Can you represent me if you didn't prepare the return?

Yes. We'll review the original return and build the defense from there.

Will I have to meet with the IRS?

Usually not. Most IRS audits are correspondence exams, handled by mail. When an examiner wants to meet for an office or field exam, we go in your place.

How quickly do I need to respond to a notice?

Most give you 30 days, some less. A notice of deficiency gives you 90 days to petition the Tax Court, and that deadline can't be extended, so send it to us the day it arrives.

Should we agree to extend the statute of limitations?

Often, but not as first drafted. Refusing can lead the examiner to assess on what they have. We negotiate a fixed end date on Form 872 and, where we can, limit it to the issues under exam.

What if we can't agree with the examiner?

We file a protest with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, which, unlike the examiner, can settle based on the hazards of litigation. If a case heads to Tax Court, we work alongside your tax attorney.

IRS & State Audit Defense

Our team includes a former IRS auditor, so responses are built the way examiners read them. You keep running the business while we run the exam.

#1 Most-Rated Firmon Sam's List, YC Deals

Trusted by 1,100+ teams

From the first letter to the final resolution.

Corporate or personal, IRS or state.

IDR responses
Every information document request answered completely, on time, and within its scope.
IRS notices
Notices about missing income or proposed changes, answered before they turn into a bill.
Penalty abatement
First-⁠time abatement when your record qualifies, and reasonable cause when it doesn't.
R&D credit exams
Credits defended project by project, including credits other firms prepared.
Residency audits
Day counts and domicile, documented for the states that audit people who move away.
Sales & payroll tax audits
State sales tax audits, including the sample an auditor extrapolates from, and worker classification.

Four steps, then it's off your plate.

Send us the letter
Forward the notice or audit letter. We'll tell you what it means and how urgent it is.
Sign a power of attorney
One form, and the examiner works through us instead of you.
We build the response
We gather the support, answer each request, and challenge proposed adjustments on the facts.
Resolve or appeal
We agree to the examiner's report only when it's right, and take it to Appeals when it isn't.

CY
Charlie Young9:52 AM
The IRS sent me Letter 566 about my 2024 return. What do I do?
Janis HigginsRivet10:15 AM
Nothing yet. It's a correspondence exam of your charitable deductions. Your 2848 is filed, and we'll send the receipts and the appraisal for your art donation before the deadline.
CY
Charlie Young10:17 AM
Thank you. I'd have lost sleep over that.

When to send it to us.

An examiner contacted your bank
Your business losses were denied
Your 1040 is under exam
A state wants your work-day log
Your rental losses were denied
Your travel costs were denied
Your home office was questioned
Your old preparer went quiet
You lack exemption certificates
You want audit reconsideration
Your refund is on hold
The IRS wants prior years too
You don't agree with the report
The exam keeps expanding
Your exam has dragged on
Your NOL was questioned
You're the partnership rep
Your 1120 was selected
Payroll deposits were late
It's your first penalty in years
You got a late-filing penalty
You never filed an FBAR
You got a 5471 or 5472 penalty
A state questioned your PTET
A state says you owe tax there
Your 1099s don't match
Your crypto was flagged
Your QSBS exclusion was flagged
The IRS filed a return for you
The IRS says you never filed
You got a math error notice
Contractors may be employees
Your S corp pay was questioned
Your donations are being audited
An agent wants a field exam
The IRS changed your refund
You got a notice of deficiency
Your partnership is under audit
Another firm filed the return
You owe penalties you dispute
You missed a response deadline
An examiner wants a meeting
You face a payroll tax audit
You got a sales tax audit notice
Your ERC claim was questioned
A state audits your residency
You got a 30-day letter
You were asked to sign Form 872
An examiner sent an IDR
A state sent an audit letter
Your R&D credit is under exam
You got a CP2000 notice
You got IRS Letter 566

Clients, in their own words.

“Outstanding customer service, really strong expertise, and the best responsiveness I’ve seen. Nick, Kyle and the Rivet team have been amazing to work with for my personal prep.”
Zak KukoffChair, Tech & Venture Practice at Lewis-⁠Burke Associates
“Responsiveness and reliability! Most accountants don’t answer your questions for weeks, and try to avoid being helpful to save time. Rivet felt like the opposite. They went above and beyond.”
Vibhav JoopelliVP of Finance at Cursor
“It’s been awesome seeing Rivet serve many of the fastest growing companies in the world.”
Eric GlymanCo-⁠Founder, CEO at Ramp
“The perfect example of customer-⁠obsessed, deep domain experts who are building delightful products with AI.”
Chauncey HamiltonPartner at XYZ
“Rivet is the only tax firm Ranger ever plans to use.”
Josh IpFounder at Ranger

See why industry-⁠leading businesses choose Rivet.

Flat fee, no surprises
One annual fee, agreed before we start. No hourly meter.
Corporate and personal, together
The company's returns and its executive team's personal returns, from one team that knows both.
Big Four-⁠trained accountants
A team from the Big Four and top national firms reviews every return.
Agents do the legwork
Software we built runs the busywork, so our accountants spend their time on judgment calls.
Every filing in-⁠house
Our own team prepares and files your federal and state returns, in all 50 states.
Tax only, or tax plus bookkeeping
Your choice. Keep your books and upgrade your tax, or hand us both.

Frequently asked questions

Can't find what you're looking for? Talk to our team.

Don't let complexity slow you down.

One price for the whole year. No hourly billing.
Got an IRS notice or a deadline coming up? Book an urgent call

Audit defense that knows how examiners think.

From the first letter to the final resolution.

IDR responses

IRS notices

Penalty abatement

R&D credit exams

Residency audits

Sales & payroll tax audits

Four steps, then it's off your plate.

Send us the letter

Sign a power of attorney

We build the response

Resolve or appeal

When to send it to us.

Clients, in their own words.

See why industry-⁠leading businesses choose Rivet.

Flat fee, no surprises

Corporate and personal, together

Big Four-⁠trained accountants

Agents do the legwork

Every filing in-⁠house

Tax only, or tax plus bookkeeping