Want to know the secret to avoiding an IRS audit? Unfortunately, there’s no hidden trick or magic formula that guarantees the IRS will leave you alone. Even the most carefully prepared return can get selected.
But there are plenty of things you can control.
The catch: There’s no secret formula
You can dot every i, cross every t, and still end up on the IRS’s radar. Sometimes returns are selected through random sampling or computerized screening. Sometimes you may even get pulled in because of a transaction with someone else who’s being audited. Talk about wrong place, wrong time.
Then, there’s information matching. The IRS gets tax documents from third parties, so you’re not the only one tracking your income.
But before you assume an audit means the IRS has already found you guilty of a tax crime, it doesn’t. Some audits end up without any changes at all, and some even result in a refund.
So the short answer is you can’t guarantee the IRS won’t take a closer look at your return. You can make sure there’s not much to see.
Here’s what you can do to avoid giving the IRS more to look at.
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The IRS has receipts
Remember that 1099 you got? You weren’t the only one to get it.
The IRS receives information like 1099s and W-2s from employers, banks, clients, and other third parties. It compares those numbers with the income reported on your return. If you forget about a form, the income attached to it does not just disappear.
This is also why filing too early can backfire. The IRS specifically warns against filing before you have all of your tax documents. Beating the deadline so you can put your taxes behind you isn’t very effective if they make a surprise appearance later.
So, wait for your paperwork, report all taxable income, and make sure the numbers match. Otherwise, the IRS will do it for you.
sPEAKING OF RECEIPTS…
Why spend your free time organizing tax records when there are shows to binge and literally anything else to do? While it might seem painful now, Future You will be very glad you did.
The IRS recommends keeping records that support all income, deductions, and credits on your return. Records include everything from receipts and canceled checks to invoices and mileage records. The most important thing is that your documentation shows where you got the numbers. Your best guess isn’t going to cut it.
Generally, the IRS says to keep tax records for three years, although some may need to stick around longer. Think of it like insurance for your tax return: hopefully you never need it, but when the IRS comes calling, you’ll be glad you have it.
Let’s be clear that good records won’t lower your audit risk. But if the IRS has questions, you’ll have answers – and receipts.
tAKE WHAT’S YOURS (AND ONLY YOURS)
If you avoid deductions or credits in hopes you won’t be audited, you’re potentially leaving a lot of tax breaks on the table. The IRS itself says taxpayers should claim what they’re eligible for.
The important part is making sure that you qualify for anything you claim and having the records to back it up. Saving money on your taxes isn’t suspicious. Getting creative with what you qualify for is a different story.
Don’t pay more in taxes than you owe just because you don’t want to catch the attention of the IRS. Claim what you can prove, skip what you can’t, and keep the paperwork to back it up.
oNE LAST LOOK WON’T HURT
You’ve entered everything, it looks good, and you’re ready to be done with taxes for another year. But wait, not so fast!
Before you file, give your return one last once-over. Double-check names, Social Security numbers, income, deductions, and credits. A typo doesn’t mean you’re going to get automatically audited, but it can cause delays or other issues you’d rather avoid. With taxes, close enough isn’t good enough.
E-filing can catch some errors and reject a return, so you can fix them before trying again. If you’re still doing the paper-and-mailbox routine, just consider this another reason to join the 21st century.
And if the IRS comes knocking? Don’t panic. You can’t control every factor that goes into an audit, but you can make sure your return is accurate, your records are in order, and you can back up the numbers you reported.
