IRS Letter 525 is an audit examination notification that informs you the IRS is examining your tax return and requests specific documentation to support the items being reviewed. This letter typically identifies which line items are under scrutiny, the tax year being examined, and the deadline to respond — usually 30 days. Neil Jesani Tax Resolution's audit defense team responds to Letter 525 by analyzing exactly what the IRS is targeting, gathering supporting documentation, and developing a defense strategy before providing anything to the examiner. Key Takeaways IRS Letter 525 is a formal notification that your tax return has been selected for examination (audit) by the IRS The letter identifies the specific items on your return that the IRS wants to examine and the documentation you need to provide You have the right to professional representation — an enrolled agent, CPA, or tax professional can handle the entire audit on your behalf through IRS audit defense services Responding properly to Letter 525 is critical — your response sets the tone for the entire audit and can determine the outcome If the audit results in a proposed deficiency, you have the right to appeal before the IRS assesses additional tax What Is IRS Letter 525? IRS Letter 525 is the IRS's formal notification that your tax return has been selected for examination. Unlike a CP2000 notice , which is a computer-generated proposed adjustment based on information matching, Letter 525 indicates that an IRS revenue agent or tax compliance officer has been assigned to review your return and verify the accuracy of specific items you reported. This represents a much higher level of IRS scrutiny than automated notice. Receiving Letter 525 means that the IRS has questions about your tax return that go beyond what automated systems can resolve. A human examiner...