An IRS audit takes place when the Internal Revenue Service chooses to review a taxpayer's accounts to verify that tax laws are being followed. Audits aren't terribly common: Only 0.6 percent of individual returns were examined in the 2017 fiscal year, according to the IRS. But filing your return completely, accurately and honestly can reduce your chances of being pinpointed and increase the odds of a favorable outcome. |
CREDITYou made typos or a math error.
It might be an honest mistake, but if something looks fishy, such as an incorrect Social Security number or calculations that don't add up, you may bring on additional scrutiny from the IRS. Be careful and check your work twice when filing taxes.
CREDITYou aren't reporting cryptocurrency.
"Cryptocurrency is going to be an emerging issue with the IRS," says Phyllis Jo Kubey, enrolled agent and certified financial planner in New York City. "A lot of people don't know that when they buy something with cryptocurrency, it’s a taxable transaction." If you're receiving bitcoin as income or successfully mining it, for example, these transactions may need to be reported. The IRS receives information from digital currency wallet Coinbase and may apply increased scrutiny to your tax return if it doesn't reflect the data provided.
- You earned a lot of money.
- You aren't reporting cryptocurrency.
- You are self-employed.
- You failed to report taxable income.
- You made typos or a math error.
- You have three consecutive years of business losses.
- You use round numbers.
- You deduct 100 percent of a business car.
- Something doesn't add up.