NYSSCPA Tax Expert Discusses IRS Audit Process

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NYSSCPA Tax Expert Discusses IRS Audit Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lois Whitehead, Public Relations Manager
212-719-8405
lwhitehead@nysscpa.org

NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 28, 2008 -- The tax season is upon us. You have taken a great deal of time to prepare your paperwork. Your CPA will handle the creation and filing of your tax return. With all of this work, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may still have some questions.

The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) provides some guidelines from Alan Straus, CPA, Chair of the NYSSCPA Relations with IRS Committee, for consumers to follow when an IRS communication is received. Straus advises:

(1) Don’t panic when a letter arrives.
(2) Make sure the communication is not a scam and is really from the IRS.
(3) Contact your CPA or tax preparer.
(4) Don’t sign anything you don’t understand.

For a legitimate dispute with the IRS:

Speak to an IRS auditor to clarify and try to resolve the problem.
If the auditor does not help, speak with that person’s supervisor.
If your dispute is not resolved satisfactorily at that level, request a conference with a person in the Appeals Division. The Appellate Conferee will take an independent look at the matter and attempt to work out a settlement. This process can take from six months to a year.
Tax preparers can be fined if the IRS finds they were helping clients cheat on their tax returns.

About the NYSSCPA

Representing 29,000 CPAs, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) is the oldest state accounting organization in the nation, celebrating its 110th anniversary this year.

Incorporated in 1897, the Society is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor, and character among certified public accountants. Its members are CPAs working in public practice, industry, government and education in a state that serves as the home of Wall Street and major financial institutions.

The New York State Society of CPAs is located at 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016. To learn more about the Society call 800-633-6320 or visit the Society’s website at www.nysscpa.org.