Income & Estate Tax Audits

Most people have some anxiety about the possibility of having their tax returns audited.  And while less than 2 percent of taxpayers are actually audited each year, those who are can be inconvenienced, if not offended, by the intrusive nature of audits.  Most of those who are audited do not understand their rights, and thus rely exclusively on the IRS to guide them through the audit.  By taking the time to fully understand their rights, however, taxpayers are more likely to receive the fair treatment they deserve.  While each audit has its own set of unique circumstances, and taxpayers need to fully explore their possibilities, taxpayers generally have the following rights at a minimum:

• Taxpayers can have their audit recorded which stops the IRS from changing rules partially through the audit.
• Taxpayers can limit the scope of their audit to prevent needless time and energy expenditures.
• Taxpayers can schedule the audit at a time and place which is convenient for them.

Otto S. Shill, III is an Arizona Tax Attorney with over 25 years of experience.