Receiving an audit notice from the IRS or the Missouri Department of Revenue is frightening. Opening a letter that demands years of receipts, bank statements, and accounting ledgers creates instant stress, leaving you worried about massive tax adjustments, penalties, or worse.

You do not have to face government tax auditors alone.

Under the IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights, you have the legal right to retain professional representation. When you work with STL Tax, led by St. Louis CPA James Coats, we handle all communications, document requests, and negotiations on your behalf. In most cases, you will never have to speak to or meet with an IRS agent yourself.

IRS Audit help in St. Louis from CPA James Coats

Why You Should Never Represent Yourself in a Tax Audit

IRS and state tax auditors are highly trained investigators whose job is to verify income and disallow undocumented tax deductions. Taxpayers who attempt to handle audits themselves often fall into common traps:

  1. Over-Sharing Information: Anxious taxpayers frequently provide more documentation or oral commentary than legally required, inadvertently opening up additional tax years or unexamined line items for audit.
  2. Misinterpreting Tax Law: Auditors strictly enforce complex tax codes regarding home offices, vehicle mileage, 1099 contractor classifications, and depreciation. Lacking professional CPA representation often results in lost write-offs you were legally entitled to keep.
  3. Rushing Responses: Failing to request formal extensions or submitting disorganized records leads auditors to make unfavorable assumptions and issue default tax assessments.

Audit Types We Defend for Individuals & Small Businesses

We provide full-service representation across all three primary audit levels:

Correspondence Audits (Mail-Based Audits)

The most common type of audit, where the IRS sends letters (such as Form CP2000 or Letter 566) requesting written proof of specific income discrepancies, dependents, or claimed deductions (Schedule A or Schedule C). We compile, organize, and submit a formal, legal response package on your behalf.

Office Audits (In-Person Meetings)

Conducted at a local IRS field office (such as the St. Louis Federal Building). You are required to bring specific records to justify business expenses, Schedule E rental losses, or charitable contributions. CPA James Coats attends these meetings as your official Power of Attorney representative so you don’t have to take time off work or business.

Field Audits (On-Site Inspections)

The most comprehensive audit type, where an IRS Revenue Agent visits your home, office, or job site to inspect records, inventory, and operations. We move field audits to our South County St. Louis office (8128 Gravois Rd) whenever possible to prevent auditors from interviewing your staff or disrupting daily business operations.

Our Step-by-Step Audit Defense Process

  1. Initial Notice Review & Power of Attorney: We examine your IRS or Missouri audit notice, determine the exact scope of the examination, and execute an IRS Power of Attorney (Form 2848). This legally instructs the IRS to contact us directly and stop contacting you.
  2. Audit Extension & Document Reconstruction: If needed, we request a formal 30-day extension from the auditor. We work with you to gather, organize, and reconstruct necessary receipts, bank statements, and mileage logs to substantiate every position on your return.
  3. CPA Strategy & Defense Submission: CPA James Coats reviews your files, identifies potential tax exposure, builds a defense legal position, and submits an organized response binder to the auditor.
  4. Negotiation & Final Resolution: We negotiate directly with the agent or appeal unproven adjustments. Our goal is always to achieve a No Change audit letter or minimize any proposed tax liabilities and penalty assessments.

Protecting Your Business Beyond the Audit

An audit often highlights gaps in past recordkeeping. Once your audit is successfully resolved, STL Tax helps protect your business from future tax scrutiny by transitioning your company onto our integrated monthly bookkeeping, payroll processing, and proactive tax planning retainers.

Received an IRS or Missouri Audit Letter?

Don’t wait or panic. Call St. Louis CPA James Coats at (314) 645-1614 or [Schedule an Immediate Confidential Audit Consultation] to protect your rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attend the audit meeting with the IRS?

No. Once you execute an IRS Power of Attorney (Form 2848) authorizing CPA James Coats to represent you, you generally do not have to attend audit meetings or speak directly with IRS agents.

How far back can the IRS go during an audit?

The IRS typically audits tax returns filed within the last three years. However, if significant errors or unfiled returns are discovered, the IRS can expand the audit scope back six years (or indefinitely in cases of unfiled returns or suspected tax fraud).

What happens if I disagree with the IRS auditor’s final findings?

If you disagree with the auditor’s proposed tax changes, you do not have to sign the agreement. We can request an informal conference with the auditor’s manager or file a formal appeal with the independent IRS Office of Appeals to contest the findings.

Schedule Your Audit Defense Consultation Today

Protect your hard-earned assets and peace of mind with a local St. Louis CPA in your corner. Contact James Coats at STL Tax today.