What Should I do if I’m Contacted by the IRS

December 22, 2016

Were you recently contacted by the IRS? It can be a very stressful situation, but it’s not something to panic about. There are many reasons the IRS will contact you, and some may even be that it’s not the IRS at all! Before taking any action, here is what you should do if contacted by the IRS.

1. Don’t say anything over the phone. IRS phone call scams are big, and they’re happening more and more lately. To check that the phone call is not a scam, here are five easy tips to spot suspicious calls, written by the IRS. The article also goes over how to check if it was in-fact the IRS calling.
2. Read the letter carefully. Typically, the IRS will contact you via mail if they have any requests of you. Be sure to read over the letter carefully, and then contact your public accountant before responding.
3. Contact your accountant. Get in touch with your local accountant and let them know about the letter or phone call. It is best to have professional representation even if the request is for more information on charitable donations. You may know exactly what to say, but a CPA will also know what not to say. We cannot stress this point enough: professional representation is key to dealing directly with the IRS.
4. Follow the plan. An accountant should give you some form of step-by-step advice and it’s best to stay the course. If you have any hesitations about the plan you and your accountant put together, express those hesitations with your accountant before deviating from the plan.

If you’re a Maryland-based business who was contacted by the IRS, be sure to get in touch with a Maryland accounting firm right away. A local accountant will know your business and local regulations best because they live and breath this stuff. Contracting with a big, corporate monolith or some snobby group of CPAs may get the job done, but they won’t do what is best for your business.

If you need a Maryland CPA, get in touch with Relate CPA today. At Relate CPA, we separate ourselves from other CPA firms by working to create meaningful and lasting relationships with our clients. We want to get to know you, your business, and your goals so that we can better help you. For more information, or to schedule a consultation with Relate CPA, contact us today!