What an IRS Audit Involves
For many people, nothing strikes fear in their hearts more than getting notified that they have been selected for an audit by the IRS. Even when you are confident that you have filed your tax returns correctly and on time, the prospect of getting scrutinized by the IRS is quite nerve-wracking.
An income tax audit by the IRS means that the information that you provided in your tax returns will be examined to verify if the taxes reported and paid are corrected. An IRS tax audit can be conducted via mail, through in-person interviews or a combination of these two methods. If the audit is to be conducted through an in-person interview, the interview may be carried out at the IRS offices, in your home or business premises.
The IRS will let you know the records that they need for the audit and the timing for the audit will depend on the audit’s scope, how complex it is and the availability of the records needed for the audit.
When the audit is concluded, you will be notified if there are any proposed amendments to your returns; sometimes there are no proposed changes. If you disagree with the proposed changes, you can appeal the findings or ask for a further review.
How Are Taxpayers Selected For Audit?
There are several ways returns are selected for an audit including;
1. Random Selection
A certain percentage of taxpayer accounts are selected for an IRS audit at random.
2. Documents
Falsified information is one of the most common IRS audit triggers. The information you provide in your tax returns should match the information present in the documents that you have provided to the IRS such as 1099 or W-2 forms. When this information doesn’t match, your account will be flagged for an audit.
3. Related Audits
If your returns are related to another account that has been selected for an audit, your returns may be flagged for an audit as well.
Don’t Ignore the Audit Letter from the IRS
If you have been selected for an audit, the IRS will notify you through a phone call or mail. When this happens, you may be tempted to ignore the notice and wish the audit away. Failure to comply with IRS’ requests will result in a bigger IRS tax levy and this just adds to your IRS tax problems.
Why Choose Karla Dennis And Associates Inc. ™ for Audit Representation
Hiring a tax professional for IRS tax audit help is the best form of audit defense. Those who choose to represent themselves do so hoping to save money but they usually end up making costly errors during the interview process as they are not familiar with the IRS audit techniques.
IRS agents are trained to get more information from audit candidates than what the candidates are legally obliged to provide and this can put you or your business in even more trouble. IRS agents know that people fear them and that most people are not aware of their rights when it comes to IRS audits and they use this to their advantage.
The experienced audit representatives at Karla Dennis And Associates Inc. ™ provide you and your business with the professionalism and protection that you deserve when dealing with auditors from the IRS. In fact, our clients hardly get to talk to IRS auditors. We handle all the communications and tax defense on your behalf and this way you don’t have to waste valuable company time dealing with the bureaucracy of an IRS audit. All you have to do is forward the IRS audit notification to us and we will take it from there to ensure you get IRS tax debt relief.
Here is a review of why our audit representation services are the best in the region:
- Save you money – We use the audit to identify instances of tax overpayment and to help you claim your refund.
- Protect taxpayer’s right – IRS auditors may try to widen the scope of the audit and we will make sure this doesn’t happen.
- Appeal or defend an audit – If the proposed changes are not favorable, we will appeal and get you a better verdict.
- Unfiled tax returns – We help you with your unfiled taxes so as to get you into the good books of the IRS.
From Our Blog
8 Retirement Moves You’re Most Likely to Regret
Quitting work too soon. One-third of all retirees will live to be over 91 years of age. Avoid the mistake of rushing to retire as soon as possible. Working until age 66 instead of 62 will increase your social security benefits by 25 percent. You can expect social security payments 75 percent higher if you wait until you’re 70 years old. Overestimating investment returns. Stock market returns can be depressed for 10 years or more. Just because the average return is 7.0 percent after adjusting for inflation doesn’t mean it’s seven percent every year. Be realistic in your assumptions about future returns.
Filing for Bankruptcy as a Retiree
Calculate what your income is. Your income will determine if you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Income qualifications vary from one state to another, however, so it’s important to check the requirements for your state. Ensure your debts will be erased if you file for bankruptcy. Debts can be secured or unsecured, and some types of secured debts won’t go away when you file. What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy? Chapter 7 erases any unsecured debt, which includes medical bills as well as credit card debt. Your income has to be below a certain level for you to qualify for this type of bankruptcy and this level varies from one state to another. The downside of filing for Chapter 7 is that your assets will be sold to pay your creditors back. Your creditors will not be paid back if there are no assets to sell. What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Chapter 13 bankruptcy includes setting up a restructuration plan, usually with monthly payments. Filing for this type of bankruptcy means that you’ll have pay at least a portion of your debt. The main advantage of Chapter 13 is that your assets won’t be sold. However, you’ll have to prove that your income allows you to keep up with the repayment plan after subtracting your living expenses. Your secured debts also have to be below a certain level in order to qualify for Chapter 13. What kind of assets could you lose if you file under Chapter 7?
Things to Consider Before Lending Money to Family and Friends
Should you loan money to friend or family member? It’s […]
Top 10 Financial Challenges for Millennials
A lack of preparation for financial emergencies. Everyone needs an emergency fund. While the lack of an emergency fund is common within every age group, millennials are especially likely to not have any money set aside for emergencies. Strive to set aside 3-6 months of living expenses and you’ll be prepared for most financial emergencies. Failing to take advantage of 401(k) matching. If your employer offers 401(k) matching, take advantage of it. Not only will your money work for you, but your employer is giving you the same amount as what you’re investing. Considering future growth, your employer could be handing you a fortune – for free!
Think Like a CFO in Your Personal Finances and Enjoy a Brighter Future
Many people handle money well at work, but horribly at home. There’s a different mindset when you’re expected to act like a professional. What if you handled your personal finances with the same professionalism a CFO takes care of business? Discipline and professionalism can add a lot to your personal financial future. Just because no one is watching you doesn’t mean you can be irresponsible with your finances at home. Act like a CFO and take control of your money: 1. Live by your budget. Even the wealthiest companies have budgets that each department and manager are expected to follow. As your own personal CFO, you should prepare a monthly budget and chart any discrepancies. Then make the necessary budget adjustments. • If you don’t have a budget, creating one is the first order of business.