You're going about your normal routine. You open the mailbox, going through all the junk mail when suddenly you come across a letter from the IRS. Like most people, you get a strange tingling feeling in your body, similar to when a police officer is driving behind you. You open it in a rush and read the four scariest words that a government body can say to you, ?You Are Being Audited.? It is at this moment that your primal reaction is evoked from your mouth?You scream! Frankly, that is probably the correct reaction. After all, the Internal Revenue Service is considering the fact that something in your return is questionable. But here's the good news, it's just a consideration. In all likeliness, you have done nothing. Your next step is undoubtedly extremely important. You need to be calm. But you also need to consider whether this is something you can resolve on your own, or whether you'll need a tax firm such as Atlas Tax Solutions to represent you.



Let's make something straight before we go any further. Nearly one third of tax audits are done via mail. This alone should give you some peace of mind. This usually doesn't apply for those who owe back taxes, in which case you should have a back tax defense. If however you are being audited through the mail, the Internal Revenue Service may simply want to see your corresponding documentation to verify certain aspects of your return, for example receipts of a business. You need to determine whether your entire return is being audited, or if it's only one part. For obvious reasons, you shouldn't make things harder on yourself by going into the entire return if their only questioning one part of it.

If the audit is being done in person and sounds a little more complicated, then you may have to hire a tax representation firm. Of course, no two tax firms are equal. Atlas Tax Solutions uses CPA's to go over aspects of your return as well as using Attorneys for particular appeals. If you are being audited over back taxes, then without a doubt you'll have to deal with some headaches. Everything will have to be accounted for and your tax firm will have to mount a back tax defense on your behalf.

You'll find that your memory can be one of your best tools when fighting an audit. Try to clear up your mind and recall all events pertaining to your audit. You may need to work closely with your tax representative to gather all necessary documentation and organize them by the sections that are being questioned. Make sure to make copies of everything you're bringing to the audit. It would also behoove you to have your tax representative bring any forms or spreadsheets that show how certain write off's were calculated. During the actual audit, be very nice to all the parties involved but never give any information that wasn't asked of you. If you are being represented, let them do most of the talking. Also keep in mind that the return you are being audited on may have been prepared by someone that you are not in contact with. Some firms, such as Atlas Tax Solutions, actually try to contact the CPA that prepared your returns in question to determine how they came up with their numbers and whether any errors were made.

Once your audit is complete, the IRS agent will let you know how it went. They'll go over any problems they've found or whether it all checks out. If some issues were found, make sure to get these resolved immediately. The IRS generally does not abuse people who work to get things resolved. What they don't like, is those who try to get away with something. Tax payers have a bill of rights, and this includes any appeals that you can make with regards to an audit. But remember that everything has to be done in an organized fashion and only in a legal manner.