IRS Question

[cjsmith]

Anyone here ever been audited? What's your experience been like?

Fortunately, the letter I received is only asking me for one thing -- documentation for one number on my return. (Mortgage interest.) And it doesn't actually use the word 'audit' anywhere. A rumor I've heard says that once they decide they're only asking you about one thing, they won't then widen their scope again -- but that's just "a rumor I've heard", not "something I've seen in black and white in an IRS publication".

Also fortunately, I think the thing they're asking about is in fact documented. I believe I can supply the paperwork they need. (joedecker, any advice on presentation from your lovely and talented wife would be *enormously* appreciated. Maybe she'd barter for a gift certificate to a nice restaurant or something.)

Comments

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Taken from experiences up here, where the CRA (IRS) is not as apparently all-powerful:

If it's just answering a question or providing supplemental information, you've simply been pulled from the pile for a double check - we don't foward much documentation anymore, so just about anything is fair game for 'review'. I agree that you're not being audited.

Approaching the query seriously, and providing the information in a courteous and timely manner, with your reasoning if it's a grey area, usually puts paid to these kinds of queries. As you've already got your dots and tees sorted, it should be no problem.

I've had many audits (at work, and a couple of personal) and find the key to getting what I want is simply presenting the information and being reasonable. In this manner, even when I've disagreed with an auditor, I'm usually able to get some kind of compromise or reversal.

Lots of babble, there. You've no worries.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yes, at least I can be timely -- that has great return for the effort required. I'd be a fool not to do it. :-)