How to Minimize the Risk of an IRS Audit

March 13, 2024 Hayden Adams

A number of tax audits result from preventable mistakes. Here are the five most common audit red flags—and what to do to avoid them.

"Your federal tax return has been selected for examination."

Few pieces of correspondence evoke as much anxiety as an audit notice from the IRS. After all, not only can audits be extremely time-consuming, but they often result in interest, additional taxes, and even penalties.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 earmarked more than $45 billion specifically for tax enforcement to help remedy a decade-long decrease in audit rates. As a result, taxpayers who historically have been flagged for examination—business owners, the self-employed, and the wealthy—may find themselves under greater review than in recent years.

More money, more scrutiny

In 2020, taxpayers with more than $10 million in income were six times as likely to be audited as those in the $1 million to $5 million range.

Taxpayers with reported income of $50,000 to $200,000 were less likely to be audited, and audit rates progressively increased with higher incomes.

Source: irs.gov.

That's because the tax returns of the affluent are generally more complex—and therefore more likely to contain red flags for the IRS, where I worked for eight years as a senior auditor. Fortunately, those flags are well-known, making them easier to avoid.

Here are five of the IRS' top triggers.

1. Missing income

Income derived from regular wages automatically have taxes withheld, and employers report those taxes to the IRS. However, taxes aren't normally withheld from nonwage income—including business income, capital gains, dividends, interest, rental income, and royalties—making it more prone to discrepancies and examination by the IRS.

What to do

Your financial firm will send 1099 forms for capital gains, dividends, and interest, which must be accurately accounted for on your return. For income that doesn't pass through an intermediary, such as business or rental income, you're required to document and report it yourself. Underreported income is often due to a missing or out-of-date 1099, inaccurate accounting practices, or both. Whatever your sources of income, you need to ensure your return reflects them all.

Don't miss a dollar

Here are the most common forms that report income to the IRS.

Source of income	Form	Source of form	Generally due by
Dividends	1099-DIV	Investment broker	January 31
Interest	1099-INT	Bank and/or investment broker	January 31
Regular wages	W-2	Employer	January 31
Social Security	SSA-1099	Social Security Administration	January 31
Distributions from annuities, pensions, and/or retirement savings accounts	1099-R	Insurance company, pension sponsor, and/or investment broker	January 31
Miscellaneous income, such as rents and royalties	1099-MISC	Various agencies and businesses	February 1
Independent contractor income	1099-NEC	Hiring agency/business	February 1
Proceeds from a real estate sale	1099-S	Title company	February 15
Sale of securities	1099-B	Investment broker	February 15
Income from partnership interests (including some ETFs that invest in commodities)	Schedule K-1	Investment broker	March 15

2. Large swings in income

Individuals whose income fluctuates significantly from one year to the next can also find themselves in the IRS' sights. This can be the case for those who are self-employed or own a business. Big changes in income are a huge red flag for the IRS because they sometimes signal underreported income, either in the current year or in previous years.

What to do

Consider including notes or an explanation with your tax filing if there are big changes in your expenses or income from year to year. For example, if your business income plunged because you lost a large account, you'll want the IRS to take that into consideration when determining whether an audit is warranted. If you file electronically, most tax software allows you to add supplemental documentation and schedules to help explain your situation.

3. Business losses

Turning a profit can be challenging for any business, especially those just getting off the ground. However, the IRS will take notice if you claim losses year after year or if a loss is substantial. You're less likely to be audited in the first few years, when losses are normal and expected. Over the longer term, though, businesses are supposed to make money—and if yours doesn't, the IRS will want to know why.

What to do

Keep careful records for at least seven years that detail every dollar coming into and going out of your business. What's more, if your business is a sole proprietorship, the IRS may question whether it's more of a hobby—in which case the loss may not be deductible.

4. Questionable deductions

While your deductions may be well founded, some may nevertheless trigger a second look by the IRS. In particular, be mindful of:

Outsize charitable donations: The IRS flags charitable deductions that far exceed the average donation of those at a similar income level. Be aware, too, that such deductions are capped to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for cash donations and 30% of AGI for stocks and other property.
Passive losses on a rental property: If the costs to operate a property exceed the rental income it generates, you may not be able to claim a loss—unless:
- You own at least 10% of the property, you're personally involved in managing it, and your modified adjusted gross income is less than $100,000—or:
- You're a qualified real estate professional (meaning you spend at least 750 hours annually on such work and it accounts for more than 50% of your annual working hours) and you take an active role in the management of the property.
Unqualified home-office deductions: Unless you're self-employed and conduct the majority of your business from your home, you cannot deduct any home-office expenses. People who work from home may assume they can take this deduction. Unfortunately, regular employees don't qualify, even if they pay out of pocket for all or part of their home-office setup.

What to do

Have supporting documentation for any deduction on your tax return, especially those that are significant or subject to special rules, such as rental losses. You can't always avoid an audit, but thorough records that support your deductions can quickly appease most auditors.

5. Undervalued assets

Estate tax returns tend to be audited at a higher rate than individual returns. In 2020, for example, the IRS audited four times as many estate tax filings as individual filings. The biggest reason? Undervalued assets. The IRS has seasoned valuation experts, and if they think the estate has valued its assets too low, an audit could be just around the corner.

What to do

When valuing assets with no public market price—such as real estate, art, or a closely held business—executors of large estates should average the estimates from two or three qualified appraisers. Should the valuations come into question, having multiple appraisals can help substantiate your position.

The buck stops with you

Even if you hire a professional to prepare your taxes, the accuracy of your filing ultimately falls on your shoulders. I can't tell you how many people just sign their professionally prepared tax returns and never review them.

Going through these steps may help reduce the likelihood of an audit, but if one is unavoidable, it also can help ensure your tax return stands up to scrutiny. If you followed the rules, retain good documentation, and have a trusted tax advisor to represent you, the process can actually go quite smoothly.