How to avoid getting audited this extended tax season

The coronavirus has forced many of us indoors, away from restaurants, movies, and sporting events.

TODAY IS APRIL 15TH-- AND ITWOULD HAVE BEEN TAX DAY, BUTTHE DEADLINE TO FILE HAS BEENPUSHED BACK TO JULY 15TH.GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS URGINGPEOPLE WHO ARE EXPECTINGREFUNDS TO STILL FILE RIGHTAWAY... BUT DON'T BE HASTY.HOW YOU COMPLETE THE PROCESSIS IMPORTANT AS WELL IF YOUDON'T WANT TO END UP IN ANAUDIT.

THIS MORNING-- WE HAVESOME TIPS TO HELP MAKE FILINGA LITTLE EASIER.LATEST IRS DATA SHOWS IN2017-- MORE THAN 196 MILLIONFEDERAL TAX RETURNS WERE FILED.OF THOSE RETURNS... ABOUT ONEMILLION GOT A CLOSER LOOK WITHAN AUDIT.

THE ODDS OF GETTINGAUDITED BY THE IRS ARE AFRACTION OF A PERCENT... BUTIT CAN HAPPEN.

SO HOW TO YOUREDUCE YOUR RISK?

FIRST, MAKESURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHTEXPERT.

LOOK FOR A CERTIFIEDPUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OR ANENROLLED AGENT.

MOST CHARGE BYTHE HOUR, BUT IF THEY CHARGEBASED ON YOUR REFUND, THAT'S ARED FLAG.AVOID REPORTING AZERO INCOME.

IN 2016, OVERTHREE PERCENT OF RETURNS WITHNO ADJUSTED INCOME WEREAUDITED.MOST IMPORTANTLY,DOUBLE CHECK YOUR MATH.

IT ISONE OF THE TOP ERRORS REPORTEDBY THE I-R-SAND FINALLY, DON'TLEAVE ANYTHING BLANK ON YOURFORM.

ADD A ZERO OR DASH, EVENIF THERE IS NOTHING TO REPORT.IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO BEAUDITED, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIEDBY MAIL AND YOU CAN CONDUCT ITEITHER IN PERSON OR BY MAIL.ON AVERAGE, THE I-R-S HAS 26MONTHS AFTER YOU FILE TOREQUEST AN AUDIT.AND SUSAN-- AND SOME OF THOSEAUDITS-- ACTUALLY RESULT INMONEY BACK TO THE TAXPAYER.

OFTHE 1 MILLION AUDITS IN 2017--ALMOST 30-THOUSAND RESULTED INADDITIONAL REFUNDS THATTOTALLED MORE THAN 6-BILLIONDOLLARS.