Of course, not all audits are disasters – those are just the ones people like to talk about. Plenty end up with no money changing hands (you were asked to justify something and you did) or with a greater refund.
I got one of the latter. It was all done automatically when I filed my return one year. I got a letter saying that they found a math error on my return and that I am entitled to an additional $100 refund, which they enclosed with the letter. As with any audit, I had the right to contest it, but I wasn’t crazy enough to do so.
I didn’t get audited but did get a notice a few years back that I owed $24,000 on income they claimed I failed to declare from a side job. They claimed that I made 65,250.00 on a side job working on computers for a summer camp. I had to write them a very long explanation on the importance of decimal points! (I am a former high school math teacher). I had actually made $652.50 from the side job and I had declared it properly. Somebody just goofed putting the decimal point in the wrong place. After a long wait, I got back a response saying that my “return as filed was correct”. No apology for the heart attack I nearly suffered when I opened that envelope! No, “We were wrong.” Just, “You were correct.”
I’ve gotten notices for both not paying enough and for paying too much. I don’t look close at the ones that want to give me money, but the one that informed me of a penalty was because I hadn’t done the “Estimated Tax” and I didn’t realize I was required to. And BTW, Estimated Tax is a total rip-off. They make you pay your income tax for the following year, apparently just so they can have the use of the money before they are “entitled” to it…
Nachikethass over 5 years ago
Attagirl, Broomie!
jagedlo over 5 years ago
Love his look as it just hit him that Broomie came out ahead!
carlzr over 5 years ago
He should have known something was wrong when Broomie stood on his desk.
shamino over 5 years ago
Of course, not all audits are disasters – those are just the ones people like to talk about. Plenty end up with no money changing hands (you were asked to justify something and you did) or with a greater refund.
I got one of the latter. It was all done automatically when I filed my return one year. I got a letter saying that they found a math error on my return and that I am entitled to an additional $100 refund, which they enclosed with the letter. As with any audit, I had the right to contest it, but I wasn’t crazy enough to do so.
glen.page over 5 years ago
I didn’t get audited but did get a notice a few years back that I owed $24,000 on income they claimed I failed to declare from a side job. They claimed that I made 65,250.00 on a side job working on computers for a summer camp. I had to write them a very long explanation on the importance of decimal points! (I am a former high school math teacher). I had actually made $652.50 from the side job and I had declared it properly. Somebody just goofed putting the decimal point in the wrong place. After a long wait, I got back a response saying that my “return as filed was correct”. No apology for the heart attack I nearly suffered when I opened that envelope! No, “We were wrong.” Just, “You were correct.”
ChessPirate over 5 years ago
I’ve gotten notices for both not paying enough and for paying too much. I don’t look close at the ones that want to give me money, but the one that informed me of a penalty was because I hadn’t done the “Estimated Tax” and I didn’t realize I was required to. And BTW, Estimated Tax is a total rip-off. They make you pay your income tax for the following year, apparently just so they can have the use of the money before they are “entitled” to it…
Sisyphos over 5 years ago
Hooray, Broomie!
But beware the Big Audit next year. The IRS never forgets….