Many taxpayers in Georgia will experience an IRS audit in their lifetime. An audit means the IRS has rejected the return for a reason, such as suspicions about income or errors. An audit notice naturally causes panic, but taxpayers shouldn’t be so hasty as to make these common mistakes.
Not putting the audit first
One mistake taxpayers make is thinking they can delay response. Taxpayers should make the audit their top priority and respond promptly. Not responding promptly could lead to fines and make the auditor suspicious without a credible reason. The taxpayer may also risk not being able to explain their case.
Giving a Hasty Answer
A response doesn’t need to be made hastily, and documents should be gathered carefully. Giving the IRS incomplete documents may cause them to ask for more information. The taxpayer should organize documents and make responses clear stating they are willing to corporate.
Giving False Information
Information submitted to the IRS should be free of mistakes and contain facts that can be proven. The IRS has strict laws against false information that could result in criminal charges. Even unintentional errors could have consequences.
Ignoring scope of compromise
Most taxpayers are not aware they can make negotiations with the IRS. They have the option of IRS programs that allows them to pay less than they owe. Although taxpayers may not qualify for the programs, a logical explanation could help them get an agreement to benefit them.
Failing to hire a tax attorney
The biggest mistake a taxpayer makes during this situation is not hiring a qualified attorney for an IRS audit. Some cases may be as simple as submitting a missing document. However, sometimes, the audit reasons aren’t clear, and tax laws can be complex.
A taxpayer who tries to handle the matter alone without IRS tax audit advice what to do could face ongoing battles with the IRS. A tax attorney may be able to help them to smoothly navigate the laws and possibly negotiate with the IRS.