How to Handle an IRS Audit of Your Tax Return
Regardless of why you're chosen, it's quite a shock to learn that the IRS wants to examine your return. Even if you have no reason to think you did anything wrong, you can't escape the anxiety that accompanies an audit notice. For one thing, the return being audited is unlikely to be the one you just filed. The IRS generally has three years from the due date of your return to initiate an audit. So, for example, the IRS generally has until April 18, 2022, to flag your timely filed 2018 return for an examination.
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But, whatever you do, don't panic! Here's what to expect and some tips on how to proceed. Hopefully, we can lower your stress level a notch or two.
How an Audit Begins
If you're selected for an audit, you'll get a letter announcing your fate. The simplest audit—a correspondence audit—requires only that you mail in the records needed to verify a specified claim on your return. Over
