Plain-English CPA answer
An IRS audit letter identifies the tax year, return items, and documents under review. The response should be organized around the exact issues listed.
A focused audit file keeps the response professional and reduces the chance of volunteering unrelated problems. For self-employed professionals in Houston, estimated taxes, mixed-use expenses, 1099 income, home office records, and retirement contribution timing make the review more specific than a general tax article.
General information, not tax advice
This page is general information for business owners. It is not tax, accounting, or legal advice. Mary Ann Hair, CPA can only advise after reviewing your facts, records, deadlines, and filing history.
Why this matters in Houston
Houston business owners often deal with energy, healthcare, professional services, real estate, and owner-led companies. When that local context meets irs audit letter, the CPA work should connect source documents, tax deadlines, and payroll tax deposits, quarterly filings, w-2 readiness, provider coordination, and owner compensation review before a response or filing decision is made.
Official source to check
Official source
Deadline or timing note
Deadline
Calendar the appointment or response date immediately and request more time before the deadline if needed.
Timing
For Houston self-employed professionals, Mary Ann Hair, CPA should review the underlying records before advising on a response, filing, payment, or planning step.
Records Mary Ann needs before advising
Mary Ann Hair, CPA reviews available records before advising on tax positions, notice responses, payment timing, or report cleanup.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending unreviewed bank feeds
- Mixing personal and business records
- Answering outside the audit scope
Before Mary Ann can advise
Organize records by audit issue
Mary Ann Hair, CPA can connect this step to payroll, self-employed professionals operations, and the records available from Houston business activity.
Reconcile totals back to the return
Mary Ann Hair, CPA can connect this step to payroll, self-employed professionals operations, and the records available from Houston business activity.
Prepare explanations for unusual transactions
Mary Ann Hair, CPA can connect this step to payroll, self-employed professionals operations, and the records available from Houston business activity.