philmarti[at]aol.com (Phil Marti) writes:

- quote -

Bad choice of words there. Do not mail your records with
your return. Keep good records, prepare an accurate return,
and relax once it's done.

Phil Marti
Topeka, KS

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Joseph J. Greenberg" <news[at]greenberg.diespammerdie.net> wrote:

- quote -

Refunds on the current tax return or even on an amended
return are acknoledgement of nothing and no cause for
assuming that it is time to relax. Watch the statute of
limitations period instead.

Larry

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Joseph J. Greenberg" wrote...

- quote -

Not really, a math check of all the sub totals from all
schedules is all that really occurs during initial
processing & assessment.

- quote -

The process is very rigid as far as a time lines are
concerned, at leisure is not the principal, the Statute of
limitations is un forgiving, if it's blown potential revenue
is lost.

Tax Year 2002, filed=4/5/2003,
CP-2000 review Early summer-2004 to late spring-2005,
Statute to get all cases closed is 4/15/2006

The W-2 match is one of about eight major sub class (RUNS)
that are processed, all tax returns reflecting an error of
entries on line-7 as compared to composite of W-2 processed
by the under reporter examiners. Tens of thousands of
returns are screened for these potential errors in the 2nd
summer after the return was filed,

Then they might move on to the sub-class of all returns
where investment income is missing (Interest & Dividends),

Then on to all returns which have Schedule C,E,F and have a
miss-match on 1099-Misc income (NEC,RENT)

- quote -

The statute of limitations is the safest answer to that
question.

What I describe above is one MAJOR program, the other
programs are:

A random audit aka (Tax Compliance Measurement program), who
will review all your records in person to confirm that you
reported your liability accurately, many times these audits
confirm that you did a perfectly accurate job.

Complex issues involving a Revenue Agent (highly skilled
auditor) who review difficult to trace or validate
deductions and other entries.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Joseph J. Greenberg" <news[at]greenberg.diespammerdie.net> wrote:

- quote -

Your second analysis is correct - the refund check doesn't
mean much more than your numbers added up and there was
nothing in their computers at the time to contradict what
you put on your return.

You can relax after the statute of limitations has passed.
Of course, this begs the question - if your return is
"straight-forward and honest" why aren't you already
relaxed?

Gene E. Utterback, EA

===================
Moderator: Paranoia
===================

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Joseph J. Greenberg wrote:

- quote -

You can relax for 365 days a year, each and every year, if
the contents of the tax return you mailed to the IRS was to
the best of your knowledge and belief, true, correct and
complete. See the words above the signature line on the tax
return.

--
Alan
http://taxtopics.net

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Joseph J. Greenberg" <news[at]greenberg.diespammerdie.netwrites:

- quote -

Unless it's a very large refund, the refund just means that
your return is processable. Nothing has been verified with
W-2's and 1099's at that point. That automated verification
comes 12-18 months later. Meanwhile, back at the computer,
it's busily analyzing to flag suspect returns for more
detailed audits, which can come any time within 3 years.

When can you relax? The day you mail your properly prepared
return with the records to back up what's on it.

Phil Marti
Topeka, KS

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Joseph J. Greenberg" <news[at]greenberg.diespammerdie.net> writes:

- quote -

No.

- quote -

Yes. Actually, you may well get the refund *before* they
even cross-check the W-2 and 1099 data.

- quote -

Given that sentence, you can relax when you filed it.
But I suppose you mean when the statute of limitations
expires, which for a straight-forward, honestly-answered
return, will be three years after the later of the due
date or the filing date.

--
Rich Carreiro rlcarr[at]animato.arlington.ma.us

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

This might be a real newbie question, but I've often
wondered: While I know that the IRS can go pretty far back
in reviewing past tax forms (to the statue of limitations),
is it safe to assume that once you've received a refund for
a given year that they're not going to revisit that form
unless and until something gives them reason to suspect
something on it? Or are refunds just an acknowledgement that
your numbers add up and match what the IRS received from
employer(s)/payers, and they'll look at the form later "in
more detail" (maniacal laugh inserted here) at their
"leisure"?

In other words, assuming a fairly straight-forward return
that one has answered honestly, when can one relax?

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->