IRS Audit Notice? You Need Experienced Representation Before You Respond.

Receiving an IRS audit notice is unsettling — but how you respond in the first days can determine the outcome of the entire process. At Ventresca & Ventresca LLP, Ken Ventresca has represented individuals, families, and businesses in tax audits and before the United States Tax Court for over three decades. This is not a sideline service. It is one of the most consequential things we do.

What an IRS Audit Actually Means — and Why It Matters Who Represents You

An audit is the IRS's formal examination of your financial information to verify that your reported income, deductions, and credits are accurate. Some audits are resolved through a straightforward exchange of documents. Others escalate into contested proceedings where the IRS proposes significant additional tax liability, penalties, and interest. The difference between those outcomes often comes down to the quality of your representation.

Ken Ventresca has spent 34 years understanding how the IRS builds and pursues audit cases — and where those cases can be challenged, negotiated, or resolved in a client's favor. When you work with us, you are working directly with the attorney handling your matter, not a paralegal or junior associate managing your file at arm's length.

The Types of Audits We Handle

IRS audits take several forms, and each requires a different approach. We represent clients across the full range of audit proceedings:

• Correspondence audits: The most common type, conducted entirely by mail. The IRS requests documentation to support a specific item on your return. While these appear routine, responding incorrectly or incompletely can open the door to broader scrutiny.
• Office audits: Conducted at an IRS office, typically involving more complex issues than a correspondence audit. Preparation and representation at the meeting are critical.
• Field audits: The most extensive form of audit, conducted at your home, business, or your representative's office. Field audits often involve multiple years and multiple issues simultaneously.
• Tax Court representation: When an audit results in a proposed deficiency that you dispute and cannot resolve at the IRS Appeals level, the United States Tax Court is the forum for contesting it. Ken Ventresca has represented clients in Tax Court proceedings and understands the procedural and substantive demands of that forum.

How We Approach Audit Defense

Every audit defense engagement begins with a thorough review of the IRS notice, the return or returns at issue, and the underlying documentation. Before we respond to anything, we need to understand what the IRS is actually examining, what it is likely to find, and what the realistic range of outcomes looks like. That assessment shapes every decision that follows.

Reviewing the Notice and Assessing Exposure

Every audit defense engagement begins with a thorough review of the IRS notice, the return or returns at issue, and the underlying documentation. Before we respond to anything, we need to understand what the IRS is actually examining, what it is likely to find, and what the realistic range of outcomes looks like. That assessment shapes every decision that follows.

Building the Response

A strong audit response is not simply handing over documents. It involves organizing and presenting your records in a way that directly addresses the IRS's inquiry, anticipates follow-up questions, and limits the scope of further examination. We prepare and submit responses on your behalf, communicate directly with IRS personnel, and ensure that nothing is provided that expands the audit beyond its original focus.

Negotiating at the Appeals Level

If the IRS examiner proposes adjustments you disagree with, you have the right to appeal within the IRS before any Tax Court proceeding becomes necessary. The IRS Office of Appeals is an independent function within the agency, and cases resolved at this level often produce better outcomes than those that proceed further. We represent clients through the appeals process and negotiate on their behalf with the goal of reaching a fair resolution.

Tax Court Representation When Necessary

When appeals do not resolve the dispute, the United States Tax Court is the next step. Petitioning the Tax Court requires meeting strict deadlines — most critically, the 90-day window to file a petition after receiving a statutory notice of deficiency. Missing that deadline forfeits your right to contest the IRS's determination before paying the tax. Ken Ventresca has the litigation background to represent clients in Tax Court and understands what it takes to build a case that holds up under scrutiny.

Why Clients Trust Ken Ventresca with High-Stakes Tax Matters

Ken Ventresca's track record in audit defense and tax court representation is built on 34 years of practice. Clients come to us at every stage — some immediately after receiving an initial audit notice, others after a prior representative failed to resolve the matter, and some only after the IRS has already proposed a substantial deficiency. We take cases at any point in the process.

What distinguishes our approach is the combination of legal depth and direct client access. Ken handles audit defense matters personally. He knows the tax code, the procedural rules, and the pressure points in an IRS examination. And because we are a boutique practice, you are not navigating this process through layers of staff — you are working with the attorney who knows your case.

Frequently Asked Questions About IRS Audit Defense