{"id":667,"date":"2018-06-17T03:33:03","date_gmt":"2018-06-17T03:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxreliefprofessional.com\/?p=587"},"modified":"2023-09-26T23:03:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T23:03:12","slug":"10-ways-to-avoid-a-tax-audit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taxreliefprofessional.com\/irs-tax-audits\/10-ways-to-avoid-a-tax-audit","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Avoid a Tax Audit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The IRS fields over 250 million<\/a> tax returns every year. Those returns represent over 3 trillion dollars<\/a> collected from American individuals and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That massive amount of money collected by the IRS isn’t the only stressor associated with tax season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most commonly sighted stressful components of filing taxes is the prospect of getting audited. When you’re audited by the IRS<\/a>, you need to go through a lengthy process to provide deep levels of information in order to justify your returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is this process arduous but it could end up costing you more in back taxes and also result in costly penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help improve your chances of avoiding this, our team has put together this article. Below you’ll find 10 proven methods to help you avoid a tax audit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Embrace Being Average<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the IRS performs an income tax audit on individuals, it usually happens to people who fall outside of the norm. That means, if for your age group your financial situation is standard, you reduce your chances of being flagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, if you’re making significantly less than others in your demography or even significantly less than you did in years past, this could trigger an additional once over on your returns and an audit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, to avoid a tax audit, you’ll want to be as normal as possible on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Double Check Your Return<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re using tax filing software, a lot of the math that’s present on the first couple of pages of your tax return is automatically calculated. If you’re filing a paper return though, you’ll need to do a lot of adding on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing something as simple as forgetting to carry over a number or misprinting a decimal can result in a flag from the IRS. To avoid extra screening be sure to check your work before filing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Make Sure Your Social Security Number is Correct<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There’s no identifying factor on your return more important than your social security number. If you accidentally put the wrong one on your return, expect to get audited and possibly run into a whole bevy of other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This one is easy to avoid. Simply give all socials present on your documents a once over before moving onto other parts of your return.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n\n
\n
\n

\n Evaluate your tax situation\n <\/h2>\n

\n By evaluating your tax situation, you can identify areas where you may be able to reduce your tax burden and make informed decisions about your financial future.\n <\/p>\n \n \n\n\n

\n
\n
\n