2019 return was audited and the IRS examiner won't answer calls from my accountant

I received a notice back in October that my 2019 tax return is being audited, and I immediately contacted my accountant at Jenkins Tax Services since I purchased their audit assistance package. The problem is that my accountant has been trying to contact the IRS examiner for over a month with no success. She said she's been using the dedicated tax preparer line they have access to, but the examiner just never picks up or returns messages. My accountant mentioned that in her 15 years of handling audits, she's usually able to reach examiners within a few days, and this situation is extremely unusual. She's tried calling different times of day, different days of the week - nothing works. We had a call yesterday and decided to prepare a formal written response to the audit notice and send it by certified mail and fax. But I'm really stressed about this whole situation. Am I doing enough? Should I be worried that the examiner isn't responding? The deadline they gave me is coming up in about 6 weeks, and I don't want to miss it and end up with penalties or a default assessment. Does anyone have experience with this kind of situation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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19 comments

Atticus Domingo

•8M

This is unfortunately becoming more common due to IRS staffing issues. As someone who deals with the IRS regularly, I have a few suggestions: First, you're on the right track with sending a written response by certified mail and fax. Make sure to include your case number, SSN (last 4 digits only for security), and the tax year being audited (2019) clearly at the top of all correspondence. Keep copies of everything, including fax confirmation sheets and certified mail receipts. Second, while continuing to try the examiner's direct line, your accountant should also attempt to reach the examiner's manager. The contact information should be on the audit notice, but if not, call the main IRS number and request to speak with the manager of the examination division for your region. Third, consider calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes help when normal communication channels aren't working. They're an independent organization within the IRS designed to help taxpayers resolve problems.

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Atticus Domingo

•8M

Using the Taxpayer Advocate Service won't negatively affect your audit outcome. They're independent within the IRS and are specifically there to help when normal processes break down. Their involvement won't be viewed as "rocking the boat" but rather as appropriately seeking assistance when communication fails. Regarding the statute of limitations, that's an interesting question. Generally, the IRS has 3 years from the filing date to audit a return, but that clock stops once they issue a formal notice of audit. Since you've already received this notice, the statute is suspended until your case is resolved. So unfortunately, this won't simply "time out" - it needs to be addressed properly.

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Beth Ford

•8M

I went through something similar with my 2018 return audit. Couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks and was pulling my hair out with stress. I finally found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped me organize all my documentation and prepare my response. The thing that was most helpful was their AI analysis of my audit notice - it actually helped identify what specific items the IRS was questioning so we could focus our response on those exact issues. My accountant was impressed with how it pinpointed the potential problems and suggested the right documentation to submit. I ended up with a no-change letter after submitting our response! It might be worth checking out since you're having to go the written response route anyway. Their system really helped me understand what was happening with my audit when I couldn't get anyone on the phone.

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Beth Ford

•8M

It's actually very reasonable for what you get - much cheaper than extending accountant hours or getting a tax attorney involved. I don't want to quote exact prices since they might change, but it was well worth it for the peace of mind. Yes, that's exactly what it helped with! It analyzed my audit notice and told me precisely which documents were most important to include. It saved me from submitting a giant stack of unnecessary papers and helped me focus on exactly what the IRS was looking for. I understand your skepticism, but when you can't reach the IRS (which was my exact problem too), your best option is to prepare the most effective written response possible. The AI doesn't replace human contact - it helps you prepare the best documentation package when direct communication isn't possible. For me, once I submitted the properly focused response, my audit was resolved without ever speaking to the examiner.

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Morita Montoya

•8M

Just wanted to share an update - I took the advice about taxr.ai from this thread and tried it with my audit situation. Honestly, it was super helpful! The system analyzed my audit notice and showed me exactly what the IRS was questioning (some business expenses and a retirement contribution). I was able to prepare a really focused response with just the right documentation instead of the massive pile I was planning to send. My accountant was actually impressed with how organized it was. Just got notification yesterday that my audit was closed with no changes! Never even had to speak with the examiner directly. For anyone dealing with audit communication problems, having a system that helps you prepare a perfect written response is the next best thing when you can't get someone on the phone.

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Joy Olmedo

•8M

Have you tried Claimyr? https://claimyr.com - it's been a lifesaver for me when dealing with the IRS. I was in a similar situation with an audit last year and literally could not get anyone on the phone after trying for weeks. Claimyr basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and calls you when they get a human on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical at first, but it actually worked! They got me through to someone at the IRS after they'd been on hold for like 1.5 hours (which I didn't have to sit through). Once I actually talked to a person, I was able to get transferred to the right department and eventually connected with my examiner. Might be worth a try since your accountant is having so much trouble getting through.

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Joy Olmedo

•8M

It's actually pretty simple - they use a call system that waits on hold, and when a human answers, they conference you in. No call recording at all - they just connect you directly with the IRS representative. The service doesn't interface with IRS systems or pretend to be you. They're basically just holding your place in line. When an IRS agent answers, Claimyr immediately brings you into a three-way call, then drops off so it's just you and the IRS agent. The agent doesn't even realize you weren't the one waiting on hold the whole time. It's totally legitimate - they're not doing anything except saving you from having to listen to hold music for hours.

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Kiara Greene

•8M

I need to eat my words and apologize to @14. After dismissing Claimyr as a probable scam in my earlier comment, I was desperate enough to try it when my own tax issue wasn't getting resolved. It actually worked exactly as described. The service waited on hold with the IRS for almost 2 hours (which I definitely didn't have time to do myself), then called me when they got a human. The connection to the IRS agent was seamless - I just started explaining my situation and got the help I needed. I was able to get transferred to the specific department handling my case and finally got some answers. Wish I'd known about this years ago - would have saved me so much frustration with the IRS phone system.

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Evelyn Kelly

•8M

Your accountant should file Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service Application) right away. This will get you assigned a case advocate who can help with the communication issues you're having. I'm a retired tax professional and had to use this approach several times in recent years when normal channels broke down. Also, make sure your accountant documents EVERY attempt to contact the examiner - dates, times, phone numbers called, any reference numbers from the calls. This creates a paper trail showing you've been making good faith efforts to comply, which can be important if there are ever questions about your cooperation with the audit.

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Evelyn Kelly

•8M

There are no downsides to filing Form 911. The Taxpayer Advocate Service exists specifically to help in situations like yours where normal procedures aren't working. Examiners understand this is part of the process and won't take it personally or be harsher as a result. In fact, in my experience, having TAS involvement often leads to more reasonable outcomes because it adds another layer of oversight to the audit process. The important thing is that you're demonstrating your willingness to cooperate and resolve the matter appropriately, which is always viewed favorably.

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