• An audit notice rarely arrives with warning, and the first few days shape how the rest of the file goes.
  • # What this means for you
  • Most taxpayers only interact with this process once, which is exactly why the timelines and terminology feel unfamiliar. Knowing the shape of the process in advance — what letter comes first, what response window you get, and what happens if you miss it — changes how stressful the experience feels even before anything is resolved.
  • # What you can do next
  • Read the notice in full before responding to anything
  • Note every date mentioned, not just the one in bold
  • Keep a copy of everything you send, including the envelope or email header
  • The single biggest factor in how an audit resolves is whether records were organized before the auditor asked for them.