issues

• Coordinate on-site examinations to minimize business disruption and information exposure
• Manage Revenue Agent requests for third-party contacts, employee interviews, and additional documentation
• Present technical tax positions with supporting legal authority and precedent
• Control audit timeline and prevent unnecessary delays that complicate resolution

Appeals Advocacy and Trial Preparation

When examination results are unacceptable

• Challenge proposed adjustments through formal Appeals process with strengthened legal and factual arguments
• Present case to Appeals Officers with settlement authority for negotiated resolution
• Prepare comprehensive administrative record for potential Tax Court litigation
• Coordinate trial preparation while maintaining Appeals track for settlement opportunities

Note: Trial representation handled through separate engagement

Our Strategic Process: From Audit Notice to Final Resolution

Step 1: Notice Analysis and Planning We decode exactly what the IRS is examining and why, then develop a response strategy that addresses their concerns while minimizing your exposure and protecting future years.

Step 2: Controlled Documentation We organize and present only the documentation that supports your position, avoiding the common mistake of over-disclosure that creates new problems.

Step 3: Professional Representation We handle all IRS communication and meetings, keeping you informed while preventing the misstatements and admissions that often occur when taxpayers represent themselves.

Step 4: Strategic Resolution We negotiate the best possible outcome at the examination level, and when necessary, escalate to Appeals or prepare for litigation to protect your interests.

Why Clients Trust Frazier Law With Their Audits

Deep Technical Tax Knowledge Led by Charles R. Frazier, Esq., LLM (Tax), who teaches partnership taxation concepts to other professionals, we understand the technical issues that arise in complex audits and how to present them effectively.

Multi-State Practice, Federal Expertise Licensed in Tennessee, Michigan, and Texas, we represent clients in federal audits regardless of location. IRS examination procedures are federal matters requiring specialized federal expertise.

Advanced Financial Planning Credentials

• Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS)
• Accredited Estate Planner (AEP)
• Charted Financial Consultant (ChFC)

These certifications demonstrate our ability to understand complex financial situations and coordinate audit resolution with broader financial planning objectives.

Educator’s Approach to Client Communication We explain exactly what’s happening in your audit, why the IRS is taking specific positions, and how we’ll respond. Understanding the process reduces anxiety and improves outcomes.

Protecting All Types of Taxpayers

Whether you’re an individual facing a correspondence audit on charitable deductions, a small business dealing with an office examination of business expenses, or a larger enterprise managing a complex field audit of multiple tax years and entities, we adapt our representation to your specific situation and risk profile.

Every case receives strategic planning designed to minimize adjustments while protecting your long-term relationship with the IRS.

Don’t Face Your Audit Alone

Before you respond to that audit notice, talk to us.

Schedule a confidential strategy session where we’ll review your audit notice, explain exactly what the IRS is examining, and outline how we can protect your interests throughout the process. No pressure, no obligation—just professional guidance when you need it most.

Because how you handle your audit today affects your taxes tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions