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IRS Audit Representation in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
Short answer: No single place suits every audit. The right representative depends on whether the IRS, FTB or EDD is examining you and what is at stake. Enrolled Agents, CPAs and attorneys can represent you before the IRS; add an attorney if there is criminal exposure. All State Tax Resolution is a Los Angeles firm led by an Enrolled Agent, a tax professional licensed by the IRS, that handles audits remotely.
The plain answer: it depends on the audit
Which representative is right depends on who is examining you, what they are examining and what is at stake. The examiner may be the IRS, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the Employment Development Department (EDD).
CP2000 notice. An underreporter notice is not an audit, but it needs an answer by its deadline. A clear written response from an Enrolled Agent, CPA or attorney is usually the right fit.
Correspondence, office or field audit. A mail audit turns on records and a written explanation; an office or field audit, especially of a business, is a larger fact-finding exercise. Ask about experience with audits like yours.
Fraud or court. If an examiner raises possible fraud or willful evasion, or the case is heading to court, hire a tax attorney. Only attorneys can represent you in court (a Tax Court petition can be filed by you or by an admitted representative). The privilege covering Enrolled Agents and CPAs (IRC 7525) applies to tax advice in non-criminal matters before the IRS, not to criminal cases or state matters; attorney-client privilege is broader.
FTB and EDD audits. These are state matters, so your representative needs authority with those agencies as well.
Your options in Los Angeles
Free and low-cost options
IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers, by appointment only through 844-545-5640: downtown Los Angeles (300 N. Los Angeles St., Room 1259), El Monte, Van Nuys and Long Beach. They answer account questions and take payments; they do not negotiate for you.
Taxpayer Advocate Service, 300 N. Los Angeles Street, Room 5109, (213) 576-3140: free, for hardship or when normal IRS channels have failed.
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics: free or low-cost representation under an income limit (IRS Publication 4134).
California FTB: MyFTB for balances; Los Angeles field office, 300 South Spring Street, Suite 5704 (appointments at 213-897-5196; no cash).
EDD: 1-888-745-3886; employment tax offices at 6150 Van Nuys Boulevard, Room 210, Van Nuys, and 10330 Pioneer Boulevard, Suite 150, Santa Fe Springs.
VITA and TCE sites: free return preparation for eligible taxpayers, not representation.
Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs: free tax help resources for residents.
Paid options
Tax attorneys are the right choice when there is criminal exposure or litigation.
CPAs and Enrolled Agents can both represent you before the IRS. Enrolled Agents are licensed by the IRS under Treasury Circular 230 and can represent taxpayers before IRS Collections, Examination and Appeals in all 50 states.
Unenrolled preparers can represent you only on returns they prepared and signed, and only before revenue agents and customer service, not Appeals or Collections.
National tax relief companies are another option; get the fee and the plan in writing before paying.
How an audit works, step by step
Step 1: Read the letter and mark the deadline
Ignoring an audit letter leads to the adjustments being assessed as proposed. The IRS generally has 3 years from filing to assess more tax, 6 years if more than 25% of income was left off, and no limit for unfiled or fraudulent returns; the FTB generally has 4 years from filing.
Step 2: Put a representative in place
A representative acts for you under Form 2848 at the IRS and Form FTB 3520 at the FTB. Have this in place before you answer substantive questions.
Step 3: Gather the records
The books are what an auditor asks for first. Collect the return as filed, W-2s and 1099s, bank and card statements, receipts and invoices, mileage logs, payroll records and your books or QuickBooks reports. Keep records at least as long as the agencies can assess: generally 3 years from filing for the IRS (6 years if more than 25% of income was left off), and at least 4 years for employment tax and California records.
Step 4: Respond and meet
Reply by the date in the letter. Your representative answers document requests and handles correspondence and office or field meetings. A taxpayer can also stop an interview to consult a representative.
Step 5: Know the next deadlines
If you disagree with the result, a 30-day letter offers Appeals, and a Notice of Deficiency gives you 90 days to petition the Tax Court. The FTB's Notice of Proposed Assessment can be protested within 60 days. If the IRS adjusts your return, report the change to the FTB within 6 months.
Book a free 15-minute tax review if you have an audit letter or an IRS, FTB or EDD notice and want to understand your deadlines and your options before you respond.
Audit types, deadlines and what a representative does
CP2000 underreporter notice (not an audit) — Who runs it: IRS; First deadline: The response date on the notice; What a representative does: Compares the IRS's income data with your return and answers with documents or your agreement
Correspondence audit (by mail) — Who runs it: IRS Examination; First deadline: The date in the letter; What a representative does: Assembles records and answers in writing
Office or field audit — Who runs it: IRS Examination; First deadline: The meeting date in the letter; What a representative does: Prepares you, attends the meetings and answers information requests
30-day letter — Who runs it: IRS; First deadline: 30 days; What a representative does: Takes your disagreement to Appeals
Notice of Deficiency — Who runs it: IRS; First deadline: 90 days to petition the Tax Court; What a representative does: Reviews the adjustments and your options with you, including a Tax Court petition
FTB audit, Notice of Proposed Assessment — Who runs it: FTB; First deadline: 60 days to protest; What a representative does: Prepares the protest and answers the FTB's questions
Federal change to your return — Who runs it: FTB; First deadline: 6 months to report it; What a representative does: Reports the change to the FTB
EDD payroll audit — Who runs it: EDD; First deadline: The date in the EDD's notice; What a representative does: Reviews payroll records and worker classification, which California tests with the ABC test
Los Angeles income that comes with specific rules
Several kinds of Los Angeles income come with specific rules. An S corporation, including a loan-out corporation taxed as one, must pay its owner-employee reasonable wages through payroll before distributions, and the IRS can reclassify distributions as wages subject to employment taxes. Freelance, production-crew and gig-driving income must be reported even when no Form 1099 arrives. In an EDD audit, California's ABC test for contractor status is stricter than the federal test.
How to check whoever you hire
Before you hire anyone, including me, check four things.
Credential. Ask whether the person is an Enrolled Agent, CPA or attorney and look up the license. You can verify any Enrolled Agent's status with the IRS, through its public directory of credentialed preparers or its Office of Enrollment.
Audit experience and who attends. Ask how they handle audits like yours (mail, office, field, FTB or EDD) and who will personally attend the meetings.
A written flat fee. Get the scope in writing after someone has reviewed your letter and transcripts: which years, which agencies and whether an appeal is included. Be cautious about a quote given before anyone has seen the letter.
No promised outcome. No one can promise an audit result, and advice to ignore the letter is a red flag.
What we do and how we work in Los Angeles
I'm Sabih Shafi, an Enrolled Agent, and All State Tax Resolution is my Los Angeles firm. We represent clients in IRS, California FTB and EDD payroll audits, working under Form 2848 and Form FTB 3520. If an examiner raises possible criminal exposure, a tax attorney belongs on the team, and we will tell you so.
We work by phone, video and a secure client portal, so clients do not need to visit an office. We serve Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, the San Fernando Valley and Long Beach remotely from our Los Angeles base (mailing address 1110 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029), and federal cases in all 50 states.
The first review is free. After reviewing your letter and transcripts we quote a flat fee in writing, with no separate investigation fee, tied to the work (years, forms and agencies) rather than the size of any balance. Payment plans are available, and we promise no outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place for audit representation in Los Angeles, CA?
It depends on the audit. An Enrolled Agent, CPA or attorney can represent you before the IRS under Form 2848, but possible fraud or willful evasion calls for a tax attorney. For FTB or EDD audits, choose someone who also handles those agencies, will personally work your case and quotes a flat fee in writing without promising an outcome. If your income is under the limit, a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic may represent you for free or at low cost.
Is a CP2000 notice an audit?
No. A CP2000 is an underreporter notice, not an audit, but it needs an answer by the deadline on the notice. A representative can compare the IRS's income data with your return and respond with documents or your agreement.
What happens if I ignore an audit letter?
Ignoring an audit letter leads to the adjustments being assessed as proposed. A Notice of Deficiency gives you 90 days to petition the Tax Court, and an FTB Notice of Proposed Assessment can be protested within 60 days, so the deadlines matter.
How far back can the IRS or the FTB audit me?
The IRS generally has 3 years from filing to assess more tax, 6 years if more than 25% of income was left off, and no limit for unfiled or fraudulent returns. The FTB generally has 4 years from filing to assess.
If the IRS changes my return, do I have to tell the California FTB?
Yes. A taxpayer who changes a federal return or is adjusted by the IRS must report it to the FTB within 6 months. A representative with Form FTB 3520 can handle that report.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Sabih Shafi, EA
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Talk to an Enrolled Agent
This article is general information, not individual tax advice. If you want to talk through your own IRS or state balance, book a free 15-minute review or call or text us directly.
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