5 Red Flags that Raise Your Odds of Receiving an Audit
The IRS audited 582,944 tax returns in the fiscal year 2023, and nearly 75% of those examinations were conducted entirely through correspondence. Taxpayers selected for an official audit are notified by mail.
Confusing matters, the IRS also mails other types of compliance notices, which may propose additional tax based on math errors, the automated detection of underreported income, or other factors. The National Taxpayer Advocate calls these notices "unreal" audits, because the IRS doesn't count them as audits. But their impact is real — so the frequency and effectiveness of IRS compliance contacts are somewhat understated.
When the IRS gets real
If selected for a correspondence audit, you may be asked to mail specific information to the IRS. Some examinations require an in-person interview, which could take place in an IRS office (referred to as an office audit). A comprehensive field audit would be conducted at your home, place of business, or accountant's office.
How is a return selected for examination? When your federal income tax return is processed, a computer program called the Discriminant Inventory Function System (DIF) screens for anomalies, compares deductions to those of taxpayers with similar incomes, and assigns a DIF score. The higher the DIF score, the greater the potential that an audit will result in the collection of additional taxes. In some cases, a return is examined because it's related to a transaction with another taxpayer who has been audited.
Risky returns
There's no way to know exactly what will trigger an audit, but one or more of the following red flags could make it more likely that the IRS will take a closer look at your tax return.
1. Missing income
Don't forget sources of income not reported on a Form W-2, which might include investment income, interest, royalties, rent, compensation as an independent contractor, forgiven debt, alimony, tips, gambling winnings, health insurance reimbursements for expenses deducted in a previous year and proceeds from selling goods online. These types of income may or may not be reported by the payer to the IRS, but you must include all income, whether you receive a Form 1099 or not.
2. Overdoing deductions
Even if they are allowed by law, deductions that are unusually large for your income level can appear suspicious. For this reason, high-value charitable donations require specific documentation.
3. Filing a Schedule C
Thorough recordkeeping is critical for self-employed taxpayers, especially when claiming deductions for a home office or vehicle expenses (which require a written log).
4. Keeping money in foreign accounts
Foreign assets worth at least $50,000 at year-end or greater than $75,000 at any time during the year must be reported. (These thresholds are $100,000 and $150,000, respectively, for married joint filers.) Other complicated rules apply.
Many overseas financial institutions are required to provide information about U.S. asset holders to the IRS, so even though the reporting of foreign assets (by you or the institution) may invite IRS scrutiny, noncompliance can result in penalties or legal problems.
5. Reporting a high (or very low) income
Audit rates are higher for wealthier taxpayers as well as for those with little or no income (possibly due to questionable tax deductions). Even though these situations are more complicated, they are often perfectly valid. Still, it might be wise to consult a trusted tax or legal professional if you receive any type of compliance-related communication from the IRS.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, legal, or retirement advice or recommendations. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances.
To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.
Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable — we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
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