You can attend your own tax audit, but some tax professionals warn that you may say things that are not in your best interest or you may not understand your tax obligations well. If your tax situation is simple, you may be able to manage your own audit. If your tax situation is complicated, you may want to hire a tax preparer to attend your audit for you. Or, if you have anxiety about your audit, you may benefit from hiring a tax professional.
A tax professional can greatly help you with your tax situation. They understand tax terms, are comfortable speaking with the IRS, understand your rights, are experienced negotiators, and more. If you hire them and give them limited authority under a Power of Attorney, they can act on your behalf.
An IRS tax representative can:
Communicate with the IRS
Organize your paperwork
Protect your taxpayer's rights
Manage appeals if necessary
Identify critical parts of your audit
Negotiate your debt balance and payment arrangements