The IRS has announced a plan to increase audits as a result of an uptick in tax fraud. Some taxpayers are more likely to be targeted than others. Here’s how to know where you stand.
IRS Promises Operational Changes
After the IRS received $80 million to improve its operations, the agency has promised significant changes that it says will increase revenue and improve the overall IRS experience.
Audits a Main Focus
The biggest change will involve the number of audits performed by the IRS each year. Danny Werfel, IRS commissioner, explained the details of the new plan to improve the agency.
Responding to “Years of Underfunding”
After “years of underfunding,” Werfel said the IRS’s performance had suffered. In response and with the help of the $80 million endowment, the plan is to spend three years making significant changes to its operations.
Low- and Middle-Class Taxpayers Unaffected
The increase in audits will target a specific subset of taxpayers. Luckily for most Americans, those making under $400,000 per year will not be at any increased risk of being audited.
More Audits for the Rich
However, for taxpayers with income higher than that threshold and large companies, audits will come at up to ten times the frequency as before.
Rates of Increased Audits
For corporations who hold more than a quarter of a million dollars in assets, the rate of audits will triple. Partnerships which have assets in excess of $10 million will be audited at ten times the current rate.
Wealthy Individuals Will See 50% Increase
Finally, American taxpayers who earn over $10 million will have 50% more audits. The IRS was clear in its announcement that taxpayers outside of those groups would not be audited more frequently.
Commissioner Promises Non-Wealthy Individuals and Small Businesses Will Not Be Targeted
“There is no new wave of audits coming from middle- and low-income [individuals], coming from mom and pops. That’s not in our plans,” Commissioner Werfel said.
IRS Intends to Send a Message
Werfel said the idea is to send a message to wealthy individuals and corporations that they are being more heavily scrutinized to attempt to curb fraudulent filing.
“It Sets an Important Tone and Message”
“It sets an important tone and message for complex filers, high-wealth filers, that this is our focus area,” Werfel said.
IRS to Increase Hiring Efforts
Another area of focus for the IRS with the new funding is in hiring new talent to fill seats that have been empty for years.
12,000 Seats to Be Filled
According to Werfel, there is a plan to increase employment numbers by approximately another 12,000 hires. The IRS hopes to employ a total of 102,500 people by the end of the effort.
“That Number Won’t Even Be a Record High”
“That number won’t even be a record high for the IRS workforce; it’s well below the numbers from the 1980s and early 1990s,” Werfel noted.
An Attempt to Clear Up Myths
This clarification was necessary after the IRS became the subject of political posturing and pervasive myths surrounding its future.
Unfounded Rumors
Following the $80 million award that was given to the IRS as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, there were Republicans behind rumors that the IRS planned to “supersize” itself with “87,000 new IRS agents to audit Walmart shoppers.”
Most New Hires Will Replace Retirees
Werfel made it clear that those rumors were unsubstantiated, and that the people the IRS plans to hire will be taking seats vacated by employees that have retired.
“This Should Put to Rest Any Misconception”
“This should put to rest any misconception about us bringing on 87,000 agents,” Werfel said.
Preparing for Changes
As the changes are rolled out, affected taxpayers should ensure they have their ducks in a row and prepare for an increased chance of an audit.
Relief for the Middle Class
For everyone else, you can rest easy knowing your odds of being audited are as low as ever. As the IRS prioritizes tax filing accuracy and fraud prevention, it recognizes that the issues do not lie with the middle and lower classes or small businesses.
The post – The IRS is Increasing Audits: Are You in the Crosshairs? – first appeared on Mechanic Insider.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sundry Photography.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.
