Just received an IRS examination letter - seeking advice on next steps

Don't panic! I've been through this before and it's manageable if you approach it systematically. The IRS examination letter (sometimes called an audit letter) is intimidating, but it's really just asking you to substantiate specific items on your return. For your business expenses ($6,800), gather whatever receipts and documentation you have. Even if your record-keeping wasn't perfect, partial documentation is better than nothing. Bank statements and credit card statements can help fill gaps. Create a spreadsheet matching expenses to receipts and explaining the business purpose of each item. For the charitable donations ($3,200), acknowledgment emails can work if they contain the required information - the organization name, donation date, amount, and statement that no goods/services were received in exchange (or their value if you did receive something). If you're missing formal letters, contact the charities - they can often provide duplicates. You should consider getting professional help if the amounts are significant to you or if you're missing substantial documentation. A tax professional experienced with IRS examinations can help organize your response and communicate with the IRS effectively.

I went through something similar last year with my small business expenses being questioned, and I was completely overwhelmed trying to gather everything. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to help me organize all my documentation and craft my response to the IRS. What really helped was that I could upload all my receipts, bank statements, and other documents to their system, and they helped identify which ones actually supported my claimed deductions. Their AI analyzed everything and created a tailored response packet that matched each questioned expense with the right supporting documentation. It saved me so much time and stress trying to figure out what the IRS would actually accept as valid proof.

Just wanted to update everyone - I took the advice about using https://taxr.ai for my IRS examination response and it was seriously a game changer. I was initially skeptical but after struggling to organize my chaotic pile of receipts and bank statements, I decided to give it a try. The system was super straightforward - I uploaded my examination letter, scanned all my receipts and bank statements, and within 2 days I had a completely organized response package. It matched each questioned expense with the appropriate documentation and explained why certain expenses were legitimate business deductions. The best part was they found supporting evidence for expenses I thought I had no documentation for by identifying relevant transactions in my bank statements and helping me explain their business purpose. The IRS accepted my response with no further questions! Definitely worth checking out if you're facing an examination letter.

When I got my examination letter last year, my biggest frustration was trying to actually speak with someone at the IRS to clarify what they needed. I spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected or transferred to voicemail. I finally found this service called https://claimyr.com that actually got me through to a real IRS agent. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you and call you when they get an actual human on the line. I was able to speak directly with an IRS examination officer who explained exactly what documentation would satisfy their requirements and even gave me tips on how to organize my response. This saved me from submitting inadequate documentation and potentially extending the examination process. Having that direct conversation made a huge difference in how I approached my response.

I need to eat my words and admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my examination letter, so I decided to try it anyway. I submitted my request around 9am, and by 11:30am I got a call connecting me to an actual IRS examination officer. I nearly fell out of my chair - I had spent over 15 hours on hold over the previous two weeks with no success. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation would be acceptable for my specific situation and explained some nuances about business expense categorization that I hadn't understood. This conversation completely changed my approach to responding to the examination letter and likely saved me from making mistakes that would have extended the process. If you're dealing with an IRS examination and need clarification, being able to actually speak with someone is invaluable. I'm still shocked it actually worked.

One thing to consider with an IRS examination letter - the specific type of examination matters. Is it a correspondence audit (handled entirely by mail), an office audit (you go to an IRS office), or a field audit (they come to you)? Your letter should specify. Correspondence audits like yours are the most common and least intensive. If you respond promptly with well-organized documentation, you'll often resolve things quickly. But don't ignore deadlines - if you need more time, call and request an extension before your response date passes. Also, only address what they're asking about. Don't volunteer additional information or send documentation for items they haven't questioned. That can sometimes trigger them to expand the examination.

If you're missing receipts for some of your business expenses, don't forget about alternative documentation! The IRS will sometimes accept: 1. Bank/credit card statements showing the purchase 2. Invoices or bills 3. Canceled checks 4. Purchase orders 5. Written records created at the time of the purchase For the charitable donations, if they were all to established 501(c)(3) organizations, you can actually contact them directly for duplicate acknowledgment letters. Most larger charities keep donation records and can provide this documentation quickly.