Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a listing of our top FAQs. Click on the question for more information. If you have a question that’s not included here, please contact us.

 

 

General Questions

How long have you been in business?

We have been providing Tax Audit Defense and advisory services since 1988.

What forms of payment do you accept?

TaxAudit accepts American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards. We can also arrange for payments by check or money order.

How do you keep my tax information private?

At TaxAudit, we take your privacy seriously and work to ensure that your personal data is secure. We never sell your data to any third parties. When you connect to our Message Access Portal (MAP), your information is encrypted at all times during your connection. Also, your data is encrypted when transmitted on our internal network and stored on our servers. Access to your information is protected from outside sources and restricted to only those internal employees and systems necessary to the execution of your case.

As your representative before the IRS or state taxing agency, we are bound by the rules set forth by those agencies regarding how we use your data. While we maintain the personal data of your case, we restrict the types of information that we deliver via our website to just that which is necessary for you to manage your account, to purchase one of our products, or for us to provide our services to you. We also adhere to the data privacy laws of California, which are among the strictest in the U.S.

You can find more information about how we protect and use your data in our privacy policy.

What's your connection with Intuit and TurboTax®?

TaxAudit partners with Intuit® to provide Audit Defense for users of TurboTax® Online and TurboTax® software.

What Internet browsers does your website support?

We support newer versions of Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. Other browsers work on our website, but you may have trouble with the display and/or functionality of the site.

Where are you located?

Our corporate office is located in Folsom, California. However, we have qualified representatives located throughout the United States.

Can you give me a phone number to TurboTax®?

We are not given a phone number for TurboTax®. TurboTax® users can go to the TurboTax website at turbotax.intuit.com/support/contact to request a phone number for the specific problem that they are having.
 

Membership Questions

What happens when I receive an audit notice?

Call the phone number provided on your TaxAudit membership agreement as soon as possible. Do not contact the IRS unless otherwise instructed by your audit defense team. Once you have contacted us, we will provide you with instructions on how to move forward with your case.

Will you be offering your memberships every year?

Yes. TaxAudit plans to continue our membership program.

What is your satisfaction guarantee?

You may cancel your membership for any reason within 30 days of purchase.

Do you review my tax return before you accept my membership?

We do not review your tax return prior to the acceptance of the membership.

Is Tax Audit Defense for such a nominal cost too good to be true?

It’s not! We have been successfully defending taxpayers since 1988. You can see reviews from many of our members in our blog, on our testimonials page, or on TrustPilot.

I have a business. Is it included?

If you have a business that files a partnership or corporation return, you must purchase a separate membership for that entity.

If your business entity has gross receipts exceeding $5 million and/or 10 partners/stockholders/beneficiaries/members, the business is not eligible for membership.

Do you provide memberships for Publicly Traded entities?

We do not provide any form of membership for Publicly Traded entities.

How long will these Membership Plans defend my return?

If you have an Audit Defense Membership, we will defend the tax return for which you purchased the membership for as long as it can be audited.

Beginning in 2014, TurboTax offered an Annual Audit Defense Membership as part of a bundled TurboTax Plus package. Please refer to your membership certificate for the expiration date of this membership.

Can I purchase Audit Defense Memberships for prior years?

Yes. You can purchase Audit Defense Memberships for all prior years that may be subject to audit. For federal income tax audits, that time period is typically seven years. State taxing agencies have varying time periods.

What happens if I do not file my tax return on time?

Our Audit Defense Membership includes tax returns that were filed late.

What happens if I file an extension?

We will defend each filed tax return for which you have a membership. This includes extensions.

Is my amended return eligible for membership?

Our Audit Defense Membership includes amended returns.

What if I have multiple state returns?

All related state returns are included.

What are the different tax return types for which I can purchase a membership?

TaxAudit offers memberships for the following tax return types:

Individual – Form 1040
Corporation – Form 1120
S–Corporation – Form 1120S
Partnership – Form 1065
Fiduciary – Form 1041 (Please call to purchase.)

What is my Filing Status?

Your filing status determines the rate at which your individual income is taxed. The five filing statuses are: single, married filing a joint return, married filing a separate return, head of household, and qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. All filing statuses are protected under an Individual Membership.

What Membership Type is right for me?

You should select the Membership Type that corresponds to your Tax Return Type.

Individual – Form 1040
Corporation – Form 1120
S–Corporation – Form 1120S
Partnership – Form 1065
Fiduciary – Form 1041 (Please call to purchase.)

Does my spouse's name need to be on the Audit Defense Membership when I sign up?

No. If you happen to get selected for an audit and filed jointly for that tax year, we will add your spouse's name to your membership when you contact us to report the audit.

Why am I not linked to the Audit Defense membership when I file jointly with my spouse in TurboTax®?

While we do partner with TurboTax® to provide TurboTax® users with Audit Defense, we do not have access to your tax return and are unable to see your filing status. You can update your account information – including having a spouse linked to the membership – by calling Customer Service at 877.829.9695.

Why is the membership that was purchased for my tax return not under my name?

We do not have access to your tax return, so orders that are placed through TurboTax® may be sent to us with the name of the person who placed the order for the membership. If you are purchasing a membership for someone else and want to ensure that the membership is assigned to the correct return, you can call Customer Service to purchase directly over the phone or go to intuit.taxaudit.com and purchase the membership through our website. If a membership needs to be moved to the correct account, the member whose name is currently on the account can call Customer Service and request a name change form to be sent to them. Once we receive a completed name change form, the membership will be updated within two weeks.
 

Audit Notice Questions

How do I know if my notice is serious?

Every notice from the IRS is serious. However, not every notice is an audit. Browse our sample notices to see which kind you received. If you are a member of TaxAudit, you can report your notice by calling 877.829.9695.

I already spoke to an IRS agent about my notice. Is it too late to call you?

No. Often, help is still possible. However, we will need to see all notices and tax returns to evaluate the case.

How fast can I expect an answer from Customer Service?

Customer Service typically tries to return your call by the end of the next business day.

I checked my refund status with the IRS/state and it says I will be receiving a notice or audit letter, but I haven’t received it yet. Can TaxAudit help me?

You will need to wait until you receive a physical copy of the notice from the IRS or state. Once you have the notice in hand, please contact us immediately so that we can assist you. Please see our Report an Audit page for more information once you’ve received your notice. Keep in mind: the IRS will mail the notice or audit letter to the last known address that you used when you filed your income tax return, unless you filed an IRS Form 8822, Change of Address.

Shouldn't I just respond to the notice myself since the agency is only requesting a few documents?

Even if the letter seems to be asking for something simple, you could damage your case without realizing it. In the event of receiving any type of income tax notice, we ask that members please contact us first so that we can advise them on their next steps.

Should I reply to the notice to let the agency know that you will be representing me?

No. We ask that you allow us to handle all contact with them on your behalf. Once your representative has been assigned to the case, they will be able to provide you with any necessary documents or instructions about the best way to inform the agency that you have representation.
 

Audit Defense Questions

Is the fee I pay for Audit Defense Deductible?

It depends! For more detailed information about whether or not you can deduct your Audit Defense Membership Fee, please read this blog.

I’m already in the middle of an audit. Can you still help?

Often, help is still possible. However, we will need to see all notices, tax returns, and documents submitted to the agency to evaluate the case.

Wouldn't I be better off going to a tax attorney?

Our representatives handle more audits in one month than most tax preparers or attorneys handle in a lifetime. With TaxAudit, you not only get personal service, but the experience of an expert defender.

I use an accountant. Can your service still help?

Yes. Most accountants handle very few—if any—tax audit cases over the course of their careers. Our representatives will provide their invaluable service alongside that which you already receive from your accountant.

The IRS keeps calling me. How do I get them to stop?

If you have a TaxAudit membership, tell them you have representation and future contact should go through your representative.

How much does your defense service cost?

If you have already purchased a membership for the tax return under audit, there is no additional cost for the audit defense service.

Do you help resolve old tax problems?

Often we can, but we can better answer that once we have received all notices and tax returns involved and we have completed our analysis.

Why was my audit case closed?

If you believe that your case was closed prematurely, please contact your representative or case coordinator directly to inquire. If you do not know your tax professional's phone number, please contact Customer Service and a representative will be happy to help you contact them.

I purchased Audit Defense – so why haven't you helped me with this IRS letter yet?

Even if you have purchased a membership with us, we are not sent copies of notices you may receive from taxing agencies. If you would like us to begin defending your return, please contact us directly so that we are aware of the notice and can step in to assist you. We ask that you report any audit notices to us within 15 days of the date of the first notice to ensure that we can effectively reply in a timely manner. To report an audit notice, you can call our Customer Service Department or submit a request through our website. To report an audit on our website, you will have to log in first or create an account if you do not already have one.
 
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