If you’re worried about Uncle Sam taking an especially close look at your tax return, you’re not alone. It’s only natural to feel uneasy about an audit when you’re tallying your financial records.
The good news is your chances of an audit are slim.
On average over the last several years, only about 1% of all individual returns filed are audited. And this number has been decreasing due to the shrinking budget of the IRS. The focus right now seems to be on the wealthy (those earning $10 million or more) with nearly 19% of those returns being audited in fiscal year 2016. By comparison the overall rate was just 0.6%. For most of us, the odds of getting audited are less than 1 in 100.
The IRS maintains a table of average deductions for each income group. When your “score” exceeds this computer-generated average, your likelihood of an audit increases.
Although there’s no way of knowing the exact range the IRS uses for your income bracket, there are several ways you can protect yourself.
- Keep everything neat and organized. Make sure you can clearly read your information and be certain to use the correct forms.
- Report all income. Include every W-2 and 1099 form you receive because the IRS automatically gets copies from your employer(s).
- Make sure business expenses and home-office deductions are legitimate. If you’re not sure about a deduction, talk to someone familiar with tax laws – and save your paperwork.
- Clarify anything unusual. Offer explanations and even documentation for any items you believe might raise red flags with the IRS (e.g., drastic changes in income, large losses, extensive charitable contributions, etc.)
- Double-check your return. Confirm your personal information is correct, your numbers are accurate, your forms are signed, and the records on your state and federal returns match.
Of course, your best defense against an audit is honesty. But also keep in mind the IRS selects a certain number of people each year to audit completely at random.
So if you’re still nervous about getting everything right on your return, don’t hesitate to contact your accountant with your questions or concerns.