Confirming the notice is genuine
The IRS generally starts an audit by mail, not with a phone call, text, or email, and scammers often imitate IRS contacts. A genuine notice identifies the tax year under review and gives contact information you can check independently through the IRS website rather than relying on a number in a suspicious message. A demand for immediate payment by gift card or wire transfer is not how an audit works. If someone appears in person claiming to be from the IRS, employees carry official credentials and you can ask to see them. When in doubt, contact the IRS through its official channels before responding to anyone.
Reading what kind of audit it is
The letter usually indicates whether the audit will be handled by mail, at an IRS office, or at your home or business, and which items on the return are being questioned. A mail audit may ask only for documents supporting a few lines, while a field audit tends to be broader and involves meetings. Some letters are not audits at all, such as automated notices proposing changes because income reported by others does not match your return, and those have their own response process. The response date matters in every case, and asking for more time before it passes is usually possible. Ignoring the letter tends to lead to a proposed assessment based only on what the IRS already has.
Before you respond
Pull together the return being examined and the records behind the items listed in the letter, and keep a copy of everything you send. Answer what is asked, since volunteering unrelated material can widen the inquiry. If the return involves cash income, foreign accounts, or anything you are uneasy about, speak with a lawyer before contacting the examiner. We read the notice with you, confirm the deadline, and decide whether you will respond on your own with guidance or through a representative authorized to deal with the IRS for you.
