Dealing with the IRS even in a routine way can put anyone into a stressful mood and mindset. Of course, this stress only grows if the IRS decides to pull you for an audit.
Though audits can and do happen at random, you can still take certain actions which may help lower your overall chance of facing one. But what exactly are those actions?
Check your information and deductions
Due discusses ways to lower your chance of getting audited. First, double-check all of your information before you file. When making complex calculations or adding multiple figures, double-check and use a calculator. Check your source documents to make sure you have your numbers correct, too.
Next, make sure that you understand your deductions. You want to get every deduction possible and save as much as you can, while simultaneously avoiding trying to grab something you do not actually qualify for.
Keep good records
Keep your records, and organize them well. Good records serve as the most crucial piece when preventing an audit and filing taxes. You should have the ability to pull invoices, receipts and other documents supporting what you report.
Be honest. If you try to hide money or do not report income truthfully on your tax forms, the IRS will likely discover this and audit you.
Finally, file online. These returns have a drastically lower return rate than paper forms, according to the IRS. In general, the IRS only audits about 1 percent of the population, however. If you do your due diligence in filing, then chances are low that you will end up in that slim margin.