Don't Be Afraid of an IRS Tax Audit

First of all, if you got a note in the mailbox that you areOf course, if you have not already done so, contact
going to have an IRS tax audit, it probably sent a chillthe people that help you prepare your tax returns and
down your spine. Remember, they just want answersfiling. This is vital, often, they are responsible for any
to questions, they are not accusing you of anything, butmistakes, meaning that they may have to pay the
there's something that they don't understand.difference between what you paid, and what you now
The first thing you need to do is pull your IRS tax filingowe because of an IRS tax filing mistake.
forms. Go through them carefully and see if you canIt's important to respond to all IRS correspondence in a
see where the misunderstanding has happened.prompt manner. While you may be terrified of an IRS
Perhaps a decimal point was placed wrong, perhapstax audit, it's probably not as bad as you think. Just pull
something was in the wrong column.together all of your forms, your documentation, and of
Then check on your deductions, you want to makecourse, any receipts you may have.
sure that these deductions made sense to the IRS. GoIf you do have a simple question for the IRS, they
through your paperwork, make sure that you haveoften have phone numbers you can reach, and even
documentation providing an explanation for all of thesometimes an e-mail address you can use to ask your
deductions. This is often where IRS tax audits comequestions. Don't stand immobile, don't be frozen in fear,
from. There is a misunderstanding somewhere in youran IRS tax audit is only to explain something that they
deductions. It's possible you have the tax rates wrongdon't understand.
or other mistake.