Irs Handling Audit

10 Strategies When Handling an IRS Audit
By Alan L. Olsen, CPA, MBA (tax)
Managing Partner
Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co. LLP

The IRS is using new technology to process tax returns and conduct tax audits. As more people are submitting returns through Electronic Filing, the IRS efficiency in processing returns is improving. They also have more data in their system to identify tax returns with non-compliance issues. The IRS will use new-found technology for audit selection which will support the efforts to close the nation’s tax gap. The tax gap is the difference between what the taxpayers should have paid and what they actually paid on a timely basis. The most recently released numbers on the tax gap are in 2001 when the estimate was around a $290 billion shortfall to the IRS.

The current workload plans will combine results over a three-year period and will allow the IRS to update compliance estimates and develop more efficient workload plans on an annual basis.

It is important to be properly prepared if you are chosen to be audited. If the IRS finds that there is no change to your tax liability in the audit, then you will not have to worry about being audited on the same issue for two years.

Steps to take if selected for audit

1. Set the ground rules

Make sure to inform your client of the procedures that come along with an IRS audit.

2. Establish the location where the IRS auditor will work.

When there is no business location for an individual return the audit will take place at the IRS office. If the audit is for a business the IRS agent will most likely want to conduct it at the business, however, the tax preparer’s office is the best location for the audit to take place. You will be able to best control information provided to the auditor when it is coming from your office.

3. Determine who will speak for the taxpayer.

IRS agents may turn any casual conversation against the taxpayer, so it is important that the taxpayer and auditor are not in direct communication with each other. In this way you are in charge of the information that is communicated between your client and the agent.

4. Ensure that all document requests will be in writing.

Make sure that the IRS agent understands that any document requests should be made in writing so that you will have enough time to gather the needed information to support deduction claims.

5. Questions and discussion of adjustments should not be negotiated until the final conference.

When you defer questions until the last meeting it puts you in a better position to negotiate as you will have a better understanding of the IRS audit and the information that is needed. It will also eliminate the possibility of an auditor conceding certain issues if they are pressed for time.

6. Agree to an Extension

If you have not gathered all of the information that is necessary for the audit, but thinks that you have access to it, agrees to an extension. There are two types of extensions that you can request:

Form 872- IRS limits the extension to issues only addressed on the form
Form 872-a The IRS can keep all issues open

7. Refuse to Agree to an Extension

You do not have to agree to an extension of all of the issues have not been properly addressed by the IRS and you want to close the case. This will force the IRS auditor to issue a report. You can then either file a petition in the tax court or pay the tax and then file a petition with the court of claims.

8. Request Technical Advice

You can always request technical advice from the IRS national office if you feel that the IRS appeals officer will not compromise and that their position contradicts the national office. If the national office agrees with the inconsistency in opinions than the appeals officer will have to follow the national office. If the national office does not agree with your claim, then you will have to continue onto the court system.

9. Negotiate

Make a settlement agreement that fairly resolves the case, as some areas in tax laws are subjective. In some multi-issue cases, you may want to present a bottom-line offer that may change depending on issues that arise later.

10. Consider filing an amended return or making a cash bond.

The best way to avoid IRS audits, is to simply work with your client to make sure that the tax return has no reason to be audited by the IRS. It is not often that IRS audits take place. In 2006, 1,293, 681 audits were conducted for individual returns, but the numbers are continuing to rise. Remember that preparation is one of the best defenses that you will have against any IRS audit.