How Harbor
Shield Works
Why Audit Defense Matters
From enrollment to audit defense, your protection is built to last.
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From enrollment to audit defense, your protection is built to last.
Your legal defense costs are covered, and you’re backed by seasoned tax attorneys for the full IRS audit window. But the way coverage is delivered depends on the program.
ERC audit defense is purchased directly. After enrollment, Harbor Shield runs a quick scan of your current tax status, then issues your contract. From there, we monitor your IRS transcripts daily and stand ready with up to $50,000 per occurrence, per covered quarter in legal defense.
For FICA Tip and R&D credits, Harbor Shield coverage is embedded into the services provided by your accounting or tax firm. When you hire them to file your credits, Harbor Shield audit defense is already included — giving you the same protection with no extra step or cost on your end.
For Minimum Essential Coverage, Harbor Shield partners directly with MEC insurance carriers. The coverage is bundled at the plan level, so every participating employer and employee automatically benefits. This structure eliminates compliance fears and makes adopting MEC plans far easier.
Select the quarters or credits you want protected, R&D, MEC or FICA Tip Credit. Pricing is simple: about 5% of the covered legal cost guarantee. Once enrolled, your protection lasts for the entire statutory audit window through 2030.
Audits don’t appear out of nowhere. Our system tracks your IRS transcripts every day, spotting signs of inquiry before a letter arrives. That means you’ll know months in advance if something is coming.
No scrambling, no surprise invoices. You’re matched with top IRS audit attorneys, experts who know exactly how to fight back. Harbor Shield covers their invoices up to your guarantee limit, so you can focus on your business, not your bills.
You hire the attorney directly. Harbor Shield simply pays the bill. That way, you keep full attorney-client confidentiality while still having your costs covered.
One contract today means years of protection tomorrow. You hope you never need it, but if the IRS comes calling, Harbor Shield is here to protect you.
No. Harbor Shield is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. Instead, we provide contractual guarantees that cover the cost of your legal defense if the IRS audits a covered filing. You retain direct access to seasoned, independent tax attorneys, preserving your attorney-client privilege while Harbor Shield pays their invoices up to your contract limit.
No. It’s a contractual guarantee that covers your legal defense costs if the IRS audits your ERC, R&D, MEC or FICA filings.
Not at all. Even perfect claims can be audited. Harbor Shield ensures you’re protected if the IRS takes a closer look.
For ERC filings, coverage is typically about $2,500 per quarter (roughly 5% of the covered risk), with discounts available when multiple quarters are protected.
For R&D, FICA Tip and MEC programs, coverage is bundled and fully paid for by the sponsoring insurance carrier or tax firm, meaning there’s no direct cost to the business.
Coverage remains active for the full IRS audit window, the entire period during which the IRS can open or inquire about your filing. Harbor Shield protection stays in place from the moment coverage begins until that audit period officially closes.
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