Got a nice letter today from the Internal Revenue Service. Lucky me, I have been chosen for an audit for tax year 2007. Even though I keep excellent records, I confess to feeling trepidation. What is the appropriate attire for a conjugal visit with the IRS? Ya know... I am going to have to sit there in that dreadful office for four hours ... and all the while, a huge portrait of a smiling Barack Obama will be in my face. Until now, I felt I lived a charmed life. Time to double-down on the Democrat doggerel. *L*
The IRS cometh
- Thread starter aristotle
- Start date
I got Audited Some Years back Before I Started Trucking! They aren't the Friendliest people to Deal with! They Look at Everybody Like they Are Criminals and are Sarcastic as H**L! They know that they Can make Your Life Miserable For You and Don't hesitate Trying Either! Good Luck with Them!! Maybe you can Suggest Auditing Barry's Band of Thieves while your Down There? 
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
did the letter say you had to appear? i have been audited several times prior to 1990 and never appeared in front of anyone, they simply audited my returns going bck 3 yrs from the date of the notice....
Yes, the letter states I have 10 days to call in to schedule an appointment to meet with an examiner. Specifically, they want truck mileage documentation, cell telephone expenses explained and an explanation of QC and satellite messaging fees. Also, they want documentation for the number of days where overnight travel away from home took place. I have a feeling that will be just the opening volley of many more inquiries. The letter states the "examination" will last four hours. I can explain most of this in 15 minutes.... what's the other 3 hrs and 45 minutes for? !@#$%$!! Democrats!
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Well having met you face to face, i have no problem that will go in with the right attitude and be prepared....i can say over the phone they aren't the hardazzes that they are said to be...
greg334
Veteran Expediter
It's not a political thing and the four hours is the standard line.
Have your settlements with you, your logs if you drive a truck or your load information you keep, like the extra copies of the BOLs or run sheets (unless they are on the settlement sheets but bring them anyway). Also have any maintenance records with mileage on them, it helps to back up you mileage claim.
I would also go in there smiling and happy, it helps.
Have your settlements with you, your logs if you drive a truck or your load information you keep, like the extra copies of the BOLs or run sheets (unless they are on the settlement sheets but bring them anyway). Also have any maintenance records with mileage on them, it helps to back up you mileage claim.
I would also go in there smiling and happy, it helps.
I called the IRS today to schedule the appointment. Spoke with the examiner who will actually review my records. Seemed nice enough. I asked for a quick and speedy interview date and they accommodated that request. Don't want this dread hanging over my head one day longer than necessary. I am really agitated having to miss a day of work, but Monday Oct 16this will be done. (I hope). The best news is my trophy wife doesn't have to accompany me for fun and frivolity with the IRS. Mrs. aristotle has warned me if she was required to go she would pull Obama's portrait from the wall and stomp it!! We can't have that.
We have had to deal with the IRS on 4 different occasions now. Won every time. Good records and being HONEST on our returns make it easy. It IS, howerver, nerve racking every time.
I know what your saying about the Nerve Racking, Even though I Had all of my Records they wanted I was as Nervous as a
In Church! Especially Before the Woman even Looked at My Records, She was Telling me about Big Fines and Possible Jail Time if She found that I was Lying and Trying to Cheat on my Taxes! She couldn't Find any Discrepencies in my Records so I Got to Walk on that One ! She did say that she would be watching my Returns for a while just before I Left....
Yeah, they LOVE to try to intimidate people. It is a REAL shame that they seem to NEVER put forth this much effort for Obama's cabinate picks!! I guess if WE were Dumb-O-Crats the IRS would NEVER look at US either!!! Any bets? LOL!!!
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
aristotle,
Sorry - just saw this ... my reply may be a little late in the game.
Since you drive truck over the road and often cannot tell where you might be from one day to the next, appearing at a specific time and place does indeed pose a hardship.
I would never appear before any IRS official, if it were at all possible not to (and it usually is) There is a reason that they want you to appear before them - on their home court - and those reasons are not intended in any way to benefit you.
As DaveKC points out, you would be wise to have your accountant with you. It would be even better if your accountant is an enrolled agent - someone who is approved by the IRS, and is authorized by you, to legally represent you before the IRS on tax matters.
My CPA is an enrolled agent - I would never hire an accountant who wasn't.
The best time to educate one's self and prepare is before you have to deal with the IRS.
It is imperative that you immediately educate yourself at least minimally. I would suggest that you immediately go to Dan Pilla's website and read:
Surviving A Tax Audit
Dan is an expert on the IRS and helps people solve tax problems by helping people become educated about their rights as taxpayers.
If you want to understand who he is and what he is all about go here:
Who Is Dan Pilla
Additionally, I would suggest that you consider ordering one or more of his books - probably The Taxpayers' Ultimate Defense Manual, so that you are educated and understand your rights as a taxpayer. Be assured that NO ONE from the IRS will be educating you as to what your rights actually are - in fact, unless you assert them, don't expect the IRS to respect them - they can, and frequently do, willingly violate, or at a bare minimum, attempt to get you to waive, your rights.
Protect yourself - get educated - and be informed.
Good Luck.
Sorry - just saw this ... my reply may be a little late in the game.
That is the general idea - that you do (feel trepidation) is intended, and is actually part of the IRS's strategy to gain compliance with the tax code.
No, actually you don't .....
Despite that, I believe that you have a right to ask for an audit by mail - if appearing in person poses a hardship.
Since you drive truck over the road and often cannot tell where you might be from one day to the next, appearing at a specific time and place does indeed pose a hardship.
I would never appear before any IRS official, if it were at all possible not to (and it usually is) There is a reason that they want you to appear before them - on their home court - and those reasons are not intended in any way to benefit you.
You have a legitimate reason to be concerned - sometimes that is indeed what occurs.
As DaveKC points out, you would be wise to have your accountant with you. It would be even better if your accountant is an enrolled agent - someone who is approved by the IRS, and is authorized by you, to legally represent you before the IRS on tax matters.
My CPA is an enrolled agent - I would never hire an accountant who wasn't.
The best time to educate one's self and prepare is before you have to deal with the IRS.
It is imperative that you immediately educate yourself at least minimally. I would suggest that you immediately go to Dan Pilla's website and read:
Surviving A Tax Audit
Dan is an expert on the IRS and helps people solve tax problems by helping people become educated about their rights as taxpayers.
If you want to understand who he is and what he is all about go here:
Who Is Dan Pilla
Additionally, I would suggest that you consider ordering one or more of his books - probably The Taxpayers' Ultimate Defense Manual, so that you are educated and understand your rights as a taxpayer. Be assured that NO ONE from the IRS will be educating you as to what your rights actually are - in fact, unless you assert them, don't expect the IRS to respect them - they can, and frequently do, willingly violate, or at a bare minimum, attempt to get you to waive, your rights.
Protect yourself - get educated - and be informed.
Good Luck.
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