Check out the other audit risks
Income Risk Large Itemized Deductions Unreported Income
Rental Income Self-Employment Home Office
Unreported Alimony Automobile Expenses
High-Risk Tax Audit Areas Related to Rental Income
High DIF
IRS computers compare all tax returns to the national Discriminate Information Function (DIF) system average. The IRS calculates the DIF score by using a closely-guarded formula. Tax returns with the highest DIF scores are scrutinized by experienced IRS examining officers who determine which tax returns provide the best chance for collecting additional taxes, interest, and tax penalties.
The IRS recently released a report indicating their intent to perform more examinations of individual tax returns that report losses from rental real estate activity. The increased scrutiny was triggered by a 2008 report that found at least 53% of individual taxpayers with rental real estate activity for tax year 2001 misreported their rental real estate activity. The report appears to direct the IRS focus on those taxpayers claiming real estate professional status
Thus, similar to documenting expenses, document your time devoted to real estate related activities is extremely important given the IRS’s intent to look more closely at real estate activities.
Defend Yourself!
You are entitled to take every tax deduction that you qualify for and you should never be scared by the potential of an IRS tax audit. You must use common sense when making decisions about deductions and hire a qualified CPA to help you through the minefield of taxes