IRS Tax Audit Attorney in New Jersey and New York
An IRS audit can lead to additional tax, penalties, interest, liens, collection action, or even more serious investigation if the facts are mishandled. The earlier you get legal guidance, the better your chances of keeping the audit focused, organized, and strategically managed.
Todd S. Unger represents taxpayers during IRS audits, disputed examinations, CP2000 issues, audit reconsideration matters, and related tax controversy problems. The goal is to protect your rights, present the strongest available documentation, and avoid unnecessary escalation.
Do Not Handle a Serious IRS Audit Alone
An IRS audit is more than a request for paperwork. The IRS may be reviewing income, deductions, business expenses, records, deposits, tax reporting, or prior filings. How you respond can affect not only the audit result, but also whether the matter expands into penalties, collection activity, or additional scrutiny.
An IRS audit may involve a single disputed item, multiple tax years, business records, unreported income, or previously unfiled returns. The appropriate response depends on the notice, the type of examination, the available documentation, and whether the proposed adjustments could create penalties or broader exposure. Legal representation may help you organize records, communicate with the IRS, challenge unsupported adjustments, and preserve your appeal rights.
IRS Audit Issues We Help With
IRS audits vary widely depending on the issue, the tax year, the amount involved, and the documents requested. Todd S. Unger helps individuals and businesses respond strategically when an audit or examination creates financial or legal risk.
IRS correspondence audits
Office and field audits
CP2000 underreported income notices
Missing records or incomplete documentation
Business income and expense disputes
Cryptocurrency, brokerage, and 1099 reporting issues
Audit reconsideration after a bad audit result
Appeals after proposed IRS adjustments
If the IRS has already assessed tax after an audit, you may still have options. Learn more about IRS audit reconsideration and Collection Due Process hearings if the IRS is moving toward enforced collection.
Types of IRS Audits
Not every IRS audit is handled the same way. Some audits are limited document requests, while others involve detailed examination of business records, income deposits, deductions, payroll tax compliance, or multiple years of filings.
Correspondence Audits
These audits are usually handled by mail and often focus on a specific item, deduction, credit, or document mismatch.
Office Examinations
An office audit may require a taxpayer or representative to provide records and explanations to an IRS examiner.
Field Audits
Field audits are often more involved and may include a broader review of records, business operations, deposits, and supporting documentation.
Business Audits
Business audits may involve income reporting, deductions, cash flow, bank deposits, officer compensation, or substantiation of expenses.
Payroll and Employment Tax Audits
These audits can create serious business and personal exposure when payroll deposits, employment taxes, or worker classifications are questioned.
CP2000 Notices
A CP2000 is not the same as a traditional audit, but it can still lead to additional tax, penalties, interest, and collection activity if handled incorrectly.
A CP2000 notice is generally an automated underreporter proposal based on information reported to the IRS by third parties. It is not the same as a traditional examination, although an incorrect or incomplete response can still produce additional tax, penalties, and collection activity. Taxpayers should review the proposed changes, compare them with their records, and respond by the stated deadline.
What to Do After Receiving an IRS Audit Notice
The first response after an IRS audit notice matters. Before sending documents, explanations, or partial answers, take time to understand exactly what the IRS is asking for and what risks may be attached to the examination.
- Preserve the complete notice and envelope.
- Identify the tax year and response deadline.
- Determine whether the request is limited or broad.
- Gather returns, transcripts, bank records, receipts, and supporting documents.
- Avoid sending an incomplete narrative response before understanding the issues.
- Determine whether penalties, fraud concerns, unfiled returns, or business records create additional risk.
- Preserve administrative appeal rights.
How Legal Representation May Help During an IRS Examination
Legal help during an IRS examination is not just about forwarding paperwork. Representation can help frame the issues, protect taxpayer rights, and reduce the chance that a limited audit becomes a larger tax controversy.
What Happens After an Unfavorable IRS Audit?
If an IRS audit results in proposed adjustments, additional tax, penalties, or a balance you disagree with, the next step depends on timing and procedure. Some taxpayers may have administrative appeal rights before assessment. Others may need to evaluate post-audit options after the IRS has already assessed the balance.
Audit reconsideration may be available when new documentation, missed information, or unresolved facts justify asking the IRS to review the audit result again.
If the audit balance later moves into IRS collection, separate collection notices may create Collection Due Process hearing rights. A CDP hearing is not the direct appeal mechanism for every audit, but it can become important if the IRS later threatens levy action or files certain lien notices.
IRS Audit Attorney FAQs
Should I hire a tax attorney for an IRS audit?
If the audit involves a large balance, missing records, business income, penalties, potential fraud concerns, or prior unfiled returns, legal representation can be important. A tax attorney can help protect your rights and manage the response strategy.
What happens if I disagree with the audit result?
You may have options such as an IRS appeal, audit reconsideration, or Tax Court depending on the notice, timing, and procedural history of your case.
Can an IRS audit turn into a criminal tax case?
Most audits are civil, but certain facts can raise more serious concerns. This is one reason careful representation is important, especially when the audit involves unreported income, false deductions, missing records, payroll tax issues, or years of noncompliance.
Is a CP2000 notice the same as an IRS audit?
No. A CP2000 notice is typically an automated proposal based on third-party reporting, while a traditional audit is an examination. However, both can create additional tax, penalties, and collection problems if the response is incomplete or late.
Speak With an IRS Tax Audit Attorney
If you received an IRS audit notice, CP2000 letter, proposed adjustment, or collection warning after an audit, Todd S. Unger can help you understand your options and respond strategically.