Insider Guides to IRS Audits!

Ever wish that, as a business owner, you knew exactly what would raise "red flags" at the IRS? Or how to make an IRS audit go as smoothly and painlessly as possible?

If you're in the right type of business, you can get that information, directly from the IRS!

Traditionally, IRS examiners have been responsible for auditing many types of businesses. An examiner might audit a grocery store one week and a construction company the next. A lot of the examiner's time was spent learning about the business.

To improve efficiency, the IRS launched the Market Segment Specialization Program (MSSP). Examiners now focus on specific types of businesses. To help the examiners understand each type of business, the agency has developed training guides, called "Audit Techniques Guides." The guides explain the standard practices for the business, and tell the examiners exactly where to look for potential problems. (For example, auto repair shops sometimes don't report the parts they have in stock as inventory.)

The IRS has developed Audit Techniques Guides for dozens of business types, ranging from pizza shops to major league sports franchises. In addition, there are guides that deal with specific business practices, such as executive compensation, shareholder loans, or stock based compensation.

You can download the guides directly from the IRS website. There are other sites that distribute the ATGs as well, and some of them seem to have guides, perhaps a little out of date, that don't appear on the IRS website. Simply search the web for IRS Audit Techniques Guides to find a list!

Bob Nicholson / WYGK Consulting provides business, technology and strategic consulting for small businesses, internet start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Visit http://www.wygk.com

MORE RESOURCES:

2009 CHICAGO BUDGET | Mayor wants to hike event, parking taxes to ... - Chicago Sun-Times

As the Economy Sinks, So Do Odds of a Tax Cut - U.S. News World Report

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/World/article/122958cid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNEw5o_eXEbXjgxSU6Ju-U8zFkgfEQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=sz_IVIVDWZMJimgurl=media.metronews.ca/images/45/7d/dc95255445cc84f8282037e90063.jpeg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Metro Canda - Edmonton/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.usnews.com/blogs/flowchart/2008/10/9/as-the-economy-sinks-so-do-odds-of-a-tax-cut.htmlcid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNF8b0-7gvrRGOwLTOStvm4wn_XrGAAs the Economy Sinks, So Do Odds of a bTax/b Cut/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fU.S. News World Report,nbsp;DCnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1One of the riskiest financial moves you make this year could be listening to the presidential candidates—and banking on a btax/b cut after the November b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-1fd=Rurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D3ShDaWICNZ4cid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFCVtsSrotRiWMXvTAejJzHjNeeUAVideo: VP Debate - Tax Policies: Why are your tax policies not .../a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCSPAN/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/3ShDaWICNZ4/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/3ShDaWICNZ4type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-2fd=Rurl=http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/10/10/lower-taxes-fix-the-economy/cid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNF2yM1zjavIXgUHxUiHD5xpOCUzbwCan Lower bTaxes/b Fix The Economy?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBlackvoices/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-3fd=Rurl=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6048058.htmlcid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFnzW9bJD8Xoa2Fr30H0_I2OSUBtABoth candidates mum on effect of crisis on spending, btaxes/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrHouston Chronicle/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-4fd=Rurl=http://cbs4denver.com/seenon/obama.mccain.taxes.2.836041.htmlcid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNEN23o8VRB7s83DQFxvLOQmPTRz8Anobrcbs4denver.com/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-5fd=Rurl=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/09/fact-check-obama-tax-plan-and-small-businesses/cid=1256027098ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNEYD-xKiyJS0O_NJzKvT_PGnwwYsAnobrCNN Political Ticker/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256027098hl=ennobrall 562 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Mayor: Homeowners#39; taxes to drop - Indianapolis Star

Meeting on Crisis, Executives Say High Taxes Hinder City’s Economy - New York Times

Economic decisions involve more than reducing taxes - Lexington Dispatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20081010/COLUMNISTS/810100295/1053/sportscid=1254644376ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFlvx15bCLaKON-7RRGUX8znH1nXgEconomic decisions involve more than reducing btaxes/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLexington Dispatch,nbsp;NCnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Over the past few months, I have been following the policy debate between Republicans and Democrats over the idea of cutting btaxes/b. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-1fd=Rurl=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm%3Fc_id%3D280%26objectid%3D10536917cid=1254644376ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFykGnSlbaLIwmtMPnXJZHZ9GeseQPublic at odds with parties over deficit/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNew Zealand Herald/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-2fd=Rurl=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/2184525cid=1254644376ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNHXwJUA3Do6VSHMn3l_RJW6YsgIrwBrash has recipe for recovery/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTVNZ/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254644376hl=ennobrall 211 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Some real differences on carbon taxes . . . - Vancouver Sun

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html%3Fid%3Df867a11a-be0d-411e-833f-355d7644afa0cid=1256409194ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNHjO6heLozX--e-ITO75JVEr3PbDwSome real differences on carbon btaxes/b . . ./abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fVancouver Sun,nbsp; Canadanbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The carbon btax/b issue -- or, more broadly, carbon pricing -- should be a key focus of debate in the federal campaign. It#39;s the one btax/b policy area where b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-1fd=Rurl=http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/513650cid=1256409194ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNH-nsd6jJknca3hRBA83UsmGEbekwRating the parties#39; plans to put a price on carbon/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrToronto Star/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256409194hl=ennobrall 4 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Tax experts suggest ways to close $300 billion gap - The Associated Press

The Problem With Tax-Exempt Health Insurance - New York Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/10/09/report_both_candidates_increase_health_coveragecid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNEPEhGqxTw2CS1sWSGtxrn3HlKThgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=ABO7kvmnubcJimgurl=cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/AP_Photo/2008/10/09/1223526034_7510/539w.jpg width=80 height=79 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Boston Globe/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/the-problem-with-tax-exempt-health-insurance/%3Fref%3Dopinioncid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFFOq1koqIyZsndyWQO-Zqa3J6UkAThe Problem With bTax/b-Exempt Health Insurance/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Ezekiel Emanuel In this installment of Health Care Watch, Stuart M. Butler and Ezekiel Emanuel talk about what the candidates are saying about btaxes/b and b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-1fd=Rurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DerspfMkqLN4cid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFTmd9CYVgM9bWMsZqwQXo-67IRJAVideo: McCain, Obama Differ Dramatically on Health Care/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/erspfMkqLN4/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/erspfMkqLN4type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-2fd=Rurl=http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/10/06/mccain-i-m-not-raising-taxes-i-m-cutting-medicare.aspxcid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFyoG-m6kVIuRjEmz0qaU18UBbqAQMcCain: I#39;m Not Raising bTaxes/b. I#39;m Cutting Medicare!/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Plank on TNR.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-3fd=Rurl=http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081010/OPINION01/810100369cid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNFdooXBKae0JjPBTXazy9ArU_98IwWatch McCain speak for himself/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrHattiesburg American/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-4fd=Rurl=http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm%3FDR_ID%3D54846cid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNGLNk-yFb-XrKB-Ig6EDQNWkUFljwnobrKaiser network.org/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-5fd=Rurl=http://www.galen.org/component,8/action,show_content/id,68/category_id,0/blog_id,1095/type,33/cid=1252219486ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNGIQfmKgdxVdYMS8RfBGkb8_ivhoAnobrGalen Institute/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1252219486hl=ennobrall 1,648 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Oakland split over raising taxes for more cops - San Francisco Chronicle

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff%3D/c/a/2008/10/09/BA5B13DUSA.DTLcid=1256067753ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNHq3HXRIUwRwMLBBBypjQSUJWxwVwOakland split over raising btaxes/b for more cops/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSan Francisco Chronicle,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-14 ballot that would boost the size of the police force by raising property btaxes/b, with supporters saying more money is direly needed to fight crime while b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff%3D/c/a/2008/10/10/BA5113F4LB.DTLcid=1256067753ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNGn63rb1S6QQ-7RLSPBmtXb5SUreAOakland weighs cutting police overtime/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSan Francisco Chronicle/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256067753hl=ennobrall 8 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Don’t raise taxes - Buffalo News

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Economy/wireStory%3Fid%3D5991550cid=1255823033ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNHr7RCj9PBU86_x9gJ-8QmSsEZaDgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=YoJpSGJsACMJimgurl=a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/tax_fraud_081009_mn.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2ABC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/459635.htmlcid=1255823033ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNEmSjh065hpmmEyr4SoBakv6YmfpADon’t raise btaxes/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBuffalo News,nbsp; United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1If the hint from the administration of Erie County Executive Chris Collins that a property btax/b hike may be in the offing for 2009 is just a trail balloon, b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-1fd=Rurl=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIK6KCg908gehZTEDOQCbHnauzOwD93MSISO0cid=1255823033ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNHtH4brX1lEbVyijtpQjt1uDX0wWAStates to zero-in on btax/b cheats as economy sags/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Associated Press/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-2fd=Rurl=http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/09/news/economy/states_feel_the_pain/%3Fpostversion%3D2008100906cid=1255823033ei=E37wSInaLou-9gSGuqS4Bwusg=AFQjCNGR7nShERaaJEhKEcYBXhEaWiKE7gFor states, it#39;s #39;worst-case scenario#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNNMoney.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255823033hl=ennobrall 229 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Taxes - Google News

RELATED ARTICLES

A Taxing Investment
April 15 - The most dreaded day of the year is right around the corner. Are you ready? Some of the most neglected (and misunderstood) tax issues are those related to your investments.

Tips and Simple Guidelines on How to Calculate Payroll Taxes
Managing a business small, medium or big requires you to pay your taxes, as well as your employees taxes. Managing a payroll can be an arduous and taxing job, no pun intended.

Seven Key Tax Deductions for the Self Employed
As a sole proprietor, it's wise to familiarize yourself with the some key deductions that may reduce your tax bill for 2004.Small-business consultants generally recommend that you hire an accountant to prepare your tax returns, payroll and financial statements.

Save Money on Taxes - Let Uncle Sam Pay for Your Fun!
"Deducting Meals and Entertainment"O.K.

Section 179 - Tax Relief From Depreciation Rules
"Depreciation." For business owners, this word is the one most likely to inspire headaches and fits of cussing.

Tax Trap #2 -- Double Taxation: Isnt Once Enough?
Have you been thinking about incorporating your smallbusiness or self-employment activity? The advantagesare many!For starters, you'll be protecting yourself and your familyfrom the possible of a business ending lawsuit. Forming acorporation is Step One on the path known as "AssetProtection" -- you are moving from the world of unlimitedliability to the world of limited liability.

Small Business Tax Issues for Self-Employed Individuals
The United States is a nation of entrepreneurs. There are literally tens of millions of self-employed individuals that enjoy pursuing their dream business.

Home Based Business Tax Deductions
Running a home based business reaps many wonderful tax deductions that other businesses some times may not claim. Unfortunately to many small business owners end up paying the government taxes every year because they are unaware or several small business deductions that are available.

Tax Tips for Home-Based Business Owners
As tax time approaches, many home-based business owners begin completing their forms or paying their accountants with trepidation. This nervousness comes from two sources: a fear of being audited and a fear of having to pay a lot.

10 Tax Tips to Reduce Costs and Increase Income
No one likes paying tax. Everyone understands that tax is a necessary evil and that without it our government would not be able to afford our roads, health services, education, welfare system etc.

How to Reduce the Estate Tax Using the A-B Revocable Living Trust
In a past article I relayed the plight of the widow who stated:"I didn't realize what an A-B Revocable Living Trust meant and that it had to be divided between the survivor and the deceased spouse and that I am limited as to what I can use from his share."She told me that she only learned of this after her husband passed away.

How to Donate Your Car to Charity and Get Tax Deduction
Donating your used car to charity is a win-win situation; the charity gets your gift and you get tax deduction. Below are some simple steps to make a car donation.

How to Cut Duty Cost and Increase Profit as an Importer
Import duties continue to be significant elements in the cost of international trade. Yet many companies and businesses still pay more duties than the law requires - which impacts adversely on landed cost and ultimately on business profitability.

Tax Deduction for Alimony Payments? - Yes!
Over 50% of marriages end in divorce in the United States. Many divorce decrees include provisions for the payment of alimony.

Tax Reduction Tips
In the rush to get tax returns prepared and filed by April 15th, many overpay their taxes. Following are a few tax reduction tips that could help you save a bundle.

Tax Help Secret: Avoiding the Entreprenuers Curse
Your days as an entrepreneur and businessperson are consumed with one primary activity; making money. Whether you think in terms of growing your business, getting the word out there, or some fancy new marketing technique, your days and weeks and months in business are focused on that one group of activities.

E-commerce Taxation
The means and types of businesses have transformed with advent of era of e-commerce, resulting in global seller and buyer. The Internet offers consumer choice, business efficiency and recreation.

Small Businesses: Company Car Vs. Personal Mileage Reimbursement In Hurricane Katrinas Wake
With gas prices at an all time high before Hurricane Katrina left her mark on our nation, most Americans were hoping that gas prices would settle down once summer passed. But gas prices have jumped as much as 80 cents a gallon across the country once Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast and impacted all of our lives.

Need a Copy of Your Tax Return Information?
Taxpayers have two easy and convenient options for getting copies of their federal tax return information - tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts - by phone or by mail.A tax return transcript shows most line items from the tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules.

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Certified For Clean-Fuel Deduction
If you are environmentally conscious and purchase a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle that combines a gasoline-powered engine with alternative power methods, you are in line for a nice tax deduction.Ostensibly, the government uses clean power tax deductions as a method to promote the use of vehicles that are less harmful to the environment.