As reported in a statement issued by IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson, IRS has continued its strong audit enforcement efforts for Fiscal Year 2006. Principally because of a strong rise in collections, enforcement revenues—the monies from collection, examination, and document matching activities—has increased 3% to a record $48.7 billion.
Individual enforcement. For the 2006 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, total individual returns audited increased by over 6% to 1,293,681 from 1,215,000 in 2005. This is the highest number since '98. While correspondence or letter exams increased, there was an even bigger increase of nearly 23% from the previous year in the traditional, sit-down field audits.
As an important part of its enforcement effort, IRS has targeted high-income taxpayers. Audits of individuals with income of $1,000,000 and higher increased to 17,015 from 12,835, a nearly 33% increase. This translates into about 1 in every 16 of these taxpayers being audited last year. In addition, audits of individuals with incomes over $100,000 exceeded 257,000, an 18% increase from 2005. This is the highest figure in more than a decade.
Business enforcement. IRS has placed more emphasis in the area of flow-through returns involving S corporations and partnerships. Efforts to review S corporations and partnerships increased while other IRS activity involving small business and large corporations remained relatively stable. Audits of S corporation returns increased to 13,984 from 10,417, a 34% increase; this is the highest level since 2000. Audits of partnerships increased to 9,777 from 8,489, a 15% increase; this is the highest level since '98.
Audits of small businesses organized as corporations remained about the same: 17,871 audits were completed in 2006, up slightly from 17,858 in 2005. Audits of larger corporations—those with assets over $10 million—declined by 2.2%, to 10,591 from 10,829 in 2005.
November 22, 2006
November 17, 2006
Don D. Nelson, is one of the world's acknowledged U.S. Expatriate Tax Experts with over 31 years experience in providing services to clients everywhere in the world. This Blog will be updated regularly with the latest developments in expatriate and US international tax laws which will affect US Citizens living and working abroad.
Visit his website to for answers to most of your questions about US expatriate and foreign taxation at http://www.taxmeless.com or email Don at donnelsonattycpa@yahoo.com
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