What tax mistakes lead to getting an IRS letter or notice?
Chief Tax Information Officer Mark Steber covers the most common tax mistakes that could lead to getting an IRS letter or notice.
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Any kind of notice or communication from the IRS – apart from a refund, that is – might cause you to start worrying. Here's what you need to know about audit communications, tax notices and letters that you could receive from the IRS.
Chief Tax Information Officer Mark Steber covers the most common tax mistakes that could lead to getting an IRS letter or notice.
NOTICES
If you don’t read your IRS notice, you may miss an easy resolution opportunity, important deadlines or accrue additional penalties and interest on outstanding tax debts. Learn more about common notices and what to do when you receive one.
A tax deficiency occurs when there’s a difference in the amount of tax you report on your return and the amount the IRS calculates you owe – and the IRS will inform you of this discrepancy with a notice.
Receiving any correspondence from the IRS can instantly strike fear in the heart of most. While fear is a completely normal reaction, learn the four steps every taxpayer should follow if they receive an IRS notice or letter.
Audits
While the risk of being audited is quite low for most, being aware of what audits are, why they are conducted, and how to know that you are being audited is essential for every taxpayer.
If you’ve received a notice from the IRS about a tax audit, you’re probably feeling a bit dizzy right now. Don’t panic! Learn about immediate steps you can take to improve your situation.
IRS audits are rare. But if you are subject to an audit, how long does it take to resolve?
However small the chances, you likely want to avoid being audited by the IRS. Here are some tips to help you figure out if your return is likely to spark an inquiry.
By being aware of the statute of limitations for an IRS audit, you can save yourself trouble and money.
IRS audits are rare these days. Face-to-face audits that involve personal interaction between the IRS auditor and a taxpayer and/or their representative are the least common.
What happens when someone is turned in to the IRS for tax fraud? The IRS gets tens of thousands of informants each year. Here is how they look at this information.
There has always been a big mystery among taxpayers and tax professionals on how the IRS selects taxpayers for an audit and what issues are important to the IRS. Taxpayers always want to know the chances that they will be audited and what triggers an IRS audit.
FEATURED
IRS statistics are pretty reliable. So when it comes to tax problems, it is easy to identify the most common IRS problems taxpayers face.
CONTACTING THE IRS
If you have to deal with the IRS outside of filing your tax return, that usually means calling or visiting them. Visiting the IRS is almost out of the question. With about 358 taxpayer assistance centers and long waiting lines for an appointment, face-to-face interaction is not realistic. That leaves calling the IRS by phone.
Taxpayers felt the impact of IRS closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. IRS campus operations and phone services were almost non-existent, leaving taxpayers in a quandary on how to get answers from the IRS.
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