1. DON’T go to your appointment unprepared.
2. Don’t be late for your appointment with the auditor.
3. Don’t volunteer information.
4. Don’t be condescending of education, experience, age, or gender.
5. Don’t be arrogant, even if you clearly have an upper hand.
6. Don’t flaunt your being a CPA or lawyer to an agent who may have fewer qualifications.
7. Don’t insult the auditor.
8. Don’t bully.
9. Don’t raise your voice.
10. Don’t ignore the IRS.
11. Don’t mess with the IRS.
12. Don’t fight the auditor. This is an agent’s case assignment, not a personal attack against you.
13. Don’t create distance between you and the agent.
14. Don’t insist on indefensible positions. You’ll lose it anyway.
15. Don’t argue for the sake of arguing. You know who’s going to lose.
16. Don’t expect to win on all issues. Settle.
17. Don’t reject the agent’s position without adequate analysis. It could be worse.
18. Don’t be fixated in resolving the case with the agent. Go to Appeals.
19. Don’t complain about bureaucracy. Instead, use bureaucracy to your advantage.
20. Lastly, if you’re in a hole, stop digging!
And if you don’t behave, plead the fifth.
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Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV – Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California.
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He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise – “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at [email protected].
