2024 tax return audited, IRS examiner won't pick up the phone for my CPA

This is unfortunately becoming more common with the IRS due to their staffing challenges. As someone who deals with the IRS regularly, I can share a few recommendations: 1. Your CPA is taking the right approach by sending a written response via fax. Make sure this response addresses all points raised in the audit notice and includes all supporting documentation. This creates a paper trail showing you're attempting to comply. 2. Your CPA should also send the same information via certified mail with return receipt requested. This gives you proof of delivery that could be important later. 3. Ask your CPA to note in the cover letter that multiple attempts have been made to reach the examiner by phone without success, listing specific dates and times of these attempts. 4. The IRS has statutory deadlines they must follow. If they've issued a notice of deficiency, you typically have 90 days to respond or petition Tax Court. Know your deadlines. 5. Check if your audit defense package includes representation in Tax Court if it comes to that.

After reading your situation, I wanted to share my experience with something that really helped me during my audit last year. I was going through a similar situation with an unresponsive examiner and was getting nowhere until I tried this AI document analyzer called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). It basically scanned my audit notice and all my supporting documents, then gave me insights about what the IRS was likely looking for and how to structure my response. The system even pointed out potential red flags in my documentation that I hadn't noticed. I was initially skeptical, but it actually helped me understand what specific information I needed to prioritize in my response. My CPA was impressed with the analysis too - it highlighted some deduction documentation that needed strengthening before we submitted our formal response. Might be worth checking out if you're putting together a written response package.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried the taxr.ai system that was mentioned here after my initial skepticism. I was in a similar situation with an audit for my small business expenses. The analysis was surprisingly helpful - it identified that the IRS was likely questioning the timing of some business equipment purchases rather than the legitimacy of the expenses themselves. This helped me focus my documentation on proving the purchase dates rather than just gathering receipts. My accountant and I submitted our response package last week with this focused approach, and we actually heard back from the examiner within days! Currently working through the process, but at least we're moving forward now instead of being stuck in limbo.

I've been through THREE audits in the last decade (self-employed contractor) and the phone situation with the IRS is absolutely ridiculous. After my most recent audit started 8 months ago, I discovered a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that actually gets someone at the IRS to call YOU back instead of waiting on hold forever or getting ignored. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super frustrated because my accountant was also having trouble reaching anyone. We used Claimyr and got a call back from an actual IRS agent within about 2 hours. The agent was able to look up my case, see what was happening, and actually connect us with the department handling my audit. Saved us weeks of trying to make contact through the normal channels.

Coming back to eat my words. I was the skeptic who responded to the Claimyr suggestion, and I want to admit I was wrong. After another week of getting nowhere with my own audit situation, I decided I had nothing to lose and tried it. Got a call back from an IRS agent in about 90 minutes. The agent was able to see that my case had been assigned to an examiner who was actually out on extended medical leave, which is why nobody was responding to any communication! They reassigned my case on the spot to an active examiner who called me the next day. If I hadn't made that contact, my case would have just been sitting there indefinitely while penalties and interest potentially accumulated. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and try solutions even when you're skeptical.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - check if your audit is actually being conducted by the IRS or if it's been outsourced to a private collection agency. The IRS has been contracting with private firms for some types of enforcement, and they have different contact procedures. Look carefully at the letterhead and contact info on your audit notice. If it mentions Performant, CBE Group, ConServe, or Pioneer, those are private collection agencies working on behalf of the IRS. In that case, the standard IRS protocols might not apply.

Anyone else notice that the IRS seems to be auditing way more returns lately? I've had more clients get audit notices in the past 6 months than the previous 3 years combined.