Inside the IRS: What Triggers Audits & How to Defend Your Estate Plan | Joel Crouch

What really happens when the IRS comes knocking on an estate? In this episode of The Wealth Transfer Podcast, Matt Templeton sits down with one of the country’s most respected tax attorneys, Joel Crouch, to unpack the red flags, missteps, and missing documents that trigger audits—and the proven strategies families and advisors can use to avoid them.

Joel has defended estates against IRS scrutiny for 36 years. He’s a partner at Meadows Collier in Dallas, has tried cases across the U.S., and was recently named “Tax Law Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America. Whether you're navigating estate planning, filing gift tax returns, or trying to avoid family conflict and massive tax bills, this conversation delivers invaluable knowledge.

📄 Show Notes

Guest: Joel Crouch, Tax Attorney & Partner at Meadows Collier Host: Matt Templeton, Real Estate Planner | Templeton Real Estate Group Episode Title: Inside the IRS: What Triggers Audits & How to Defend Your Estate Plan

🧭 Episode Highlights & Timestamps:

• [00:01:00] Joel’s 36-year journey representing families in high-stakes IRS disputes

• [00:03:00] The top three tax categories Joel defends: estate & gift, income tax, and employment tax

• [00:05:00] The #1 issue in estate and gift tax audits: valuations—and why cheap appraisals are a red flag

• [00:08:00] Discount strategies (lack of marketability, minority interest) and how the IRS reviews them

• [00:10:00] Why documenting non-tax reasons for your entity setup is critical to defend your plan

• [00:14:00] A real case where poor follow-through on gifts created huge IRS exposure after death

• [00:16:00] How the IRS resolves estate cases (Examiner → Appeals → Counsel) and why most settle

• [00:18:00] Gift tax returns and why you should file—even if you’re under the lifetime exemption

• [00:21:00] What triggers gift tax audits—and how to protect your family 10–20 years in advance

• [00:25:00] Amending returns, filing late gift returns, and dealing with valuations after the fact

• [00:28:00] Estate planning is a living process: the mistake of filing documents but never executing them

• [00:30:00] Joel’s checklist for CPAs, attorneys, and financial advisors to safeguard client estate plans

• [00:34:00] When to bring in a tax attorney: before filing Form 706, during planning, or when an audit begins

💡 Key Takeaways:

• The IRS scrutinizes valuation discounts—don’t skimp on professional appraisals.

• Your estate planning documents aren’t enough: you must follow through with transfers, funding, and documentation.

• Filing gift tax returns (even when under the exemption) helps start the 3-year statute of limitations.

• Bad paperwork and cheap advisors create “low-hanging fruit” for the IRS. Sophistication protects your plan.

• Engage your team of advisors (CPAs, attorneys, planners) annually to revisit documents and trigger events.

• If the IRS finds issues, your best defense is clean, documented intent and structure—prepared before the audit.

📞 Connect with Joel Crouch & Meadows Collier: 🌐 Website: https://www.meadowscollier.com 📞 Phone: [phone] 📧 Inquiries: Reach out to Joel or his team for estate and tax representation or questions

📬 Connect with Matt or Get Introduced to a Real Estate Planner: 📧 Email: [e-mail] 📱 DM us anytime for referrals to trusted attorneys, planners, and tax professionals in your market