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Specialty Support Services

Written by Jason Watson, CPA Senior Partner, WCG CPAs & Advisors | Author of Taxpayer’s Comprehensive Guide to LLCs and S Corps | 20+ years advising business owners on entity selection, tax strategy, and structure optimization. Last updated: June 2026

Nobody wakes up excited about hiring a CPA to fight the IRS or testify in court. These aren’t the fun parts of running a business or managing your finances. But here’s the thing – when the IRS sends a letter that makes your stomach drop, or when a lawsuit requires someone who actually understands the numbers, you need more than a generalist. You need someone who’s been in the trenches. We’ve been in those trenches thousands of times.

At WCG, we handle two broad categories of specialty work that share a common thread – high stakes. The first is IRS representation and resolution. Audits, notices, penalties, offers in compromise, installment agreements, innocent spouse relief. When you’re dealing with the IRS, you need someone who speaks their language and knows their playbook. The IRS is not the boogeyman. They’re a bureaucracy. And bureaucracies can be navigated.

The second is litigation support and expert testimony. When legal proceedings require financial expertise – business valuations, forensic accounting, expert witness testimony – you need a CPA who can translate complex numbers into plain English for judges and juries. These situations demand precision, credibility, and someone who won’t crumble under cross-examination. We’ve sat in those chairs, and we know how to hold up.

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Who Is This Page For?

  • You just got a letter from the IRS and your heart rate hasn’t returned to normal yet. You’re staring at a notice, a proposed adjustment, or an audit request and you have no idea what to do next.
  • You owe the IRS more than you can pay and you’re wondering whether an offer in compromise or installment agreement is realistic – or just something you saw advertised on late-night TV.
  • You’re being audited and need someone who can represent you, handle the correspondence, and keep you from saying the wrong thing (because yes, you can absolutely say the wrong thing).
  • Your spouse handled the taxes and made some… creative choices and now you’re on the hook for a liability that isn’t yours. Innocent spouse relief exists for exactly this situation.
  • You’re involved in litigation – a business dispute, divorce, partnership dissolution, fraud allegation – and the case hinges on the financials.
  • Your attorney needs an expert witness who can explain complex financial concepts to a jury without putting them to sleep.
  • You suspect financial irregularities in a business and need a forensic accountant to follow the money and document the findings.

Why Specialty Support Matters

Let’s be honest. Most of what we do at WCG is proactive. Tax planning, business advisory, bookkeeping, entity selection – we’re building strategies to minimize your tax burden and maximize your wealth. That’s the fun stuff. Having said that, sometimes life throws a curveball. The IRS decides your return deserves a second look. A business partner goes sideways. A divorce gets ugly and the numbers become the battleground.

These situations are fundamentally different from everyday tax work. The stakes are higher, the timelines are tighter, and the consequences of getting it wrong are outsized. Miss a 30-day response deadline on an IRS notice? You might lose your right to dispute. Provide sloppy financial analysis in a lawsuit? The opposing counsel will shred your credibility in front of a jury. Yuck.

This is where specialty support comes in. We bring the same depth of tax and financial knowledge we use in planning, but we deploy it defensively. We’re not building a strategy for next year – we’re solving a problem right now. And in many cases, we’re doing it under pressure, under deadlines, and under the scrutiny of government agencies or courts. That requires a specific skill set and a specific temperament. Not every CPA has either.

Our Approach to High-Stakes Situations

Here’s what sets WCG apart in specialty engagements. We start with the same philosophy we bring to everything else – education first. When a client calls in a panic about an IRS audit, our first job is to bring the temperature down. Explain what’s actually happening. Lay out the options. Replace fear with facts. Because fear makes people do stupid things with the IRS, and stupid things with the IRS tend to be expensive.

We hold Power of Attorney through Form 2848, which means we deal directly with the IRS on your behalf. You don’t have to sit on hold for three hours listening to hold music that was clearly selected to break the human spirit. You don’t have to parse IRS jargon or figure out which department to call. We do that. We speak their language because we’ve been doing it for decades.

On the litigation side, we bring that same combination of deep technical knowledge and practical communication skills. We can analyze the financials, document our findings, and then explain them clearly – whether that’s in a written report, a deposition, or on the witness stand. Sidebar: a lot of CPAs can crunch the numbers but freeze when a lawyer starts asking pointed questions in a courtroom. We don’t freeze.

IRS Representation & Resolution

This is the side of our practice that gets the most phone calls, and it usually starts the same way – someone opens a letter from the IRS and their day goes from fine to terrible in about four seconds. We get it. But here’s what we tell every client who calls in that moment: take a breath. The IRS is not coming to arrest you. They’re not seizing your house tomorrow. In the vast majority of cases, what you’re dealing with is a bureaucratic process with rules, deadlines, and options. And we know all of them.

Here we go – the main areas of IRS representation we handle:

Audit Defense

The IRS has selected your return for examination. Maybe it’s a correspondence audit (they want documentation for specific items), maybe it’s an office audit (you need to show up with records), or maybe it’s a field audit (they’re coming to you). Each type requires a different strategy, and the key in all of them is preparation and documentation. Let’s say you claimed $45,000 in business expenses and the IRS wants to see receipts. If you have them, great – we organize and present them in a way that satisfies the examiner efficiently. If you don’t have all of them, we reconstruct what we can and negotiate on the rest.

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Notice Response

Not every IRS letter is an audit. In fact, most aren’t. You might get a CP2000 (proposed changes based on information returns that don’t match), a CP504 (intent to levy), or any of dozens of other notice types. Each one has a specific response protocol and a specific deadline. Miss the deadline and your options shrink dramatically. We review the notice, determine whether the IRS is right (sometimes they are – it happens), and respond appropriately.

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Penalty Abatement

The IRS assessed penalties – maybe for late filing, late payment, or accuracy-related issues. Penalties can be substantial. We’re talking 25% for failure to file, plus interest that compounds daily. But here’s the thing – the IRS has provisions for penalty abatement, including first-time abatement and reasonable cause. Most people don’t know these exist. We do. And we’ve successfully gotten penalties removed for clients more times than we can count.

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Offers in Compromise

This is the one everyone sees advertised at 2 AM. “Settle your tax debt for pennies on the dollar!” The truth is more nuanced (shocking, we know). An offer in compromise is a legitimate IRS program where you can settle your tax liability for less than the full amount owed – but the IRS only accepts them when they determine they can’t collect the full amount anyway. Let’s say you owe $120,000 but your income, assets, and future earning potential suggest the IRS would realistically collect $35,000 over the collection statute. An OIC at $35,000 might fly. We run the numbers, prepare the application, and negotiate. But we’re also honest about when an OIC isn’t realistic – because filing a frivolous offer just costs you the $205 application fee and wastes everyone’s time.

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Installment Agreements

When you owe the IRS and can’t pay in full – which is more common than most people think – an installment agreement lets you pay over time. There are streamlined agreements (under $50,000, pretty straightforward), and there are more complex arrangements for larger balances that require financial disclosure. We set these up, negotiate the terms, and make sure you’re not paying more per month than necessary.

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Innocent Spouse Relief

This one breaks our heart a little every time. You filed a joint return with your spouse. Your spouse understated income or claimed deductions you didn’t know about. Now you’re divorced and the IRS is coming after you for the full liability. Innocent spouse relief under IRC Section 6015 exists precisely for this situation. It’s not automatic – you have to demonstrate that you didn’t know about the understatement and that it would be inequitable to hold you responsible. We’ve helped dozens of clients successfully navigate this process.

Litigation Support & Expert Testimony

Now let’s shift gears. The litigation side of our specialty practice is a different animal entirely. Where IRS work is about navigating a government bureaucracy, litigation support is about operating within the legal system – and that means working alongside attorneys, adhering to court rules, and presenting financial analysis that can withstand adversarial scrutiny.

The common thread? Both require a CPA who can be calm under pressure and crystal clear in communication. Here we go –

Litigation Support

When a legal case involves financial complexity – and most business disputes do – attorneys need a CPA who can analyze the numbers, identify what matters, and present it in a way that supports their case. This might be calculating lost profits in a breach of contract dispute, tracing assets in a fraud case, or determining the financial impact of a business decision that’s now being contested. We work with the legal team from the beginning, helping them understand the financial landscape and building the analysis that drives the case strategy.

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Expert Witness Testimony

Being an expert witness is not the same as being a good CPA. It’s being a good CPA who can also communicate effectively under oath, withstand cross-examination, and maintain credibility with a judge or jury. We’ve served as expert witnesses in cases involving business valuation, tax matters, financial damages, and accounting standards. Our testimony has been accepted in both state and federal courts. The key is preparation – we don’t walk into a courtroom without knowing the case inside and out, and we don’t offer opinions we can’t defend.

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Forensic Accounting

Someone’s been cooking the books. Or maybe you just suspect they have. Forensic accounting is the detective work of the financial world – we follow the money, analyze transactions, identify discrepancies, and document our findings in a way that’s admissible and persuasive. This might involve embezzlement investigations, fraud detection, hidden asset identification in divorce cases, or financial statement fraud analysis. Sidebar: forensic accounting is one of those services where people don’t think they need it until they absolutely do, and by then they wish they’d called sooner.

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Business Valuation for Legal Matters.

What’s a business worth? That question comes up in divorces, partnership disputes, shareholder disagreements, estate matters, and more. A business valuation for litigation isn’t the same as one for tax planning – it needs to meet the standards of the court, withstand challenge by opposing experts, and hold up under scrutiny. We perform these valuations using accepted methodologies (income approach, market approach, asset approach) and present them with the supporting analysis that makes them defensible.

When the Two Worlds Collide

Here’s something most people don’t consider – sometimes IRS issues and litigation overlap. A business dispute might trigger an IRS audit. A divorce settlement might create tax consequences that lead to penalties or additional liability. A fraud investigation might uncover unreported income that needs to be addressed with the IRS before it addresses itself (and trust us, the IRS finding unreported income on their own is significantly worse than you coming forward proactively).

Having a single firm that handles both IRS representation and litigation support means we see the full picture. We’re not just solving the IRS problem while ignoring the legal exposure, or vice versa. We coordinate across both dimensions because financial problems rarely arrive in neat, separate boxes.

We also work closely with attorneys, financial advisors, and other professionals involved in your situation. Our existing tax resolution services complement the specialty work described here, and for clients going through divorce specifically, our divorce financial analyst services provide specialized support that bridges the financial and legal worlds. If you’re looking for broader guidance, our general tax help page is a good starting point.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS is a bureaucracy, not a boogeyman. Their processes have rules, deadlines, and options. When you understand the system, it becomes navigable – not terrifying. Fear is the enemy. Information is the weapon.
  • Deadlines matter more than almost anything else. Miss a 30-day response window on an IRS notice and you may lose your right to dispute. Miss a court filing deadline and you may lose your case. We track every deadline like our reputation depends on it – because it does.
  • Power of Attorney changes everything. When we file Form 2848, we deal directly with the IRS on your behalf. You don’t have to take their calls, sit on hold, or try to interpret their letters. We handle all of it.
  • Not every IRS problem requires the same solution. An offer in compromise isn’t always the answer. Neither is an installment agreement. The right approach depends on your specific numbers, your specific situation, and what the IRS will realistically accept. We figure that out before recommending a path.
  • Litigation support requires a different skill set than tax preparation. Analyzing financials for a courtroom means meeting evidentiary standards, surviving cross-examination, and communicating complex concepts to people who aren’t financial experts. That’s a specific discipline.
  • Forensic accounting is proactive and reactive. You can use it to investigate suspected fraud, but you can also use it to protect yourself – documenting financial practices and controls before something goes wrong is infinitely cheaper than investigating after it does.
  • These situations are time-sensitive. Whether it’s an IRS notice with a deadline or a litigation case with a court date, the sooner you engage professionals, the more options you have. Waiting never makes these problems smaller.
  • Integration matters. When IRS issues and legal matters overlap – and they often do – having one firm that understands both sides means nothing falls through the cracks. We don’t solve one problem while accidentally creating another.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some quickie FAQs to learn more about WCG’s specialty support services and how they fit into your overall tax strategy—

What should I do the moment I receive an IRS notice?

Don’t panic, don’t ignore it, and don’t call the IRS yourself. Read the notice carefully – it will have a notice number (like CP2000 or CP504) and a response deadline. Then call us. We’ll review the notice, explain what it actually means (because IRS letters are written in a dialect of English that only government employees understand), and determine the appropriate response. The worst thing you can do is ignore it. The second worst thing is respond without understanding what you’re agreeing to.

How is WCG different from those “tax relief” companies I see advertised on TV?

Those companies typically charge large upfront fees, make promises about settling your debt for “pennies on the dollar,” and then file applications that have low chances of success. Many are not CPA firms at all. We’re a full-service CPA firm that handles IRS resolution as part of a comprehensive practice. We’re honest about your options, we don’t make guarantees we can’t back up, and we have decades of experience actually dealing with the IRS – not just marketing to people who are scared of them.

Can you represent me in an IRS audit even if you didn’t prepare my return?

Absolutely. We file Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) and become your authorized representative regardless of who prepared the return. In fact, we frequently represent clients whose returns were prepared by other firms. We review the return, identify potential issues, gather supporting documentation, and handle all communication with the IRS examiner. You don’t even need to attend the audit in most cases.

What is an offer in compromise, and am I a good candidate?

An offer in compromise lets you settle your tax debt for less than the full amount owed. Huh? Sounds too good to be true, right? The IRS will only accept an OIC if they determine that the amount offered is the most they can expect to collect within a reasonable timeframe. They look at your income, expenses, assets, and future earning potential. Let’s say you owe $80,000 but you’re retired on a fixed income with minimal assets – you might be a candidate. But if you owe $80,000 and you’re earning $150,000 a year with equity in your home, the IRS is going to expect full payment. We evaluate your specific situation before recommending this path.

How long does the IRS audit process typically take?

It depends on the type and complexity. A simple correspondence audit might be resolved in 60-90 days. An office or field audit can take six months to a year, sometimes longer if issues arise or appeals are involved. The timeline also depends on the IRS – they’re not exactly known for operational efficiency. We push for resolution as quickly as possible while making sure we don’t rush through something that deserves careful attention.

What does it cost to have WCG handle IRS representation?

Pricing depends on the complexity of the situation. A straightforward notice response might be a flat fee. Audit defense, offers in compromise, and penalty abatement are typically billed at hourly rates because the scope can vary significantly. We always provide an estimate upfront so you know what to expect. And here’s something the late-night TV companies won’t tell you – sometimes the most cost-effective solution is also the simplest. Not every IRS issue requires a complex, expensive resolution.

What’s the difference between litigation support and expert witness testimony?

Litigation support is the behind-the-scenes financial analysis work – reviewing documents, calculating damages, tracing assets, building the financial framework of a legal case. Expert witness testimony is when we go on the record, submit a formal expert report, and potentially testify in court. Sometimes we do both on the same case. Sometimes an attorney just needs the analytical support without testimony. We’re equipped for either role.

Can you help with state tax issues, or just federal?

We handle both. While the IRS gets most of the attention (they’ve got better marketing, apparently), state tax agencies can be just as aggressive – and in some states, more so. State audits, state tax liens, and state collections all follow similar processes to federal, but with state-specific rules and procedures. We deal with state tax authorities using the same approach we use with the IRS.

What qualifies someone as a forensic accountant?

Forensic accounting is a specialization within accounting that focuses on investigating financial discrepancies and fraud. It combines accounting knowledge with investigative skills and an understanding of legal proceedings. Our forensic accountants know how to follow the money – tracing transactions, identifying anomalies, and documenting findings in a format that’s admissible in court. It’s not something every CPA can do, and it’s not something you want to learn on the job. Your job.

How do I know if I need specialty support or just regular tax help?

Good question. If you received an IRS notice, you’re being audited, you owe back taxes, or you’re involved in litigation that has financial components – you need specialty support. If you’re looking for general tax planning, business advisory, or help with your annual return, that falls under our core services. Having said that, the line isn’t always clear. We’ve had clients come in for routine tax planning and discover they had an unresolved IRS issue they didn’t even know about. Start with a consultation and we’ll figure out the right path together.

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IRS Audit Defense and Representation

IRS Audit Defense

What to expect when the IRS selects your return for examination, and how we handle every step of the process.

IRS Notice Response

IRS Notice Response

Decoding what that IRS letter actually means and responding correctly before the deadline passes.

Penalty Abatement Services

Penalty Abatement Services

Getting IRS penalties reduced or removed using first-time abatement, reasonable cause, and other provisions.

Offer in Compromise Services

Offer in Compromise Services

When settling your tax debt for less than the full amount is realistic, and when it’s not worth pursuing.

Litigation Support Services

Litigation Support Services

Financial analysis and case support for attorneys and clients involved in business disputes, fraud cases, and more.

Expert Witness CPA

Expert Witness CPA

Credible, clear financial testimony for state and federal court proceedings.

Let’s Chat

So if you’re trying to figure out which specialty services make sense for your situation — whether that’s setting up a Turbocharged 401k, getting industry-specific CPA support, or building an exit plan — let’s talk it through. We typically start with a quick conversation to understand where you’re at and where you’re trying to go. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a smart discussion so you can make a good decision.

The tax advisors, business consultants and rental property experts at WCG CPAs & Advisors are not salespeople; we are not putting lipstick on a pig expecting you to love it. Our job remains being professionally detached, giving you information and letting you decide within our ethical guidelines and your risk profiles.

We see far too many crazy schemes and half-baked ideas from attorneys and wealth managers. In some cases, they are good ideas. In most cases, all the entities, layering and mixed ownership is only the illusion of precision. As Chris Rock says, just because you can drive your car with your feet doesn’t make it a good idea. In other words, let’s not automatically convert “you can” into “you must.”

Let’s chat so you can be smart about it.

We typically schedule a 20-minute complimentary quick chat with one of our Partners or our amazing Senior Tax Professionals to determine if we are a good fit for each other, and how an engagement with our team looks. Tax returns only? Business advisory? Tax strategy and planning? Rental property support?

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