How to Fight an Audit

The term “audit” refers to an investigation of all financial documents and accounts conducted by the Revenue Department of any country to find out the level of discrepancy and tax evasion, if any. It is an attempt to unearth any kind of fraud committed against the government and it is a source of income for them. However, the very notification from the Revenue Department is usually sufficient to terrify any citizen.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Stay calm when you receive a notification for audit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Communicate normally and let them know that you will keep all the records and documents ready for investigation. Understand that not all IRS notifications are for an audit in the legal sense; they may be merely for the clarification of certain particulars in your income tax return.
2. Assemble all original financial documents, files, accounts, credit statements, bills, receipts and all papers considered vital for scrutiny.
3. Determine whether you actually want to oppose the claims. If the problem is yours, it will always be better to negotiate and clear it. If you decide to fight your case, evaluate whether it will turn out to be beneficial for you in terms of effort and expenses. Remember that the IRS has much deeper pockets with which to fight.
4. Engage an advocate from the IRS Taxpayers Advocate Office to represent your case with the authorities, if the case rings the bell of a disagreement. Call [phone] or go online.
5. Discuss your financial status with the agents, if you are in a crunch. Put your proposal into figures, discuss all details and design a plan with them to pay back the debt in installments over a specific period.
6. Approach the US Tax court, in case you feel that you have been treated unjustly..

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to make a quick appeal to the Appeals department of the IRS and request that your case be heard to avoid extreme steps of seizure of property from the government in case of a debt. You may engage an attorney for the same.
• Avoid issues with taxes by engaging a certified professional either by contacting the National Association of Enrolled Agents or Certified Public Accountants. (See Resources for Web addresses.)

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