Preparing Your Tax Return to Avoid Getting an IRS Review Letter

The Internal Revenue Service has a computer program, the Discriminant Inventory Function System (DIF), that acts as a watchdog to detect fraudulent tax returns when they're filed. You'll receive an IRS letter if DIF flags your return for review for any reason.

It's possible that you simply transposed a couple of digits in a Social Security number, and the number you entered belongs to someone else. But you could face a full-blown audit if the reason you're flagged isn't so innocent. Double-checking your return before you submit it can help you avoid being flagged by DIF.

How the Computer System Works

DIF scans tax returns based on how the IRS thinks your return should look. DIF assigns a score to each tax return received based on the likelihood that further review will result in a change to that return. It effectively flags them for further scrutiny by an agent if it detects anything amiss, and the computer will automatically send you a letter as well.

What the IRS Looks For

DIF flags some items for obvious reasons, such as a failure to report the income from all your Form W-2s and 1099s. The IRS receives copies of these forms from the issuers as well, so the computer system knows how much income should be attributable to your Social Security number each year. DIF will throw a flag if the reported figures don't match up.

Both taxpayers would typically receive a computer-generated letter known as a CP87A Notice if they each claimed the same dependent. You can either remove all the dependent-related tax breaks from your return when you receive this notice, or the IRS will initiate an audit so you can produce proof that you do indeed have the right to claim that dependent.

The IRS program also scans information on returns looking for what the IRS considers to be the most common abuses of tax law. DIF will flag your return if one or more of your deductions differs from that claimed by most other people in your same economic circumstances. You'll receive a letter and your return will be examined by an agent.

The IRS Computer Runs on Auto-Pilot

All this results in the IRS sending literally millions—yes, millions—of notices each year. The notices and letters are issued automatically, initiated by the computer, and some might lack IRS contact information. They simply notify taxpayers that their refunds have been frozen, that deductions have been disallowed, or that the IRS will be requesting additional information to verify the return.

How To Protect Yourself

Mistakes happen, so be alert, particularly if yours is a complicated return. Review your completed Form 1040 with an eye for every detail—not just once, but at least twice.

Tax preparation software can help. The software will almost invariably get the important issues right if you take your time, study the accompanying tutorial, and answer all the program's questions honestly. These tax preparation solutions know what you can claim based on the information you've provided and what you cannot claim.

Make sure you can substantiate all the deductions you're claiming, particularly if you decide to handle your return yourself without the help of software or a professional. You should have proof of all that you spent and claimed as tax deductions. Make sure you understand any and all tax credits you've claimed, and be sure you really do qualify for them.

Double-Check Those 1099 Forms

Check that you've accounted for all your tax documents—every W-2 and every Form 1099. You can receive 1099s for interest or dividend income, or if you're self-employed and did work as an independent contractor, even if it's just a side gig.

Were you paid by any entity that failed to send you a corresponding tax document for that income after the first of the year? Contact that company to find out why the IRS received a notice, but you didn't.

Form 1099-NEC is often issued in the name of an independent contractor rather than their business entity, if they even have one. You might not have alerted the clients you work with if you've incorporated recently, so you'll receive a 1099 under your Social Security number rather than the corporation's tax ID number.

Check the names on these forms so you can be sure which entity—you or your corporation—must claim the corresponding income. You can also contact your client and ask for an updated, correct form.

The Final Step

Make sure you haven't made any of the most common, simpler mistakes after you've checked, double-checked, and triple-checked your return. The IRS provides a Checklist of Common Errors When Preparing Your Tax Return that you can review for any possible missteps you might have made.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)