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

(Non?) audits

[fyellin.livejournal.com]

Over the years, I've gotten several of these. Usually they want to know where a number comes from, or why some information they received from elsewhere didn't appear on your tax return.

Respond in a nice, professional manner providing them exactly the information they want, no more and no less. Make it clear precisely how you derived the number that appears on the tax return.

As I'm typing this, I see on my desk a "Closing Notice" that I got a couple of weeks ago from the IRS:

Thank you for providing us with additional information about the issue we recently wrote to you about. We are pleased to tell you that, with your help, we were able to clear up the differences between your records and your payers' records.

Don't sweat about it too much. It's just one of modern life's minor irritants.

Re: (Non?) audits

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

After looking at the letter more carefully, they want to see records of my payments, too. As I still get cancelled checks this is not *too* much of a pain... just some!