An Office Audit is a face-to face audit done in the auditor’s office. Like the Correspondence Audit, it is initiated when the IRS issues a notice requesting that a taxpayer provide documentation to substantiate certain items on a tax return. As with the Correspondence Audit, these items usually involve specific itemized deductions where there is a discrepancy between what has been reported by the taxpayer and information received from a third party. In the case of the Office Audit, the IRS Notice will either set a time and a place for the taxpayer to report for the audit or will request that the taxpayer set an appointment within a certain number of days.
If a taxpayer has enlisted the assistance of a qualified tax professional, that person can represent the taxpayer at the Office Audit. This is often the best course of action since such professionals know the tax code and have experience communicating with the IRS. They will only answer questions that are relevant to the tax items in question and will provide only that documentation that has been requested by the notice. An Auditor’s Report will be provided at the conclusion of the Office Audit and an appeal can be submitted on the spot if the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s representative does not agree with the outcome.