Filing your taxes is often complicated, and if you are like many Florida residents, you may make an estimate here and there when doing so. If the Internal Revenue Service reviews your return and decides it needs more information from you than what is currently available, it may decide to audit you.
The Motley Fool notes that, before you panic, you should know that audits are not always as scary or daunting as you might think. Instead, many audits involve nothing more than corresponding with the IRS by mail. However, in some cases, the service may need you to provide more information or documentation than is possible through the mail, in which case you may need to undergo an in-office or field audit.
The in-office audit
If the IRS requests that you attend an in-office audit, you should prep for an in-person meeting at your local IRS office. If you wish, you may bring a legal representative or accountant with you to the meeting.
The field audit
The most comprehensive audit type, the field audit may be necessary if your tax return raises multiple questions or has certain information on it that triggers a more thorough investigation. This is the type of audit that may involve IRS representatives visiting you at your home or place of business to make sure everything you reported on your tax return is accurate.
Most people never wind up being the subject of an audit. If the IRS does wind up auditing you, make sure to remain calm and polite during your interactions so not to arouse suspicion.