This article offers some hard won information on IRS audits from 18 years of representing clients before the IRS. Audits are triggered for all sorts of reasons. Some that you wouldn’t even expect:

“In 2008 alone, the IRS received 476 tips identifying 1,246 questionable taxpayers, according to the article. “Many claims are for substantially more than the $2 million threshold and involve business or wealthy individuals,” IRS Whistleblower Office director Stephen Whitlock is quoted as saying.” – How to Avoid a Tax Audit by Bilal Kaiser – April 2010 LegalZoom.com”

Whistle Blowers are one of the lesser known ways that the IRS is triggered to perform an audit. Frankly, it’s not common and I hear from clients all the time that they’ve blown the whistle on a ‘cheating’ ex-spouse for years and waited while nothing was done.

So how does the IRS choose whom to audit? Read our post The Tax Audit Process and IRS Audit Selection Method for the answer.

Wondering about ways you can gain the upper hand in an IRS audit? Read this article 6 Critical Audit Rules To Help You Turn The Tables On The IRS.

Is there an appeals process for audits? Yes, see Audit Reconsideration & Appeals: Even The IRS Gives You A Second Chance.

There are the top tax problems that lead to hiring a tax attorney. Learn the role that tax return software and inexperienced tax prepares play in earning you an audit:

1. Top Sources of Tax Problems That Lead to Hiring a Tax Attorney
2. Top Sources of Tax Problems That Lead to Hiring a Tax Attorney – Part 2

You’ll want to Know your rights in Tax Audits and hear a A Word To The Wise on Avoiding IRS Audits.

ABC News interviewed me for their story about the IRS targeting the self-employed for audits. With more and more people leaving big companies due to layoffs the self employed remain a big revenue earner for the IRS.
Read my interview about IRS targeting self employed people ABC News.

If nothing else, a little tax humor might help ease you into getting your audit over with… 8 Reasons IRS Tax Audits are like the Salem Witchcraft Trials (a little Tax Humor)

Until next time,

Jeffrey I. Fouts, Tax Attorney
You can put off your tax problem, or put us to work.

Here’s a bio of sorts. I’m happily married with two kids. I’m a real small town tax lawyer (Ellijay, pop. 1,584) not some fictional marketing character. I represent tax payers before the IRS in all 50 states. I have 18 years experience, thousands of satisfied clients, about 8 critics at last count, and an A+ BBB Rating.

I’m a member in good standing of the bar and have active memberships in courts from Georgia to Washington D.C. My competitors covet my Google ranking but my clients covet my sound counsel. I deal directly with my clients and have a small, tireless staff. You can put off your tax problem, or put us to work.