FileAbroad

IRS notice abroad consultation

Received an IRS Notice While Abroad? Identify the Deadline and Response Path Before You Act.

An IRS letter can request information, propose a change, demand payment, begin an examination, or carry appeal, collection, or court rights. The notice number, tax period, issue, amount, response date, prior contacts, and current posture determine the next step. In a paid consultation, I organize those facts, identify the records and procedural lane that need attention, and confirm FileAbroad’s preparation boundary or the referral you need.

Start My IRS Notice Intake

Send a free inquiry first. I review it personally and explain whether a paid assessment is appropriate before you book or pay.

30 minutes · $100 · directly with Chip

The consultation

What we'll review

The consultation focuses on the facts that determine what needs further attention.

Notice identity and exact date

The issuing agency, notice or letter number, notice date, date and method received, tax form and period, every page and enclosure, and the exact response, hearing, appeal, or petition date printed on the document.

Issue, amount, and requested action

What the IRS says happened, the proposed or assessed amount, whether the taxpayer agrees or disagrees, and whether the notice requests information, verification, payment, a return, a response, or another action.

Response and account history

Prior calls, uploads, faxes, mailings, payments, returns, amendments, protests, authorizations, confirmation records, processing status, transcripts, and follow-up correspondence.

Current procedural posture

Whether the matter is in processing, information matching, examination, Appeals, assessment, collection, lien or levy activity, statutory-deficiency procedure, Tax Court, or another stage.

Address, authorization, and scope

The address used by the IRS, current mailing facts, spouse or entity involvement, existing adviser or representative, possible information-access or power-of-attorney need, and FileAbroad’s preparation or referral boundary.

After the call

What you leave with

By the end of the consultation, you'll have a clear map of the issues that need attention and the next practical step.

  • A notice-and-deadline map recording the exact document, tax period, issue, amount, requested action, printed date, and facts that require immediate verification.
  • A procedural next-step map distinguishing a taxpayer response, account or record follow-up, return-preparation review, examination or Appeals matter, collection process, court deadline, or specialist referral.
  • A secure records list covering the complete notice, envelope, filed return, transcripts, source records, payment proof, prior submissions, address history, authorizations, and later correspondence.
  • A written boundary stating whether FileAbroad can consider a separately scoped preparation task or whether a qualified representative, attorney, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, or other specialist is required.

You are not required to hire FileAbroad for preparation after the consultation.

Scope

What the consultation does not include

The consultation is a review and scoping session. It does not include preparation or filing of a tax return, FBAR, information return, amended return, or Streamlined submission.

It also does not create an open-ended support engagement. Additional research, document review, preparation, or follow-up work is included only when it is specifically agreed or purchased.

FileAbroad does not provide legal advice or tax litigation services.

Current pricing

Optional $100 scope assessment

30-Minute Expat Tax Scope Assessment

$100

Focused review of your filing situation with a written list of the years and forms that need attention, a document checklist, key scope flags, and an exact preparation quote when FileAbroad can accept the work.

Preparation is priced separately. A paid assessment is offered when substantive review is needed; it is not required for every preparation engagement. Straightforward tax-year-2025 federal expat returns start at $575, and standalone current-year FBAR preparation starts at $100. Prior-year, delinquent, amended, entity, trust, partnership, PFIC, Streamlined, and other complex international work is quoted after review.

See preparation services and pricing

The process

How the paid assessment works

  1. 1

    Start the intake.

    Tell me the broad facts of your situation without uploading sensitive tax documents through the public form.

  2. 2

    I review the inquiry.

    I personally review the intake to determine whether a FileAbroad consultation appears appropriate.

  3. 3

    Book the consultation.

    If the situation fits, you'll receive the scheduling and payment link for the $100 30-minute consultation.

  4. 4

    We review the situation together.

    We use the call to identify the relevant filing questions, missing information, and next practical step.

  5. 5

    Preparation is separate.

    If FileAbroad can accept preparation work, you receive the written scope and price before preparation begins.

Before you book

Questions we'll use to classify your IRS notice

Share broad facts only. Do not paste or upload the full IRS notice, a taxpayer ID, account number, tax return, transcript, payment details, bank statement, passport, signature, access code, or other sensitive record. Keep every page and the envelope. Secure document instructions follow only if the matter is accepted.
What IRS notice or letter number did you receive, what is the notice date, which tax form and tax period does it list, when and how did you receive it, and what exact response, hearing, appeal, or petition date is printed?
What does the notice say the issue is, what action does it request, what amount does it propose or show as due, and does it concern information matching, identity, a missing filing, a penalty, payment, examination, appeal, collection, or something else?
What have you or anyone acting for you already done — called, uploaded, faxed, mailed, paid, filed, amended, protested, requested a hearing, or responded — and what confirmation or later correspondence do you have?
Is an IRS examination, Appeals matter, balance-due case, lien, levy, passport action, collection contact, notice of deficiency, Tax Court case, summons, investigation, or other proceeding already active?
What address appears on the notice, what address does the IRS currently have, are both spouses or an entity involved, is an existing preparer or representative engaged, and do you believe Form 2848, Form 8821, or another authorization may be needed?
Do I need a paid assessment before hiring FileAbroad?

Not for every engagement. Start with a brief intake to discuss needs, timing, process, and pricing. Straightforward preparation can proceed directly to an accepted written scope. A paid assessment is offered when substantive review is needed, with the fee explained before you decide.

What should I send before the consultation?

Start with the public intake and describe the broad facts of your situation. Do not send Social Security numbers, tax returns, bank statements, or other sensitive tax documents through the public intake form. If documents are needed later, I will provide secure upload instructions.

Will you tell me exactly what I need to file?

The consultation is designed to identify the filing issues that need attention and the information required to determine the next step. Some questions can be resolved during the call; others may require records, additional research, or preparation work outside the consultation.

Do I have to hire FileAbroad afterward?

No. The consultation stands on its own. If FileAbroad can accept preparation work, you can decide whether to proceed after the scope and price are confirmed.

Can you review documents during the consultation?

Limited document review may be possible when agreed in advance, but the consultation is not a substitute for a full document review or tax-preparation engagement.

Related paths

If this is not the right starting point

IRS notices and audits for Americans abroad

Review the broad notice, examination, record, and escalation framework before applying it to the exact letter you received.

How to respond to an IRS notice from abroad

Build a notice cover sheet, preserve the deadline, verify the agency, and organize a first-response record.

CP2000 notice for Americans abroad

Reconcile a proposed information mismatch and follow the current CP2000-specific response instructions.

IRS audit preparation for Americans abroad

Organize the issues, requested records, examination dates, prior contacts, and representation boundary.

Foreign address changes and U.S. tax notices

Review how to update an IRS address without assuming the change extends an existing notice deadline.

Can the IRS find me abroad?

Review notice delivery, information matching, foreign-account records, and why living abroad does not replace a response.

Expat tax return preparation

Review preparation services only after the active notice procedure, years, forms, records, and written scope are established.

Start here

Tell me what's going on.

You don't need to know which form, filing procedure, or service you need. Start with the broad facts, and I'll review whether intake or a paid assessment is the appropriate next step.

Start My IRS Notice Intake

Prefer email? info@fileabroad.com

Do not send sensitive tax documents through the public intake form or ordinary email.