Should I Appeal an IRS Decision? Pros and Cons of Doing So

On: December 12, 2023

You come home from work only to open the mailbox and find a letter sitting inside from the IRS. Questions start circling through your brain immediately and your heart starts to pound. What could they want?

The IRS sends out notices to taxpayers for a multitude of reasons with the most common one being that the taxpayer owes money. Receiving this notice means that the IRS wants your attention and your response. You do not want to simply ignore them.

One option you have as a taxpayer is to appeal the IRS decision if you do not agree with it. There are benefits and drawbacks to appealing an IRS decision and the choice to either pursue an appeal or accept the decision is a personal one.

Initiating an IRS Appeal Over a Decision 

You have the right as a taxpayer to initiate an appeal when you do not agree with something that the IRS has decided against you.

What Are the Benefits of Starting an Appeal?

When it comes to the decision the IRS made, if you choose to appeal against it, you are letting them know that you do not agree with what their findings were. Some of the benefits of appealing this decision include:

• Lesser fees
• Doesn’t cost you anything to do
• There is no litigation process
• Delays the payment due date
• Reduction of your overall tax liability

What Are the Drawbacks of Starting an Appeal?

If you do decide to appeal against a decision made by the IRS, there are some drawbacks that may add to the money you already owe them. Sometimes, appealing is not always the best option, and working closely with a tax professional can help you determine if you should appeal the decision. Some of the drawbacks of appealing an IRS decision include:

• Not worth it for you in the long run
• Adds even more tax liability to your current liability
• Accumulates interest throughout the process

Can I File an Appeal on Any IRS Decision?

No. In fact, there are certain criteria that must be met for you to be able to file an appeal in the first place. Understanding what these criteria are and whether you qualify can be done by your tax team. In addition to meeting certain criteria, there are time limits to filing an appeal.

How Long Will an Appeal Take?

An appeal can take a while to go through. In fact, you should expect it to take upwards of 6 months, but it could be longer. The exact time it takes for your appeal to go through will depend on the type of appeal and the amount of money owed to the IRS.

Contact Leading Tax Group Today for Tax Assistance 

Are you finding it difficult to accept a decision that the IRS made on your behalf? Are you unhappy with the findings of your tax audit? If so, you are in the right place. The experts at Leading Tax Group provide some of the best, most affordable, and most aggressive representation for all types of tax issues.

We understand how hard it can be to work with the IRS and we know that their decisions do not always make sense. Our IRS tax experts will fight for you and ensure that the decision made by the IRS is a good one. We can also assist you in filing an appeal and representing you in front of the IRS or tax court.

Call Leading Tax Group today to discuss the specifics of your case.