Are you looking for an IRS audit lawyer in Hanover, MD?
At Crepeau Mourges, we are trusted IRS audit lawyers serving clients across Hanover and the surrounding area.
If the IRS has selected your return for examination, the decisions you make early in the process will shape the outcome. Our firm represents individuals, business owners, and estates in federal tax examinations, from the first notice through appeals and litigation when necessary. A Hanover, MD IRS audit lawyer at Crepeau Mourges can respond to the IRS on your behalf, protect your records, and work toward a resolution that limits what you owe. We offer free consultations for audit matters.
IRS Audit Lawyer Hanover, MD
An IRS audit attorney represents taxpayers during federal examinations. The IRS conducts audits to verify that income, deductions, and credits were reported correctly. Some reviews happen entirely by mail. Others involve an interview at an IRS office or a visit to your home or business. In every format, the government is building a record, and anything you provide can be used to adjust your liability.
When you retain counsel, the IRS must generally communicate through your attorney rather than contacting you directly. That single change reduces the risk of a damaging misstatement and gives you time to prepare accurate responses. Attorney-client privilege also protects your communications in ways that conversations with an accountant may not.
Types of IRS Audit Cases We Handle in Hanover
Federal examinations come in several forms, and the right strategy depends on which one you are facing. Our firm handles audit matters for individuals, corporations, partnerships, and estates in Hanover, MD. These are the cases we see most often.
- Correspondence audits. The IRS conducts most examinations by mail, often questioning a single deduction or credit. These letters carry strict response deadlines. We prepare complete responses designed to close the review without expanding it.
- Office audits. Some cases require an interview at an IRS office. We prepare clients for questioning, attend the meeting, and control what documents change hands.
- Field audits. Revenue agents sometimes visit a home or business to examine records in person. These are the most intrusive examinations. Our attorneys manage the agent’s access and keep the review within its stated scope.
- Business tax audits. Corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors face questions about income reporting, deductions, and entity structure. Our business tax background lets us defend companies of every size.
- Employment tax audits. Worker classification and payroll withholding draw frequent scrutiny. We defend businesses in examinations involving employment taxes and the personal assessments that can follow.
- Audits involving unfiled returns. Missing returns complicate any examination. We help clients address unfiled tax returns before the problem becomes something worse.
- Offshore account audits. Foreign income and undisclosed accounts draw close attention from examiners. We advise clients on FBAR obligations and defend the examinations that follow.
- Audits with fraud indicators. When an examiner suspects intentional misreporting, the case can move toward civil fraud penalties or criminal referral. We protect clients whose examinations carry tax fraud exposure.
- Audit reconsideration. Taxpayers who missed an audit or disagree with a completed one can ask the IRS to reopen the assessment. We prepare reconsideration requests supported by the documentation the first examination lacked.
- IRS appeals. If you disagree with an auditor’s findings, you can challenge them within the agency. We build the administrative record needed to win that challenge.
Why Choose Crepeau Mourges as my IRS Audit Lawyer in Hanover, MD?
Founding Attorneys Who Handle Federal Tax Controversies
Brian J. Crepeau has represented individual and corporate taxpayers in federal and state tax controversy matters since earning his J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University in 2003. His practice draws on a background in fraud examination, income analysis, and business structures. Brandon N. Mourges holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Baltimore and an economics degree from the Wharton School. He has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, appeared on the Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List, and was recognized by JD Supra as a Readers’ Choice Top Author in tax. Together, our founding attorneys bring more than 40 years of combined legal experience to audit defense and to every matter handled by our IRS tax lawyer in Hanover, MD.
A Record Clients Rely On
We do not promise outcomes, because every case is different. What we can point to is a long history of resolved examinations, reduced assessments, and client experiences that speak to how we practice. Many of our audit clients come to us through referrals from accountants and other attorneys.
What Is Important To Understand About IRS Audit Cases?
Examinations, Penalties, and Resolution Options in IRS Audit Cases
Most federal examinations follow the procedures described on the IRS audits page. The IRS generally has three years from the date a return is filed to audit it, and that window extends to six years when income is substantially understated. A few concepts come up in nearly every case:
- The IRS can add accuracy-related penalties on top of any additional tax it assesses.
- Civil fraud penalties are far steeper and can accompany a referral for criminal investigation.
- Interest accrues on unpaid balances from the original due date of the return, not from the audit.
- An examination can end with no change, an agreed adjustment, or a disputed finding.
- Disputed findings can be challenged before the Office of Appeals or in court.
- An unpaid assessment moves into IRS collections, where liens and levies become possible.
- Every taxpayer holds specific protections under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
What Are Important Aspects of an IRS Audit Case?
Taxpayers often approach examinations with common misconceptions, and those assumptions cause real damage. The way IRS tax audits actually unfold is narrower and more procedural than most people expect. Several factors deserve attention from the start.
- Documentation wins audits. Organized records for the years under review carry more weight than explanations.
- Scope matters. An examination limited to one issue should stay limited to one issue, and counsel can hold that line.
- Deadlines are unforgiving. A missed response date can forfeit your rights against the IRS at the administrative level.
- Restraint protects you. Volunteering information beyond what the examiner requested is the most common mistake we see.
What Is The IRS Audit Case Timeline?
No two examinations move at the same pace, but most follow a recognizable sequence. A correspondence audit may close in a few months. A field audit of a business can run a year or longer.
- The IRS opens the examination with a notice identifying the returns and issues under review.
- The examiner issues document requests, and responses are gathered and produced.
- The examiner reviews the records, asks follow-up questions, and proposes adjustments.
- A 30-day letter presents the findings and starts the window to request an appeal.
- If no agreement is reached, a notice of deficiency allows a petition to the U.S. Tax Court.
What Should You Bring to Your IRS Audit Consultation?
Gather the documents listed below before your consultation. If some records are missing, our firm can help you reconstruct them.
- The IRS notice or letter you received, including the envelope with its mailing date
- Copies of the tax returns for the years under examination
- Any records supporting the items in question, such as receipts, bank statements, or ledgers
- Prior correspondence between you, your accountant, and the IRS
Your first consultation is free. We will review the notice, explain what the examiner is looking for, and outline your options before anything gets sent to the government.
What Are Important Maryland Legal Resources for IRS Audit Cases?
The agencies below publish reliable information about examination procedures and taxpayer rights. They are a good starting point for understanding the rules that govern your case.
- The IRS explains examination and appeal procedures in Publication 556.
- The Taxpayer Advocate Service offers free help with unresolved IRS problems.
- The Comptroller of Maryland handles the state tax questions that often follow a federal adjustment.
Reach Out to Crepeau Mourges to Schedule a Consultation
An IRS notice comes with a deadline, and the clock is already running. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with an IRS audit attorney in Hanover, MD. We will review your notice, answer your questions, and give you a straight assessment of where your case stands. Our office responds promptly to every new inquiry.
