Reviewed by Main AI · Updated July 2026
Most audits are by mail and focus on specific items — the IRS asks for documentation supporting parts of your return. You provide records, they review, and you can appeal the outcome.
The word "audit" sounds worse than the usual reality. Most are correspondence audits: a letter asking you to substantiate specific items — a deduction, a credit, reported income — by mailing documentation. Office and field audits (in-person) exist but are less common and typically for more complex returns. Your job is organized proof: receipts, statements, logs that support what you claimed. You can generally have a representative, ask what’s being examined, and appeal the findings. Respond by the deadlines, only address what’s asked, and keep everything in writing.
Common triggers include mismatches with third-party forms (W-2s, 1099s), unusually large deductions relative to income, and certain credits — plus some random selection.
For a simple correspondence audit, many people respond themselves. For office/field audits or large amounts, representation by a CPA, EA, or attorney is often worth it.
Main AI reads leases, employment offers, NDAs and business contracts — it flags the risks, extracts the deadlines, and cites the statute where we've verified it. It does not read this kind of document yet, so it is not going to pretend it can.
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