Yep, it happened. You opened your mailbox and there it is: the dreaded notice from the IRS. Your tax return has been selected for examination. Translation? You’re being audited.
Don’t panic. Take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and it’s not always as scary as it sounds. Here’s what you need to know about tax audits in 2025 and why having professional audit help could be your smartest move.
What Exactly is a Tax Audit?
An audit means the IRS wants to take a closer look at your tax return. It doesn’t automatically mean you did something wrong – they are just double-checking. In 2023, the IRS audited around 0.38% of all individual tax returns, with most being low-key, mail-based correspondence audits.
There are three main types of tax audits:
- Correspondence Audit: Handled by mail, often for simple documentation.
- Office/Desk Audit: You meet with an IRS agent at a local IRS office.
- Field Audit: The IRS comes to you, either your home or business.
Fact Check: Over 85% of all IRS audits in recent years are now correspondence audits. That’s good news. It usually means less stress and lower stakes.
Why Me? Common IRS Audit Triggers
IRS audits don’t always mean foul play. Sometimes, you just raised a red flag, such as:
- Reporting unusually high deductions relative to income
- Not reporting all taxable income (looking at you, side hustlers and crypto traders)
- Frequent business losses (especially for self-employed filers)
- Claiming 100% business use of a vehicle
- Rounding numbers or having math errors
- Large charitable donations without proper documentation
Oh – and sometimes it’s just luck of the draw. The IRS randomly selects a small number of returns to help refine its data through the National Research Program. That’s why tax preparers cannot offer you an entirely “audit-free” return. Even with a completely clean return, there’s always a possibility that you could face a tax audit.
What Happens After an Audit?
Here’s how an audit can wrap up:
- No Change. The IRS agrees with the information provided on your return, and no changes are necessary.
- Accepted. The IRS proposes changes to your return, and you accept them.
- Disagreed: You don’t agree with the IRS’s findings. You can request audit reconsideration or appeal the decision in court.
Did you know? Not all audits result in a bill. In fact, some people get money back. In a recent audit year, over 30,000 taxpayers received refunds from their audit reviews.
No matter what conclusion comes from your audit, the biggest key is to watch out for deadlines. The IRS gives you a specific amount of time to respond, and if you don’t, they will still post the changes.
Why Use Professional Tax Audit Help?
Could you handle a tax audit yourself? Sure. But should you? That’s another story.
Even a simple mail audit can spiral into weeks of back-and-forth with unclear instructions, dense tax code references, and “IRS hold music” that lives rent-free in your head.
With a tax professional:
- You rarely have to talk to the IRS directly
- You get help gathering documents and preparing responses
- You have someone who knows your rights and how to protect them
- You’re represented by someone who knows the language the IRS speaks
You don’t want to risk extra penalties or payments just because you missed a detail. A pro can often reduce what you owe or make sure you don’t overpay. For a free consultation, call Tax Defense Network at 855-476-6920 or fill out our online form.