What is IRS Audit?
An IRS examination of a tax return to verify that income, deductions, and credits are reported accurately.
Definition
An IRS audit (or examination) is a review of a taxpayer's accounts and financial information to ensure taxes were filed correctly and the amount of tax reported is accurate. Audits can be conducted by mail (correspondence audit), at an IRS office (office audit), or at the taxpayer's location (field audit). For international taxpayers, audits may focus on foreign income reporting, FBAR compliance, FATCA reporting, and foreign tax credits. Having an Enrolled Agent or CPA represent you during an audit is highly recommended.
Who Needs to Know This?
Any taxpayer whose return is selected for examination. International taxpayers with complex returns face higher audit risk for foreign income and reporting forms.
Key Deadline
The IRS generally has 3 years from filing to audit; 6 years for substantial understatement; no limit for fraud or unfiled returns
Potential Penalties
Varies based on findings: accuracy-related penalties (20%), civil fraud (75%), plus interest
Related Forms
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1Ignoring IRS audit notices
- 2Trying to handle an audit without professional representation
- 3Not keeping adequate records to support return positions
- 4Not knowing the statute of limitations for international information returns
Related Terms
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