Still dealing with 2021 IRS audit after two years! Need urgent help with this nightmare

I worked for the IRS for 15 years before retiring, so I can tell you exactly what's happening here. Two-year audit timelines aren't uncommon, especially post-COVID when they're still working through massive backlogs. The key issue is likely your home office deduction and business equipment documentation. For home office, they're looking for exclusive business use, and many people claim a room that's partially used for personal purposes. For equipment, they need receipts plus proof the items were used primarily for business. Your best move right now is to request a face-to-face meeting with the auditor or their manager. Call the direct number on your audit letter (not the general IRS line) and politely but firmly request this meeting. Prepare a simple, organized binder with tabbed sections for each category they're questioning. Include a summary page at the front of each section explaining what the documents show. Also, immediately request a copy of your full IRS file through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. This will show you exactly what they're looking at and what they believe is missing.

After spending 3 months in audit hell last year over my business deductions, I finally found something that saved me. I was drowning in paperwork and the IRS kept saying my documentation was "insufficient" just like they're telling you. I stumbled across this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that analyzes all your tax documents and audit letters to pinpoint exactly what the IRS is looking for. It basically translates their cryptic language into plain English and tells you precisely what documentation you need to provide. The best part was it helped me organize everything exactly how the IRS agent wanted to see it. I went from getting nowhere for months to having my case resolved in weeks. They even identified a few deductions the IRS was questioning that I actually had proper documentation for but hadn't presented correctly.

Ok I gotta admit I was wrong about taxr.ai. After my skeptical comment last week, I decided to try it as a last resort for my own audit situation (they were questioning my rental property deductions from 2021). The service immediately identified that I was missing proper documentation for "ordinary and necessary" business expense proof - basically I had receipts but hadn't connected them clearly to the business purpose. It created a template for me to organize everything exactly how the IRS wanted to see it. I submitted the reorganized documentation package last Thursday, and I literally just got off the phone with the IRS (after only a 25-minute hold, miraculously). They're accepting my documentation and closing the audit with no additional tax due! After 14 months of back and forth, it was resolved in under a week once I had everything organized properly.

If you're struggling to get someone on the phone at the IRS, you need to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). My 2021 audit was in limbo for 9 months because I couldn't get through to anyone who could actually help explain what they needed from me. I was skeptical, but their service actually works. They navigate the IRS phone system for you and when an agent is about to pick up, they call you to connect. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I went from not being able to reach anyone to speaking with the exact department handling my audit in less than 2 hours. The agent I finally reached was able to tell me specifically what documentation they needed that was missing (in my case, they needed bank statements showing deposits matching my claimed business income).

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment last week, I was still getting nowhere with my own IRS situation so I figured I had nothing to lose. Used the service yesterday afternoon around 2pm. Within 45 minutes, I got a call back saying they had an IRS agent on the line ready to speak with me. I couldn't believe it actually worked that fast. Got connected with someone in the exact department handling my case (something I couldn't manage to do despite DOZENS of calls over 3 months). The agent was able to look up my file, explain exactly what documentation was missing, and even gave me her direct extension for follow-up. For anyone dealing with an audit or any IRS issue where you need to actually speak to a human, this service is worth every penny. I would have paid triple what they charge just to save the 20+ hours I wasted on hold.

Another option to consider is contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). They're an independent organization within the IRS designed to help taxpayers with problems that haven't been resolved through normal channels. If your audit has been ongoing for 2+ years with no resolution, you almost certainly qualify for their help. Their services are completely free, and they can often cut through red tape that's impossible for individual taxpayers to navigate. Go to taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov to find your local office and submit Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance). I had a similar situation with an audit that dragged on for 18 months, and they helped resolve it within 6 weeks.

I was in almost the exact same situation (2021 audit, dragged on forever). What finally worked for me was contacting my Congressional representative's office. Most people don't realize that ALL members of Congress have staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal agency issues - including IRS problems. I called my rep's office, explained the situation, and they had me fill out a privacy release form. Their caseworker contacted the IRS on my behalf, and suddenly things started moving. The audit was completed within 3 weeks after being stalled for over a year. It's completely free, and the IRS prioritizes congressional inquiries because, well, Congress controls their funding. Just Google your representative + "constituent services" to find contact info.