It depends on the actual services, eligibility conditions, exclusions, and fees. The phrase “audit protection” does not by itself establish what a provider will do or pay for. creditARMOR is Swanson Reed’s AI-assisted mock audit and audit management platform. It does not offer insurance coverage or reimbursement of audit-related losses through the services described here. Its pro bono audit-service offer applies only to qualifying examinations already underway.
Understand Your Fees
When comparing audit-related services, start with the written terms. A documentation review, professional representation during an examination, and an insurance policy are different arrangements. Do not assume that a service described as “audit protection” includes all three.
Ask which tax years and issues are included, who will perform the work, whether representation requires a separate engagement, and what happens if the matter moves to an appeal or court proceeding. Check for service limits, eligibility conditions, and expenses you must pay yourself.
Professional assistance may help your business organize evidence and respond to an examination, but it does not automatically cap your financial exposure. A denied or reduced credit may still result in additional tax, interest, and, depending on the circumstances, penalties.
What is creditARMOR
creditARMOR is Swanson Reed’s AI-assisted R&D tax credit mock audit and audit management platform. It helps businesses identify potential weaknesses in their claims, organize supporting documentation, and prepare explanations of how their research activities and expenses support the credit claimed.
The mock audit reviews the information supplied to highlight documentation gaps, inconsistencies, and questions requiring further investigation. It can help connect technical project records with payroll and financial information so a qualified professional can evaluate the position.
AI supports the review process but does not replace specialist judgment. Its output can contain errors or omit relevant facts and should be evaluated before it is relied upon or submitted to a tax authority. A favorable mock audit result does not establish that a claim is correct or guarantee acceptance by the IRS or a state tax authority.
Pro Bono Service Offer for an Existing R&D Tax Credit Audit
If your business is currently subject to an R&D tax credit audit and the claim under examination passes our creditARMOR mock audit, Swanson Reed will provide its own audit services for that existing examination pro bono, without charging professional service fees for the services included in the engagement.
This offer applies only to an examination already underway when you request assistance. Swanson Reed must confirm the qualifying mock audit result in writing.
Before you agree to the qualifying mock audit, we will explain the assessment criteria, the scope and limits of the pro bono assistance, and any fee for the mock audit itself. The pro bono offer applies to the specified audit services; it does not mean that the qualifying mock audit, software subscriptions, or other services are free.
Before audit assistance begins, a written engagement will identify the existing examination, tax years, included services, service limits, and any expenses your business remains responsible for. Engagements remain subject to applicable conflict-of-interest rules and professional requirements.
Pro bono assistance is limited to Swanson Reed’s own services expressly included in the engagement. It does not include payment or reimbursement of third-party CPA or attorney fees, taxes, interest, penalties, denied credits, or other financial losses. Appeals and litigation are excluded unless expressly included in writing and handled by appropriately authorized professionals.
Read the creditARMOR audit defense support details.
What Audit Assistance May Include
Depending on the written engagement, assistance may include:
- Reviewing the examination notice and the issues raised by the tax authority.
- Organizing technical project records, payroll information, contracts, and financial documentation.
- Helping prepare responses to IRS Information Document Requests or comparable state requests.
- Preparing relevant personnel to explain the research activities and supporting evidence.
- Communicating with the examining authority through an appropriately authorized representative.
Representation requires an appropriately authorized professional and any necessary taxpayer authorization. Contacting Swanson Reed or submitting information for a mock audit does not extend a government deadline. Until an engagement is accepted, do not assume that Swanson Reed is handling your examination or monitoring response dates.
No Commitment to Future Audit Assistance
Completing or passing a mock audit before an examination begins does not create an entitlement to assistance if your business is audited later. Purchasing a review, subscribing to software, or using another Swanson Reed service does not purchase or reserve future audit services.
An accepted engagement applies only to the existing examination and tax years identified in writing. It does not commit Swanson Reed to assist with another examination or proceeding. This page does not amend an existing engagement or remove obligations already undertaken.
No insurance policy, reimbursement benefit, or financial indemnity is offered through the creditARMOR services described on this page. There is no promise to pay losses or provide services upon the occurrence of a future audit.
Questions to Ask Before Agreeing to Audit Services
- Is the service a document review, audit assistance, representation, or an insurance product?
- Does it apply to an existing examination, and which issues and tax years are included?
- Is there a separate charge for the qualifying review or mock audit?
- What criteria determine eligibility, and when will the result be confirmed?
- Which professional services are included, and are there time or scope limits?
- Who is authorized to represent the business?
- Are appeals, litigation, third-party expenses, taxes, interest, and penalties excluded?
- When does the provider assume responsibility for the agreed work and deadlines?
Final Thoughts
The value of audit assistance depends on what your business needs and what the provider actually agrees to deliver. Clear documentation, specialist review, and a defined engagement help you assess that value without relying on broad promises of protection.
For a business already facing an R&D tax credit examination, creditARMOR provides a route to assess the claim and obtain Swanson Reed’s pro bono services if the claim passes the qualifying mock audit, subject to the stated terms. It does not guarantee the outcome or transfer your tax liabilities to Swanson Reed.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information only and is not tax or legal advice. No particular audit or tax outcome is guaranteed. Neither creditARMOR nor a favorable mock audit result constitutes approval or endorsement by the IRS or any state tax authority. Services are subject to applicable law, professional requirements, and the written engagement. Your business remains responsible for its tax obligations, the accuracy of information it supplies, and applicable deadlines. Contact your local Swanson Reed representative to discuss your specific circumstances.
