An IRS audit is a dispute with the government over what you owe. It is a legal matter, not an accounting one. Since 2013, Brotman Law has represented 400+ clients in audits — field exams, correspondence audits, and eggshell audits with criminal exposure. We handle the IRS so you can keep running your business.
By Sam Brotman, JD, LLM, MBA · Last updated August 2026
How an IRS audit unfolds
The audit starts with a letter — never a phone call — identifying the year and the items under examination. From there: records requests, examination, preliminary findings, and a report. Disagree with the report and you have 30 days to protest to IRS Appeals; after that comes the Notice of Deficiency and a 90-day window to petition Tax Court. Every stage has a deadline, and most of the leverage lives early, before positions harden.
What we do
We take over all contact with the examiner, control the flow of documents, and challenge the method where it is wrong — most audit assessments we contest come down to method, not honesty. Conversations with your CPA are generally discoverable; conversations with counsel are not, and when accounting work is needed we can bring your accountant under privilege through a Kovel arrangement.
What it costs
Fees are quoted upfront, before you commit. We work hourly or flat-fee depending on the matter, and we will tell you honestly when the exposure does not justify our involvement.
Ready to talk? Book a free 15-minute call or call (619) 378-3138. We will tell you where you stand and what your options are before you spend anything.
Tell us what is going on
Short version is fine. We read every one of these, and you will hear back from a person.