Need help with an audit reconsideration request letter - where to find templates?
I'm in a bit of a sticky situation and need to put together an audit reconsideration request. The IRS audited me for my 2023 taxes, and I think they made some serious errors in their findings. I've gathered all my supporting documents and evidence, but I'm completely lost when it comes to actually writing the formal request letter. I'm honestly terrible with formal writing and official correspondence. I've been searching online for the past few days trying to find a template or example letter that I could use as a starting point, but I'm coming up empty-handed. Everything I find is just general advice rather than an actual template. Does anyone have experience with this? Where can I find a good template for an audit reconsideration request that I can customize for my situation? I need to get this submitted soon as I'm already getting collection notices, and I'm stressing out about making sure it's done properly so they'll actually review my case.
20 comments


Anastasia Kozlov
Having helped several clients through the audit reconsideration process, I can tell you that while there's no official "template," there are definitely some key elements your letter needs to include. Start with your personal information (name, address, SSN, contact info) and clearly state that you're requesting an audit reconsideration. Include the tax year in question and any reference numbers from your audit or tax notice. Explain specifically why you believe the audit determination was incorrect - be factual and concise, not emotional. List each document you're enclosing as evidence and explain exactly how each one supports your case. End with a clear statement of what you're requesting (like "Based on the enclosed documentation, I request that the additional tax assessment be reduced to $X" or "removed entirely"). The most important part isn't fancy language but organizing your evidence clearly and making specific connections between your documents and the items the IRS questioned.
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Sean Kelly
•This is helpful but I'm still unsure about the format. Should it be like a business letter? And how long should it typically be? I'm worried mine will either be too short and miss important details or too long and rambling.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Yes, use a standard business letter format with your address at the top, followed by the date, then the IRS office address that was on your audit notice. Length varies based on complexity, but aim for 1-2 pages for the letter itself. Be concise but thorough - include all relevant facts without unnecessary background. The actual evidence and documentation you attach is what matters most, so focus on making the letter a clear roadmap to your evidence rather than trying to argue your entire case in the letter.
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Zara Mirza
After my nightmare audit experience last year, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai that literally saved me during my reconsideration request. I was in the same boat - terrible at formal writing and totally stressed about messing up something so important. I uploaded my audit notice and supporting documents to https://taxr.ai and it actually analyzed everything and helped me draft a perfectly structured reconsideration request that addressed all the specific points from my audit. It even helped identify which documents were most relevant for each claim I was disputing. Honestly, I was skeptical at first but the guidance it provided was way more specific than any template I could have found.
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Luca Russo
•Does it work for different types of audits? Mine was related to business expenses for my Schedule C that the IRS disallowed, and I have bank statements and receipts to prove they were legitimate.
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Nia Harris
•I'm a bit concerned about uploading sensitive tax documents to some random website. How secure is this? And does it just give you generic advice or does it actually help with the specific issues in your audit?
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Zara Mirza
•It works for all types of audits because it's analyzing your specific documents. My situation was different - they were questioning some investment losses - but it handled the specific tax regulations perfectly. Security was actually my big concern too, but they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. It gave me very specific guidance tailored to my exact audit issues - it identified the exact paragraphs in the tax code that supported my position and helped me explain precisely why each document I was submitting proved my case. Nothing generic about it.
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Nia Harris
I have to follow up about taxr.ai since I ended up trying it for my own audit reconsideration. I was definitely skeptical when I posted that question earlier, but after my CPA quoted me $1500 just to draft the reconsideration letter, I figured it was worth a shot. The system actually helped me organize my jumbled pile of receipts and bank statements into a coherent case! It pointed out specific documentation gaps I needed to fill and helped me write explanations that directly addressed the IRS's concerns from my audit notice. Just got my reconsideration approved last week - they reduced what I owed by about 85%. Wish I'd known about this during the original audit.
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GalaxyGazer
I fought with the IRS for months trying to get someone on the phone about my audit reconsideration before I found Claimyr. The IRS kept sending me letters saying my reconsideration was "in process" but couldn't tell me anything else. After spending HOURS on hold multiple times and getting disconnected, I tried https://claimyr.com and they actually got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening with my case and what additional documentation they needed. Completely changed my approach to dealing with the IRS.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone system is notoriously impossible. Are they just calling for you or do they have some special access?
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Aisha Mahmood
•Yeah right. Nothing gets you through to the IRS faster. I've been trying for weeks and their hold times are 2+ hours if you're lucky enough to not get the "call volume too high" message. Sounds like a scam to me.
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GalaxyGazer
•They don't have special access - they use technology to navigate the IRS phone system for you. It waits on hold so you don't have to, then calls you when an agent is actually on the line. So instead of being stuck on hold for hours, you just get a call when there's an actual human ready to talk. The IRS doesn't give them any special treatment - they're just solving the hold time problem. I was skeptical too, but they only charge if they actually get you connected to an agent. After wasting entire afternoons on hold myself, it was absolutely worth it to reclaim those hours of my life.
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Aisha Mahmood
I'm genuinely shocked and need to correct my earlier comment. After dismissing Claimyr as probably a scam, I was desperate enough to try it this morning after getting another "call volume too high" message from the IRS. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a text when they were navigating the phone tree, another update when I was in the queue, and then a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent about 40 minutes later. The agent pulled up my file and confirmed they had received my reconsideration request but were waiting for one more document they needed (which they never bothered to tell me in writing). Just submitted the missing form and they said my case should be resolved within 30 days. Worth every penny to finally get actual information instead of form letters.
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Ethan Moore
For anyone else looking for audit reconsideration help, the IRS actually has some guidance on their website: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3598.pdf It doesn't have an exact template, but pages 2-3 cover what should be included in your request. Some key points: - Must be in writing - Include your name, SSN, and current contact info - For joint returns, both spouses should sign - Copies (not originals) of supporting docs - Clear explanation of each item you're disputing Hope this helps! I went through this last year and eventually got about 60% of my assessment removed.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Did you send it certified mail? And did they actually acknowledge receiving it? I'm worried about sending all this documentation and then it just disappearing into a black hole.
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Ethan Moore
•Definitely send it certified mail with return receipt requested. I also included a cover letter with my phone number and a polite request to confirm receipt. It still took about 4 weeks to get any acknowledgment, and even then it was just a form letter saying they received my request and would respond within 60 days (which turned into 90 days). The IRS moves slowly, but certified mail at least gives you proof they received it. Take pictures of everything you send too, just in case.
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Carmen Vega
Went through this last year and what worked for me was calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They're an independent organization within the IRS that helps when you're having financial difficulties or when the normal IRS channels aren't working. They assigned me an advocate who helped review my reconsideration request before I submitted it and even followed up with the IRS for me. Completely free service too. Google "Taxpayer Advocate Service" + your state to find your local office.
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NeonNebula
•This is really helpful - I didn't know about the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Did they help you with the actual writing of the letter or just review what you had already prepared?
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Lim Wong
•They actually helped me with both! My advocate reviewed my draft letter and suggested several improvements - like being more specific about which tax code sections supported my position and reorganizing my evidence to match the order of issues in the audit report. They also helped me understand what the IRS was really looking for in each disputed item. The best part was that they stayed involved throughout the process and could check on the status of my case internally, so I didn't have to deal with the phone system nightmare. Definitely reach out to them early in the process if you can - they can prevent a lot of headaches.
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PixelWarrior
I went through the same struggle a few months ago and ended up combining several approaches mentioned here. First, I used the IRS publication that Ethan linked - it really does give you the framework even without an exact template. Then I contacted the Taxpayer Advocate Service like Carmen suggested, and they were incredibly helpful in reviewing my draft and making sure I addressed all the specific points from my audit notice. The key thing I learned is that organization matters more than perfect writing. I created a simple table that listed each disputed item from the audit in one column, my response/explanation in the middle column, and the supporting document reference in the third column. This made it crystal clear for the IRS reviewer to follow my logic. One tip that really helped: I started each paragraph addressing a disputed item with "Regarding [specific line item from audit notice]..." and ended each section with "See attached Exhibit [letter]." This kept everything focused and easy to follow. The whole letter ended up being about 1.5 pages, but it was backed up by well-organized exhibits. Don't let the formal writing intimidate you - clear, factual communication is what they're looking for, not fancy language. Good luck!
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