s******g 发帖数: 654 | 1 I think this should help you guys with the IRS auditors' drama/game.
Have fun.
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/8-invita
Dec 27, 2010 -
If you aren’t thinking about a tax audit, you should be. They can be a
nightmare even if you’re completely honest.
Thanks to the staggering federal deficit, the IRS is trying to close the $
300 billion gap between what Americans pay in taxes and what the government
thinks we should have paid. You aren’t paranoid if someone is really out
get you, as the saying goes, and the IRS is out to get you.
Consider this recent IRS job posting:
Internal Revenue Agent (Abusive Transactions Group)
Agents of the Abusive Transactions Group will be conducting examinations of
individuals, sole proprietorships, small corporations, partnerships and
fiduciaries.
This group specifically goes after taxpayers who generally have higher
incomes than most taxpayers, need to file more tax forms, and generally need
to rely more on paid tax preparers.
But even if you aren’t wealthy, don’t operate a cash business, and you don
’t have a CPA filing reams of forms for you, you still can easily become an
IRS target.
Twice as many tax returns were audited in 2009 as 2000. Enforcement revenue
over the same period was up 50 percent.
It’s important to note that in this land of equality, not all individuals
or companies are treated equally when it comes their chances of an audit.
About one in a hundred businesses with less than $10 million in assets is
audited. That number jumps to 10 in a hundred for those with $10-$50 million
in assets, and one in four for businesses with assets greater than $250
million.
Certain industries are scrutinized more heavily too. You can probably guess
some of them—cash businesses are always high on the IRS hit list. But would
you suspect Dr. Doggie, the vet, is a target too? It turns out the IRS has
a special auditor guidebooks for veterinarians, and for ministers,
laundromats, car dealers and many others too. Their Retailer Guide offers
specific strategies for interrogating e-commerce businesses, gas stations,
direct sellers, mobile food vendors, pizza shops and the like.
Here are some "red flags" that commonly trigger an audit:
1. Math Errors
While an error in basic math might not instigate a full blown line-item
audit, it’s the most common reason Americans receive those heart-attack
inducing letters from their friendly local IRS office. Use a calculator and
check your numbers twice.
2. Unusually High Itemized Deductions
The IRS uses a very secret formula to calculate what your deductions should
be. If computer scan of your returns shows that your deductions for charity,
travel and entertainment, and healthcare are out of line with your income,
you’ll be on their radar.
3. Self-Employed/Schedule C Filers
Small businesses are suspected of being especially creative with their
expenses. Be careful if you take a home office deduction, have lost money
for several years in a row, and prepare your returns yourself rather than
use an accountant.
4. Lots of 1099s
In February of 2010, in hopes of adding billions to depleted U.S. Treasury
coffers, the IRS began a three-year initiative to crack down on what they
believe to be a common practice of misclassifying employees as contractors.
Six thousand businesses have already been targeted for audit, and the
government hopes to hire 100 new Department of Labor employees specifically
to police these abuses. And yes, the do share their successes with the IRS
and State authorities.
5. Unreported Income
Be especially careful to report all your income. If you’ve received a 1099,
so has the IRS and their computers will notice if they don’t match up.
The same is true for other sources of income. If your former spouse reports
alimony paid and you don’t report receiving it, you’ve just painted a big
bull’s-eye on your tax return.
6. Previously Audited
If you’ve been audited in the past don’t think you’re off the hook—
especially if you owed taxes or fines. The IRS knows people have the
mistaken impression that the auditor won’t come knocking twice. But, of
course, just the opposite is true.
7. Shareholder
If you are an investor in a partnership or corporation that came under the
gimlet eye of the Feds, you may be next in line.
8. Pissed Someone Off
Disgruntled former employees are a regular source of IRS tips. But payback
isn’t the only reason people go the IRS—the agency is authorized by law to
pay rewards to informants. In cases that involve huge amounts of money, the
informant’s cut can be as high as 30 percent of what they collect.
Make no mistake, your IRS auditor won’t be jolly. |
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