| You have just received notice that you are being | | | | mortgage, property tax, donations, etc. |
| audited by the IRS. Great, now the IRS is going to be | | | | It may take you awhile to get all these documents |
| digging into your financial affairs. If you thought you had | | | | gathered especially if you have to request some of |
| IRS Problems before, now you know you do. | | | | them from many different institutions so do not wait |
| Your first step is to read the notice. Find out exactly | | | | until just before the audit to start getting organized. |
| what the IRS wants, which year they are auditing, | | | | During the audit, answer the auditor's questions |
| what kind of audit they are performing, and what | | | | honestly but never talk too much. Auditors are aware |
| documentation they require you to bring to the audit. | | | | that this can happen if you are nervous. Consider using |
| Also, take note of the date you need to reply to the | | | | the following statements when answering questions: |
| IRS by. You are typically given 30 days to respond. | | | | Yes; No; I don't recall; I'll have to check on that; What |
| Your number one goal during an audit is to only provide | | | | specifically do you want to see? and Why do you |
| the information pertaining to the specific year and | | | | want to know? |
| documentation being audited. You do not want to | | | | Present only the documentation requested on the IRS |
| disclose any unnecessary details that would alert the | | | | notice. Do not bring anything else with you. If questions |
| IRS to investigate you more. | | | | arise concerning a different tax year or regarding |
| To help you support the information you supplied on | | | | documentation not requested on the IRS notice, you |
| your tax return you will need to gather together the | | | | can simply state that this information is at home. |
| following documents for the year being audited:o Bank | | | | If you agree with the results of the audit, pay the extra |
| statementso Your cancelled checkso Receipts for the | | | | taxes and consider your IRS Problems solved. If you |
| deductions claimed on the tax returno Income | | | | do not agree with the results, you have a right to |
| statement reporto Payment verifications for your | | | | request an appeal. |