Audit Insurance
The odds of being audited by the IRS can vary based on several factors, including income level, the complexity of your tax return, and recent IRS policies. While the overall audit rate has been fairly low over the past few years, the IRS has indicated plans to increase enforcement efforts in the coming years.
As of recent data, the overall audit rate for individual taxpayers is around 1% or less. However, higher-income earners are more likely to be audited, with rates exceeding 10% for that group. Certain deductions, credits, or unusual patterns in tax filings can also trigger audits.
For 2025, the IRS may focus on specific areas or categories that raise flags, so it’s important to ensure your tax return is accurate and well-documented to minimize your chances of an audit. We prepare each return with this in mind but also have zero control over who the service decides to audit and the extent of the audit. A full scope audit could cost $5,000 or even $30,000+ depending on how much representation is needed and how complex the service is being. If you're concerned about potential audits, consider utilizing services like audit insurance for added peace of mind.
What Audit Insurance Includes:
- Financial Protection:
Our Audit Insurance covers the costs associated with IRS audits, including professional fees for representation and the preparation of necessary documentation. You won’t face unexpected expenses if you’re selected for an audit. - Dedicated Expert Support:
Should you be audited, our team of experienced tax professionals will represent you throughout the entire process. We handle all communication with the IRS, ensuring you receive knowledgeable guidance and support every step of the way. - Confidence and Peace of Mind:
Knowing you have professional assistance available reduces the stress associated with potential audits. You can focus on your personal and professional responsibilities, knowing that you’re well-prepared for any challenges that may arise. - States:
You can purchase federal insurance but also state insurance. Each are sold and bid separately.
Cost:
Cost varies per client as some clients implement aggressive tax planning strategies which (all though defendable) can trigger audits. There are 4 categories that we evaluate and assess the risks with insurance the audit.
- Complexity
- Aggressiveness
- Tax Losses Utilized Through Planning
- Income Level
After completion of your tax return, we will analyze your audit risks by the above 4 risk areas and present to you a cost to insure the audit of that filing for both federal and state.
Caveats:
The IRS has 3 years to audit your tax return and you must be a current and engaged client in order to claim your audit insurance. For instance, if you buy audit insurance for the 2024 tax year and you are pulled for audit in 2027 but are not an active client in 2027, we cannot defend that audit. You must remain a current and active client.
We cannot guarantee favorable results from an audit as we prepare tax returns off data provided by our clients. Our team is trained and able to defend positions we take and protect your tax strategies but are not liable for faulty information in the preparation process. This could include unsupported expenses or undocumented information provided.
Audit insurance only covers the year presented and paid for. If you purchase audit insurance for 2024 tax year and your 2023 tax year return is audited we can defend that audit under our hourly rates, but not under your insurance fee.