Key Takeaways You have the right to appeal any IRS audit result you disagree with The process begins with a 30-day letter from the IRS after the examination concludes Filing a formal written protest within 30 days sends your case to the independent IRS Office of Appeals A well-prepared protest letter and supporting documentation are critical to success Professional representation from Neil Jesani Tax Resolution significantly improves appeal outcomes Understanding the Right to Appeal Audit Results When an IRS audit (examination) concludes with proposed adjustments that you disagree with, you are not required to accept the findings. The IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights explicitly guarantees your right to challenge IRS positions and to have your case heard by an independent office. This right is fundamental to the fairness of the tax system and is protected by law. The appeals process is specifically designed to resolve disputes without the time and expense of tax dispute resolution. The IRS Independent Office of Appeals reviews cases objectively and has the authority to settle disputes based on the merits — including conceding issues where the IRS examination position is weak. The 30-Day Letter: Your Starting Point After an IRS audit concludes, if the examiner proposes changes to your return, you will receive a package commonly known as the "30-day letter." This package typically includes: A cover letter explaining your right to appeal An examination report (Form 4549 or similar) showing the proposed adjustments An explanation of the adjustments and the examiner's findings Instructions for agreeing or disagreeing with the findings Information about filing a formal protest The 30-day letter is called that because you generally have 30 days from the date of the letter to file a written protest requesting Appeals review. Unlike the 90-day deadline on a notice of deficiency , the 30-day...