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6 Ways to Reduce Your Chance of an IRS Audit

IRS correspondence and in-person audits, especially among high-income earners, are on the rise. Although there is no guaranteed way to avoid an audit, following these six tips will help you reduce your chance of facing the cost, time, and stress associated with one:

1. Beware of your deductions. The IRS computer system may flag your tax return if your deduction to income ratio is unusually high. Individual and business taxpayers should only claim valid deductions on their return for a given tax year and use extra caution to avoid double dipping by claiming a deduction or credit twice on the same return. To learn what deductions youre entitled to, and which ones to avoid, see Publication 529. 2. Claim proper exemptions. Ensure your personal exemptions are correctly calculated and claimed on your tax return. To determine the proper number of exemptions to claim, see Publication 501. 3. Ensure all of your tax filings reconcile. This includes all tax returns, documents, and other tax-related records sent to the IRS, Social Security Administration, and your State. If youre an employee, be sure your Form 1040 matches the Form W2 filed by your employer with the aforementioned agencies. If youre a business, all quarterly filings should reconcile perfectly with your annual tax return. 4. File on time. Filing late, or even worse, filing multiple tax returns late, may trigger an audit. High-income taxpayers that file multiple tax returns at the same time may be setting themselves up for review by the IRS. The IRS makes it easy to timely file your tax return using e-file. 5. Document. Document. Document. If youre unsure if the IRS will understand your claimed exemptions, deductions or expenses, provide them with adequate documentation to substantiate your claim. Attach receipts, copies of canceled checks, or a letter of explanation to support your claim. The key here is to clarify any items on your tax return that may appear questionable to the IRS.

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6. Stay in compliance. The chance of an audit due to random selection is very slim (less than 1%). With that in mind, the best way to reduce your chance of an audit is to ensure the IRS isnt given a reason to contact you. Maintaining compliance with your tax obligations is the best and most effective way to stay under the IRS radar.

For more information on achieving a tax resolution to your IRS problems, visit www.LandmarkTaxGroup.com or call us at 1-714-382-6780 for a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL consultation with former IRS Personnel. Landmark Tax Group is licensed by the IRS to help individuals and small businesses resolve their IRS problems with tax liens, unfiled tax returns, back taxes, offers in compromise, wage garnishment, bank levies, installment agreements/payment plans, innocent spouse claims, audits, payroll taxes, bankruptcy, and more. Contact: Michael Raanan, MBA, EA President Former IRS Revenue Officer

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Copyright 2012 Landmark Tax Group. All rights reserved.