IRS Problems

No one wants to be audited by the IRS. Sometimes IRS audits are warranted and other times they simply happen to people who really didn’t deserve it. However, there are ways to minimize your risk of an IRS audit. Here are nine to keep in mind as you organize your finances and work with your CPA.

1. File Accurate Returns

Being notified that you’re going to be audited is never good news. But it doesn’t have to keep you up at night. Although it can be a stressful and challenging process for you or your business, there are things you can do to prepare mentally, emotionally and in a practical way.

Most people keep a copy of their tax returns after they file. And, if they don’t retain a copy themselves, they may rely on their CPA to keep a copy. But sometimes, you may need a tax return from many years ago and a copy isn’t immediately available.

When you go to your mailbox and find you have received an IRS letter or notice, you may be stricken with panic and fear. However, the IRS sends out millions of letters and notices to taxpayers annually due to various reasons and situations.

No one wants to go through an IRS audit. These days, an audit happens when the IRS thinks that the tax money they could recoup from an audit exceeds the cost of performing the audit itself, or if they believe there may be criminal activity involved. As long as you’re doing everything right, there’s no specific reason to worry about an audit.

In these days of the gig economy, more business owners are leveraging the affordability and convenience of hiring freelancers (independent contractors) instead of regular employees. It makes sense. There are some tremendous benefits to hiring independent contractors (ICs), including not having to pay for insurance and payroll taxes.

There are few experiences that conjure such dread and stress as when a taxpayer has received notification from the Internal Revenue Service that he or she will undergo an audit of their tax returns.

Frankly, it feels like a punch in the gut when you first read those words.

(Pursuant To IR-2018-66, March 21, 2018) Internal Revenue Service

Every year the IRS issues its “Dirty Dozen” report to highlight the biggest scams that the public needs to avoid.

The IRS has released the following press release: