{"id":354006,"date":"2016-04-04T10:48:06","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/tax\/tax-problems-audits\/avoiding-an-income-tax-audit.html"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:55:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T20:55:46","slug":"avoiding-an-income-tax-audit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/tax\/tax-problems-audits\/avoiding-an-income-tax-audit.html","title":{"rendered":"Common Mistakes That Risk a Tax Audit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Common Mistakes That Risk a Tax Audit<\/h1>\n
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\n By Balrina Ahluwalia, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Common mistakes that increase the risk of an IRS audit include unreported income, math errors, and excessively large deductions. Misreporting business expenses, omitting foreign income, and incorrect claims for dependents or tax credits like the EITC also draw scrutiny. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Filing income tax returns can be stressful. The last thing taxpayers want to do is prolong the whole process by risking an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)<\/a> audit. As such, we generally try to steer clear of red flags that might trigger one. In this article, we’ll review some of the common mistakes that risk an IRS audit and ways you can avoid them.<\/p>\r\n

If this gets complicated or you have questions regarding your specific situation, consider speaking with an experienced tax attorney<\/a> who can help you stay within the bounds of the law.<\/p>\r\n

What Is an IRS Tax Audit?<\/h2>\r\n

A federal income tax audit<\/a> is when the IRS reviews your tax returns and financial information to ensure accuracy and compliance with tax laws. In an audit, the IRS will likely check your income, tax deductions<\/a>, and credits to see if you paid the right amount of taxes. It might ask for more information or documents to verify your claims. It may also do this before deciding whether to pursue an audit.<\/p>\r\n

The IRS conducts four main types of audits:<\/p>\r\n