MONEY MANAGEMENT

From the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants - Presented by Dean Knepper, CPA, CFP®

WATCH OUT FOR TAX AUDIT TRIGGERS

(March 23, 2005) — The mere thought of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax audit can send chills down the spine of even the most conscientious taxpayer. While there is no way to guarantee that you will not be audited by the IRS, you can lower your chances. Read what the Virginia Society of CPAs says about several common tax audit triggers:

Understanding discriminate index function (DIF)

The IRS identifies returns warranting a closer look by using a computer program that compares a taxpayer’s deductions to others in the same income bracket. The program, called discriminate index function (DIF) gives each tax return a computer-generated score indicating the likelihood of questionable items.

For example, if IRS statistical data shows that the average person in your income tax bracket claims $500 in charitable donations, and you claim $5,000, the DIF is likely to flag your return. The more your return deviates from the norm, the higher your score and the more likely you will be audited.

Unreported income

One of the most important steps you can take to avoid an audit is to report all of your income. IRS computers match the taxable income reported on a taxpayer’s return with the information it receives from employers and from 1099 forms issued by banks and brokerage firms. To help ensure you don’t miss reporting any taxable income, compare the reported income on your 2004 return with the previous year’s return. Additionally, be sure you have correctly recorded all income from all 1099 forms.

Business expenses and the home office deduction

Being in business can trigger an audit, especially if you’re a sole proprietor filing a Schedule C. That’s because the IRS has determined that self-employed taxpayers have more opportunities for hiding income and for converting personal expenses into business expenses.

Your return may be flagged if you claim large deductions for business travel and entertainment, take a home office deduction or show a large overall loss. Your best defense is to retain all receipts for business meal and entertainment expenditures of $75 or more. For expenses less than $75, a detailed diary notation is sufficient. And if you’re thinking about taking the home office deduction, be forewarned that the rules are complex. You may want to consult with a CPA to determine your eligibility before claiming the deduction.

Cash income

Waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers and people who work in the gaming industry are prime audit targets because they receive much of their income in the form of cash tips. To protect yourself, keep accurate records. IRS publication 1244, Employee’s Daily Record of Tips and Report to Employer, available at www.irs.gov, includes a worksheet for recording daily tips.

Itemized deductions

Itemized deductions that are unusually high based on your income often trigger an audit. For example, if you were to report $40,000 in income and show $15,000 in mortgage interest, it’s likely the IRS will take a closer look.

Divorce, dependents and alimony

If you’re divorced, the IRS allows only one parent — usually the one living with the child — to claim the child as a dependent. Otherwise, you need a tax waiver signed by the custodial parent to take the write-off. You should also be aware that the IRS matches tax deductions for alimony payments by one former spouse with the taxable income reported by the other.

Don’t avoid legitimate deductions

Don’t let fear of an audit discourage you from taking legitimate deductions and credits. If you have some unusual items on your return, you might want to send along an explanation or documentation.

Finally, remember that one of the better defenses for avoiding an audit is to have your tax return prepared by a CPA.

 

The Virginia Society of CPAs is the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing the success of all CPAs and their profession by communicating information and vision, promoting professionalism, and advocating members’ interests. Founded in 1909, the Society has nearly 8,000 members who work in public accounting, industry, government and education. This Money Management column and other financial news articles can be found in the Press Room on the VSCPA Web site at www.vscpa.com.

 

Lifetime Financial Planning, Inc.

Dean Knepper, CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional

2325 Dulles Corner Boulevard, Suite 500, Herndon, Virginia, 20171

208 South King Street, Suite 201, Leesburg, Virginia, 20175

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Phone: (703) 779-0515 - Fax: (703) 779-7815 - E-mail: info@lifetimefp.net
 

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