When the problem has to be handled first.
An IRS letter. Years that never got filed. Books that stopped matching the bank. Whatever arrived, the first move is the same: nothing irreversible. Send it to an Enrolled Agent who reads the file before anyone answers it.
A CP2000 says you owe $11,400 because a 1099 didn't match your return. The IRS counted the sale. It didn't count what you paid for the thing you sold. The right number was $900. That is most notices: a real letter, a wrong number, and a deadline.
The IRS wrote the letter to be read fast and paid faster. Don't.
Connect before you correct.
A problem is rarely one problem. A notice about one year is often the visible edge of something structural: an election never made, or books that stopped matching the business. Correct the notice without looking at that and the same letter comes back.
I am so glad I found Hava @ Mantle Tax Solutions. As the owner of several small businesses, I've worked with a few CPAs before, and Hava is by far the best. She inherited a lot of messy work from my prior accountants and handled the cleanup with real patience and diligence. She's always on top of things, communicates clearly, and brings a strategic mindset to the table rather than just crunching numbers. So far I've been thoroughly impressed with her work and would absolutely recommend her services to anyone looking for a reliable, sharp accountant (EA).
Questions people ask with a notice in front of them.
I got an IRS notice. What do I do first?
Read it, keep every page, and do not agree to anything before the number has been checked. Then send it to us with the return for the year it names. Most notices carry a response deadline, so the first step is quick even when the answer is not.
Can you talk to the IRS for me?
Yes. Hava Laudon is an Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the IRS with unlimited practice rights. Once you sign the authorization, we correspond and speak with the agency on your behalf and keep a written record of it.
What does representation cost?
It is quoted in writing before work starts. A single notice and a multi-year examination are different engagements, so we read the file first and then tell you what the work is and what it costs.
How many years back do I need to file?
Fewer than most people assume. IRS policy generally looks for the last six years to be filed before an account is treated as current, and the agency can ask for more where the facts call for it. We establish what is actually open before anyone starts preparing.