2798 78 Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns true Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:04:19 -0700 /system/videos/5/98/27/2798.flv audit, audited, business, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, finance, Instructional, Learn to, prepare, preparing, Return, returns, surviving, suvive, tax, taxes, Tips, tutorial How To Survive a Tax Audit http://www.howcast.com/videos/2798-How-To-Survive-a-Tax-Audit http://www.howcast.com/videos/2798-How-To-Survive-a-Tax-Audit/edit approved 148 640 480 <object width="425" height="352" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=2798"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=2798" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="352" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 16 Dynamic http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/ppn_viggiano_survive_tax_audit_still_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 1295 false false false 28915 1 27 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/27.jpg Consider getting representation Consider hiring someone to represent you at the audit. There’s a good chance the fee will be offset by the money a pro can save you.

]]> 28916 2 35 Tip Contact the National Association of Enrolled Agents for a tax pro; many are former IRS auditors.

]]> 28917 3 47 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/47.jpg Keep your mouth shut Keep your mouth shut. The biggest mistake people make at audits is providing more information than the auditor asks for, leading to even further scrutiny. Speak only when spoken to, and answer only what has been asked.

]]> 28918 4 62 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/62.jpg Leave old returns at home Bring only the documentation requested. Do not bring copies of previous returns that are not being audited, or you’ll open yourself up to questions about those, too.

]]> 28919 5 73 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/73.jpg Don’t shoot the messenger Remain polite by reminding yourself that the auditor is just doing his or her job.

]]> 28920 6 83 Tip If another return becomes due while you’re undergoing an audit, request an extension. Otherwise, it may be dissected, too.

]]> 28921 7 90 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/90.jpg Appeal If you end up owing money—which the majority of taxpayers who are audited do—appeal the decision. Roughly half of people who do get their penalties reduced.

]]> 28922 8 104 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/104.jpg Don’t follow up Never follow up if you don’t hear anything after the audit. Auditors have 28 months from the time you filed your return to render a decision. By bugging them, you may push them to complete an audit that would have died on the vine.

]]> 28923 9 119 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2798/119.jpg Avoid future problems When preparing your returns in the future, avoid these red flags: charitable contributions that exceed 5% of your income, taking undeserved tax credits, business expenses that seem excessive compared to your earnings, and careless errors like adding a column wrong or forgetting to attach a 1099.

]]> 28924 10 139 Fact Fewer than 2% of individual income tax returns are audited.

]]> 78 2780 How To Find Tax Forms HowcastGuide 431 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:06:10 -0700 10 vinzfeller ]]> 99 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/80/27/2780.flv business, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, file, filing, finance, find, finding, forms, Instructional, IRS, Learn to, Return, returns, tax, taxes, Tips, tutorial Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2780/ppn_feller_find_tax_forms_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2780-How-To-Find-Tax-Forms 78 2784 How To Bluff Your Way Through an IRS Audit HowcastGuide 1368 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:48:08 -0700 12 rachelrachel ]]> 125 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/84/27/2784.flv audit, audited, bluff, bluffing, business, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, finance, get, Instructional, Learn to, lie, lying, prepare, preparing, Return, returns, surviving, suvive, tax, taxes, through, Tips, tutorial Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns 7 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2784/hoffman_HTBluffYourWayThroughIRSAudit_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2784-How-To-Bluff-Your-Way-Through-an-IRS-Audit 78 2799 How To Get an Extension on Your Tax Return HowcastGuide 773 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:08:12 -0700 8 vinzfeller ]]> 128 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/99/27/2799.flv business, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, extension, extensions, file, filing, finance, get, getting, Instructional, late, Learn to, longer, pay, paying, Return, returns, tax, taxes, Tips, tutorial Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2799/file_tax_extension_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2799-How-To-Get-an-Extension-on-Your-Tax-Return 78 2845 How To File Your Taxes on the Last Day HowcastGuide 742 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:31:06 -0700 6 BenandCarter ]]> 155 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/45/28/2845.flv business, day, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, file, filing, finance, Instructional, last, Learn to, minute, returns, tax, taxes, Tips, tutorial Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2845/file_taxes_last_day_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2845-How-To-File-Your-Taxes-on-the-Last-Day 78 2860 How To Evade Your Taxes HowcastGuide 1478 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:20:44 -0700 7 BenandCarter ]]> 118 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/60/28/2860.flv business, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, evade, evading, finance, income, Instructional, IRS, Learn to, pay, paying, Return, returns, tax, taxes, Tips, tutorial Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2860/evade_taxes_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2860-How-To-Evade-Your-Taxes 31 213774 How To Use Twitter For Business HowcastGuide 11959 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:47:56 -0800 0 TwitterVideos ]]> 154 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/74/37/21/213774.flv twitter,social,networking,blogging,blogs,computers,technology,internet,business,small,tools,communications,partners Business & Finance Advertising & Marketing 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213774/twitter_business_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/213774-How-To-Use-Twitter-For-Business 31 236779 How Do You How-To With Gary Vaynerchuk: Brand Yourself HowcastGuide 286 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:03:19 -0700 1 Howcast ]]> 127 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/92/55/23/235592.flv Business & Finance Advertising & Marketing 5 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/236779/make_yourself_a_brand_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/236779-How-Do-You-HowTo-With-Gary-Vaynerchuk-Brand-Yourself 35 164288 How To Buy Homeowners Insurance HowcastGuide 909 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:05:38 -0700 5 bracey ]]> 179 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/88/42/16/164288.flv business, finance, insurance, buying, purchasing, getting, policies, money, family, house Business & Finance Insurance Home Insurance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164288/homeowners_insurance_master_hd-1920x1080_to_H.264_640x360_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/164288-How-To-Buy-Homeowners-Insurance 39 2484 How To Practice Good Phone and E-mail Etiquette At Work HowcastGuide 5413 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:32:02 -0700 24 KHall ]]> 140 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/84/24/2484.flv business, career, communicate, communication, company, conduct, DIY, Do It Yourself, e-mail, email, Essential Skills, etiquette, good, Instructional, job, Learn to, mail, office, phone, proper, talk, talking, Tips, tutorial, work, write Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Business Etiquette 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2484/ppn_hall_email_phone_etiquette_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2484-How-To-Practice-Good-Phone-and-Email-Etiquette-At-Work 40 151457 How To Deal With Being Laid Off HowcastGuide 1779 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:05:12 -0800 16 mr_stewart ]]> 156 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/57/14/15/151457.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, work, workplace Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Hiring & Firing 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/151457/deal_being_laid_off_640x360_nobug_h264_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/151457-How-To-Deal-With-Being-Laid-Off 40 165232 How To Fire Someone HowcastGuide 4199 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:06:40 -0700 13 TreehouseFlicks ]]> 147 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/32/52/16/165232.flv business, job, work, fire, let, go, firing, worker, employee, managing Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Hiring & Firing 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/165232/fire_someone_hd3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/165232-How-To-Fire-Someone 40 183154 How To Lay Someone Off HowcastGuide 3348 Tue, 26 May 2009 04:05:14 -0700 8 BajillionairesClub ]]> 119 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/54/31/18/183154.flv business, office, work, job, management, firing, laying, laid, managing, skills Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Hiring & Firing 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183154/lay_some_off_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/183154-How-To-Lay-Someone-Off 42 10464 How To Handle Employee Office Romances HowcastGuide 4360 Wed, 28 May 2008 06:34:34 -0700 9 Chris_Davis ]]> 94 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/64/04/01/10464.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, employee, office, romance, romances, relationship, date, dating, work, boss, secretary, sex, love, workplace, relation, relations, seeing, romantic Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Managing Employees 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/10464/handle_office_romance_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/10464-How-To-Handle-Employee-Office-Romances 48 150908 How To Build a Nest Egg HowcastGuide 991 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:06:08 -0800 4 bencheek ]]> 138 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/08/09/15/150908.flv business, finance, building, saving, money, retirement, funds, investing, investments Business & Finance Personal Finance General Personal Finance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/150908/nest_egg_hd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/150908-How-To-Build-a-Nest-Egg 48 171776 How To Prepare an Emergency Fund HowcastGuide 1158 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:06:09 -0700 4 pscerri ]]> 108 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/76/17/17/171776.flv financing, finance, preparing, saving, money, cash, emergencies, financial, fund, expenses Business & Finance Personal Finance General Personal Finance 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/171776/prepare_emergency_fund_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/171776-How-To-Prepare-an-Emergency-Fund