What are your chances of being audited by the IRS in 2023?

The good news for individual taxpayers is that the extremely low audit rates on middle or low earners are unlikely to increase this year. In fact, the IRS will use a large chunk of the new funding to improve the taxpayer experience! If your tax return is not overly complex, your annual income is less than $1 million, and you are not attempting to evade your tax liability, you won’t need to worry.

On the other hand, taking a lot of deductions or credits, owning a business, and having multiple sources or a high level of income are all factors that could trigger the newly emboldened IRS to take a closer look at your returns.

Again, if you report your income accurately, don’t attempt to claim deductions or credits to which you are not entitled, and file your return on time, your risk of an actual audit is still low. That said, mistakes or oversights can happen to anyone, especially when your taxes are complex.

What happens when you get audited by the IRS?

An audit can be an intimidating and overwhelming process. However, it’s important to remember that being under audit does not imply that the IRS suspects you of criminal activity — the issue may be as simple as an unintentional error or needing confirmation of specific details. Often, an audit isn’t an investigation so much as an examination.

That said, the process is multifaceted, consisting of various elements, including formal and informal interviews, document and record requests, and financial analysis.

What is the most common type of IRS audit?

The IRS may manage your audit either by mail — the most common approach — or through an in-person interview, which may take place at an IRS office or your home, place of business, or accountant’s office. All contact information and instructions will be contained in the first communication you receive from the IRS, which they will send by mail.

Suppose the IRS is conducting your audit by mail. In that case, this initial letter will also request additional information about items shown on the tax return, such as income, expenses, and itemized deductions. At this point, if you have too many records to send by mail, you can request your audit be conducted face-to-face instead.

Subsequently, the process will consist of various elements, including informal and formal interviews, document requests, and financial analysis. Depending on the issues in your audit, IRS examiners may consult one of these Audit Technique Guides to assist them. These guides provide insights into issues and accounting methods unique to specific industries. If your audit is related to one of the industries covered, the relevant guide may also be helpful for you and give you an idea of what to expect.

Speaking more broadly, however, any audit process will require you to provide information about your finances and other related matters. During an informal interview, you must provide information, present documents, and answer questions. On the other hand, a formal interview is more structured, with examiners asking specific questions to which you’ll need to provide detailed written answers.

During an audit, the IRS will require you to provide specific documents to support your claims, prove income and deductions, and verify expenses, among other things. Depending on the case’s complexity, you may also need to produce documents such as bank statements, credit card statements, and other financial documentation.

Lastly, an audit generally includes a thorough financial analysis. The IRS will review the information you provide and conduct their due diligence to determine the accuracy of the information. They will look for discrepancies or changes in income or expenses and potential tax avoidance measures.

It sounds like a lot, and it is. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the process smoother by being proactive, prepared, and polite — and by taking it seriously!

What causes you to get audited by the IRS?

Your tax return may come under audit for several different reasons. For example:

  • the income you’ve reported does not match the information on Forms 1099 and W-2;
  • you are classified as an independent contractor, but the IRS determines you are an employee;
  • there are issues with your sole proprietorship, such as unreported income, significant losses reported on Schedule C or losses continuing over two or more years, or products or services received through bartering that counts as business income;
  • you have claimed unusual deductions;
  • your filing includes transactions with a taxpayer who has been audited.

Additionally, as mentioned above, the IRS is working to increase its audit rates for higher-income taxpayers, which are generally more complex than those of lower-income wage earners and require auditors to review multiple issues manually.

How do you prepare for an IRS audit?

Most of your preparation for an audit should center on gathering documentation. Locate your old receipts, invoices, bank, credit card, brokerage, mortgage statements, pay stubs, account records, and emails. Digital point-of-sale and invoicing systems make it easier than ever to track down copies of old receipts. So try reaching out to vendors and suppliers if needed. Check your calendar, social media history, or cell phone logs if you need to reconstruct your travel history or mileage and ask yourself the tough questions. (The examiner certainly will!)

If you are missing documentation and can’t replace it or lost your original records in a disaster, you still have options, from reconstructing your records to establishing an item’s market value and approximating how much you paid.

Of course, the best way to prepare for an audit is by maintaining well-kept records without gaps in the first place (these tips will help!).

As you navigate the process, remember that you have a right to fair, professional, courteous, and confidential treatment by IRS employees. Furthermore, you have a right to know why the IRS is asking for information, how they will use it, and what will happen if you do not provide it.

Lastly, and critically: the most impactful action you can take in preparation for an audit may be the immediate hiring of a tax professional.

The tax code is extremely complex, and your tax return may be, too. Working with someone with the necessary training and experience to understand and articulate your position is essential. Additionally, a tax professional can help you address proposed penalties and, if possible, refute the examiner’s rationale.

In all but the most straightforward cases, hiring an experienced representative will be well worth the cost, and failing to do so can be a serious mistake.

Would you like some help?

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