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Audit Protection & Controversy

When a tax notice arrives, know who will handle it.

Three scopes · Defined before you need them

Add broader Audit Protection for qualifying returns, or engage separately for an existing tax problem. We identify the issue, review the deadlines and records, and define the professional support needed for the accepted matter.

Comparison

Three distinct service scopes.

They are frequently confused, including by people selling them. This is the difference.

Comparison of Position Defense, Audit Protection, and Tax Controversy across how each is obtained, its scope, and what it covers.
Service	Position Defense	Audit Protection	Tax Controversy
How obtained	Included with qualifying preparation	Optional additional plan	Separate matter engagement
Scope	Covered Positions only	Additional covered return issues	Accepted dispute and assigned issues
Notice review and response	Covered Position matters	Within plan schedule	As engaged
Records and information requests	Covered Position support	Within plan schedule	As engaged
Examination representation	Not automatically included	When expressly included and assigned	As engaged
Administrative Appeals	Separate engagement	Separate engagement	Available as engaged
Collections / existing disputes	Outside included benefit	Outside plan unless expressly stated	Available as engaged
Return preparation	Separate preparation scope	Not included merely by buying protection	Not automatically included

Position Defense

How obtained: Included with qualifying preparation
Scope: Covered Positions only
Notice review and response: Covered Position matters
Records and information requests: Covered Position support
Examination representation: Not automatically included
Administrative Appeals: Separate engagement
Collections / existing disputes: Outside included benefit
Return preparation: Separate preparation scope

Audit Protection

How obtained: Optional additional plan
Scope: Additional covered return issues
Notice review and response: Within plan schedule
Records and information requests: Within plan schedule
Examination representation: When expressly included and assigned
Administrative Appeals: Separate engagement
Collections / existing disputes: Outside plan unless expressly stated
Return preparation: Not included merely by buying protection

Tax Controversy

How obtained: Separate matter engagement
Scope: Accepted dispute and assigned issues
Notice review and response: As engaged
Records and information requests: As engaged
Examination representation: As engaged
Administrative Appeals: Available as engaged
Collections / existing disputes: Available as engaged
Return preparation: Not automatically included

Your written engagement identifies included services, fees, limits, and exclusions. Preparation and broader audit services are included only when expressly selected or specified.

Audit Protection

Protection arranged before a notice arrives.

A defined Audit Protection plan can extend support beyond the OSA-originated Covered Positions to other specified issues on a qualifying return.

The schedule identifies covered notices, examination work, record and Information Document Request responses, conferences, assigned representation, service limits, and the coverage period. An appropriately authorized professional handles any included representation.

Pre-existing matters are reviewed separately rather than automatically accepted into protection. A plan bought after a notice has already arrived is not a way to bring that notice inside the coverage.

This is a defined professional-service plan. It does not promise payment of tax, penalties, interest, or other assessed amounts.

Tax Controversy

For matters beyond the plan.

A separate engagement can address IRS and state examinations, proposed adjustments, penalty disputes, administrative protests and Appeals, employment-tax issues, collections, installment arrangements, offers in compromise, Collection Due Process matters, refund claims, and disallowances, as accepted and scoped.

Matters are accepted rather than assumed. We review the issue, the deadlines, and the records before agreeing scope, and the professional who will represent you is identified in that engagement along with the authorization it requires.

Legal services are separate, require a separate engagement, and are not included in OSA services.

Coverage disclosure

The limits, stated plainly.

Coverage is limited to the agreed taxpayers, returns, tax years, jurisdictions, issues, periods, service caps, and exclusions. No examination, appeal, collection, or other dispute outcome is guaranteed.

The plan provides defined professional services, not a promise to pay or reimburse taxes, penalties, interest, or losses. Additional work requires written approval of scope and fees.

Add Audit Protection Get Help With a Tax Problem

Do not submit sensitive documents or account credentials here. Submission alone does not establish an engagement or responsibility for a deadline.

Begin

Speak with a principal.

Whether a notice has arrived or you would rather arrange coverage before one does.

Request a consultation Send a question

Engagements typically begin at $2M+ of annual income, or a comparable taxable event.