Comments on: Hey Congress, Why Don’t You…? Audit Every Year http://www.taxgirl.com/hey-congress-why-dont-you-audit-every-year/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:38:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ALFRED E. NEUMAN http://www.taxgirl.com/hey-congress-why-dont-you-audit-every-year/comment-page-1/#comment-13921 ALFRED E. NEUMAN Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:48:43 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3918#comment-13921 WHAT A TRAVESTY! THE LIKES OF RANGEL, GEITHNER, DASCHLE, RICHARDSON, ET AL AND OTHER SCUMBAG POLITICIANS DON'T PAY TAXES AND WHEN CAUGHT GET OFF SCOTTFREE! WHAT A TRAVESTY! THE LIKES OF RANGEL, GEITHNER, DASCHLE, RICHARDSON, ET AL AND OTHER SCUMBAG POLITICIANS DON’T PAY TAXES AND WHEN CAUGHT GET OFF SCOTTFREE!

]]> By: MJBUtah http://www.taxgirl.com/hey-congress-why-dont-you-audit-every-year/comment-page-1/#comment-11732 MJBUtah Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:53:48 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3918#comment-11732 I actually worked a detail for a season in the Automated Underreporter Program at the IRS, it was definitely illuminating. The computers identified returns that generally didn't match the information returns submitted for that SSN and then we physically compared each and every one kicked out to see if we could find where it had been reported or if the information returns were in error before corresponding. The have made some improvements since then, I know because we were two years behind (this was in 1991, we were looking at 1988 returns) and they aren't that far behind anymore, I don't think. I actually worked a detail for a season in the Automated Underreporter Program at the IRS, it was definitely illuminating. The computers identified returns that generally didn’t match the information returns submitted for that SSN and then we physically compared each and every one kicked out to see if we could find where it had been reported or if the information returns were in error before corresponding. The have made some improvements since then, I know because we were two years behind (this was in 1991, we were looking at 1988 returns) and they aren’t that far behind anymore, I don’t think.

]]> By: Robert D Flach http://www.taxgirl.com/hey-congress-why-dont-you-audit-every-year/comment-page-1/#comment-11729 Robert D Flach Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:55:39 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3918#comment-11729 SB- You say - "In some other countries, the government does a quick audit of the tax returns every year, matching up wages with reported income, etc." Where have you been? The IRS has been matching info reported on 1040s and 1040As to W-2s, 1099-INTs, 1099-DIVs, 1099-Rs, and K-1s for many years now. IRS first started matching interest and dividends reported on Schedule B to 1099s back when I first started doing taxes - in 1972! So, in effect, every return is already somewhat "audited" as you suggested. TWTP SB-

You say – “In some other countries, the government does a quick audit of the tax returns every year, matching up wages with reported income, etc.”

Where have you been?

The IRS has been matching info reported on 1040s and 1040As to W-2s, 1099-INTs, 1099-DIVs, 1099-Rs, and K-1s for many years now.

IRS first started matching interest and dividends reported on Schedule B to 1099s back when I first started doing taxes – in 1972!

So, in effect, every return is already somewhat “audited” as you suggested.

TWTP

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