Audit Defense Now Included With Tax Preparation

Nobody pulls their tax documents together thinking, “Wow, I hope I get audited this year.” But surprise audits, scary IRS letters, and confusing notices still happen to good, honest taxpayers all the time. The problem? Most people don’t realize how much time, money, and stress it actually takes to defend a tax return once the IRS comes knocking.

Here’s the good news: when you file an electronic tax return with Personal Financial Services, you’re not walking into audit season alone. Protection Plus is already included as a service with your return, which means you’ve got a professional audit defense team in your corner from day one — without an extra line item on your bill.

What Is Protection Plus (And Why Should You Care)?

Think of Protection Plus as your tax return’s bodyguard. It’s a professional tax audit defense service that steps in if the IRS or state tax authorities decide they want a closer look at your return.

Most taxpayers assume, “If something happens, my tax person will just handle it.” But audit work is a completely different beast than preparing a return. It involves:

• Interpreting IRS notices and letters

• Responding on time with the right documentation

• Communicating back and forth with tax authorities

• Explaining the tax law behind the numbers

Protection Plus exists to do exactly that, which is why we’ve enlisted their expertise for all Personal Financial Services clients who file electronically, regardless of whether you’re filing an entity return or a personal return. 

What Tax Audit Defense Actually Looks Like In Real Life

Let’s be honest: “audit defense” sounds like one of those vague, corporate buzzwords. So here’s what it looks like in your actual, non-jargony life.

You file your return on time. Months later, a white envelope with an IRS logo hits your mailbox. In response, you will:

1. Send the notice to the Protection Plus team.

2. They review the letter, your return, and the issue in question.

3. They communicate directly with the IRS or state agency on your behalf.

4. They help you gather any documents or proof needed.

5. They respond with professional, accurate explanations grounded in tax law.

Protection Plus can also help if it’s been more than 6 months since filing and you still haven’t received your refund or any communications from the IRS about the status of your refund.

What’s Typically Covered (And What Isn’t)

Protection Plus isn’t a magic wand that clears your tax balances. But it is a defense against an IRS audit. 

Typically, Protection Plus will help with:

• Responding to IRS and state tax notices related to your covered return

• Communicating directly with tax authorities on your behalf

• Setting up installment plans

• Seeing if you qualify for an offer in compromise or currently not collectible if you have a balance due with your return(s) that you are unable to pay in full

• Guiding you through documentation requests and evidence gathering

• Defending the positions taken on the return that was filed

• Helping you understand proposed changes and what they actually mean

What it generally doesn’t do:

• Pay any taxes that are legitimately owed

• Cover returns that weren’t filed on time or weren’t part of the service

• Fix issues caused by fraud or identity theft (those are separate processes)

• Rewrite your entire financial history if something outside the return is wrong

In plain language: if the IRS is questioning something about the return that Personal Financial Services filed for you on time, Protection Plus is there to help you answer, clearly and confidently.

Peace Of Mind Is A Financial Strategy (Not Just A Feeling)

Money isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s emotional. It’s personal. And taxes are one of the fastest ways to send your nervous system into overdrive.

That’s why having Protection Plus included with your timely filed return is more than a “nice perk.” It’s a legitimate financial strategy that builds a buffer between you and the stress that comes with what-if scenarios.

That shift out of panic mode and into supported mode is what allows you to make better financial decisions, stay organized, and feel in control instead of cornered.

How To Make Sure You’re Covered This Year

If you want to make sure Protection Plus has your back, the to-do list is surprisingly simple: file your entity or personal tax return electronically with Personal Financial Services. Once that’s done, you can exhale. Your return is filed, your bases are covered, and if a letter ever does show up, you already know who’s handling it.

No one is out here manifesting an IRS notice. But hoping for the best without any backup plan is not a strategy. When you work with Personal Financial Services as your tax preparer, Protection Plus is already riding shotgun — giving you built-in tax audit defense, professional support, and serious peace of mind without an extra line item on your invoice.