IRS Auditors: How To Deal With Them

The taxpayer's biggest fear is an IRS audit. You'll start to question if you did your taxes correctly, even if you paid them truthfully. The idea of penalties, levies, and even prison come to mind. Before you panic, though, understand that there are laws that protect you during an audit by the Internal Revenue Service.

In 1998, the third installment of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, TaBOR, was passed. The bill was passed as a result of the efforts invested by numerous Americans lobbying Congress about the abusive behavior of numerous auditors of the IRS. The bill made it a necessity for the IRS to honestly advise taxpayers of their rights and specifically what type of action the IRS is pursing in their auditing efforts with regards to the taxpayer's IRS issues.

Many people would think that the audit is a formal meeting between the taxpayer and the IRS auditor. But more normal than not, audits are conducted through the post. The IRS sends the taxpayer letters about claims in their tax returns, generally asking for additional documentation. If you maintained organized records, these are typically quickly resolved.

The IRS can audit the entire or a section of your tax return. Be sure that you just give documentation related to the section being audited by the IRS. The IRS may ask more documentation and look further if you offer more documentation than needed.

Also, most people are clearly not tax lawyers or in any way qualified to deal with handling an IRS agent on their own. In a meeting with the IRS, it is best to bring a qualified tax advisor like a CPA or tax lawyer. If you hired a tax service or accountant, be sure you contact the actual professional who prepared your tax return. They may know specific problems pertaining to your return and can assist in forming a response to the auditor with regards to your IRS issues.

The IRS auditor tells you about your tax return's found errors when the audit finishes. You'll then be notified officially if you should pay more money in fines, debts, or other financial adjustments. In very rare situations, some taxpayers have even received refunds after an audit. This is not likely to occur, however.

About The Author Darrin T. Mish is a Nationally recognized Attorney whose practice focuses on representing clients across the United States with IRS Problems. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbel and is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. He has been honored by a listing in Martindale-Hubbel's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. His passion is providing IRS help to taxpayers with both individual and payroll tax problems. He teaches attorneys, CPAs and Enrolled Agents in the finer aspects of IRS representation all around the United States. He can be reached at his website at http://www.getIRShelp.com