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6 Ways to Survive An Audit

Dom dom dom!!! AUDIT! I said it, out loud. Trust me, it’s not like Beetlejuice, where if you say it 3x it shows up. We can talk about audit without that dreaded letter showing up.

When I got that letter last spring, I was like most people. I started sweating profusely, my stomach hurt, I was in a full blown panic attack.

What did they want from me? I don’t make any money? I don’t lie? Why are they doing this? I was a mess.

Then I called my mom. She quickly calmed me down, told me it wasn’t gonna be any big deal. So she said. I didn’t believe it, and was sure this was gonna kill me.

First I had to call them. That was the toughest decision to make. Just willing myself to pick up the phone and call them. Somehow I made excuses to do every other crappy thing on my to-do list I’d been putting off.

Wash the cat? Done. Clean the yard up of dog poop? Done. Get the oil changed? Done. Clean the baseboards? Done

So there I was like a week later, still hadn’t called, just sweating as I picked up the phone and dialed.

And you know what I found out?

The IRS is full of just regular folks doing their job. Folks like us. I talked to Eric, my trusted IRS partner, where we set up an appointment and he advised me of the things I needed to bring in. I was scared of the appointment but relieved that he didn’t sound like a jerk, and didn’t tell me I as horrible and would soon be wearing an orange jumpsuit.

So I gathered all my info and went to meet him a few weeks later. He was a super nice, a family guy with young kids, very easy to talk to, and very helpful. I asked him lots of questions since I’m self-employed and we went over things.

I was extremely grateful that I had done my excel sheet with all my expenses because it made it quite easy to show him where my write-offs came from. He informed me that I needed to make them a little bit more in depth, which I agreed to do, and we set another appointment for a month away.

I did as he asked and met with him again in a month to drop off my paperwork. Now my case is simple, I didn’t make much, and I didn’t have any huge red flags to go over. My meeting with him was always 30 min or less. He told me it would be a few months and he would have my results.

I met him about 3 months later to go over what he’d found. There were a few discrepancies, nothing major, no fines or huge totals owed. I set up a payment plan and Poof! It was all over. Just like that.

Yes it was stressful, yes it took some time, but no, it didn’t kill me. Here are some great tips to make your auditing experience easier and smooth.

taxes, paying taxes, audit, how to survive an audit — 6 Ways to Survive An Audit

Don’t Ignore the Notice– Remember that part where I kept putting it off cuz I was scared. Well, that’s all fine and good, but I did call before the date on the form. If you ignore it altogether, don’t worry, they’ll find you. And it won’t be pretty. Just make the call and the appointment. It’s much easier than dealing with the repercussions of ignoring it.
Don’t Lie– Whatever you do, don’t lie to the Federal Government. They are fully expecting to find mistakes on your taxes, heck that might be why you’re there. Things that are general mistakes, or assumed that you didn’t have the knowledge, made a clerical error, or just didn’t know, aren’t going to get you into trouble. I didn’t know that I couldn’t write off 100% of travel food expenses. It wasn’t a big deal, he just did an adjustment, and I learned something new. Lying will only make it worse, and lead to potential larger fines and even punishment.
Organize Your Records– When you talk to the IRS agent, he/she will tell you what they’re looking for. What year(s) they need to look at. If you’re a terrible bookkeeper and it’s a mess, don’t be afraid to tell them. They will give you time to put together your stuff. And if you don’t have it, start re-creating the records. I didn’t have receipts for my travel records. I was terrified about this, as if he was going to berate me, for such stupidity. Luckily, every expense I wrote off, was on my business bank account records. I spent an entire day, making lists of each expenditure and totally them up for each month. Time-consuming? Yes, but not impossible. Don’t panic, most stuff we can re-create and even find among our paperwork
Be Nice– This goes without saying. I had heard horror stories of mean, horrible agents. But that wasn’t my case. He was friendly, professional, and easy to deal with. Which is exactly how I was to him. He told me horror stories of dealing with difficult people and it’s a shame because they’re just doing their job. Besides what’s the statement, “you catch more flies with honey?” Just be nice and respectful and chances are you’ll be treated the same.
Bring Copies of Documents– There will be paperwork, lots of it. But just bring copies. Chances are you won’t be receiving any of your paperwork back, so make sure and bring copies. Keep track of what’s been submitted and what hasn’t. I ended up making an excel sheet, (yes, you know I love excel) and making a list of things I needed to get, along with a check mark when I submitted it. Organization is key to a good audit.
Consult an Attorney– if you run a substantial business, have failed to pay taxes, or have complicated tax issues, please consult an attorney. They can give you constructive advice on how to proceed, let you know about possible fines, and direct you in your search for documents and info. And you can hire an attorney to handle the entire situation for you. I wish I’d had that option, but I didn’t since I couldn’t afford it.

My biggest wish at the end of this article is that you realize that being audited isn’t the end of the world. Is there a chance they’ll find a mistake(s) or you’ll owe extra money? Sure. Are you going to be ordered into the orange jumpsuit at your meeting and taken away without saying goodbye to the family, probably not? While it’s certainly can be a trying time, you’re simply going thru something that almost every person will go thru at one point in your life. Take a deep breath and breath deep, cuz it’s gonna be ok.

26 Ways to Save on Monthly Expenses

Who wants more money? ME!!

You too? Good, you’re in the right place.

I’m always looking for places to save money. I’m not intrinsically cheap, but I do like a deal. I don’t use coupons much, but I’m always doing research on lots of stuff to find a good deal. I love the satisfaction I get from saving money. Oh and my bank account likes it too!

Here are some of my favs…

Carpool– I know this isn’t anyone’s favorite, but it saves so much money!! Oh and you can use the carpool lane, so you get to work faster. So it saves money and time! WIN!
Get Rid of Extra Car– If you have multiple cars and some are sitting, get rid of them. If one of you works at home, get rid of it. If one of you is taking transit or carpooling, get rid of it!
Public Transportation– Mass transit, its the way to go. If you live and work near a train or bus line, you’re silly for not using it. It might take a little extra time, but it saves so much. Just try it.
Refinance Home– If you haven’t thought about this, and you’ve been paying on your mortgage for a while, it’s worth checking into. A lower interest rate can save you thousands of dollars a year. Definitely worth the time to investigate it.
Consolidate Student Loans– Many of us have lots of school loans, taken out at different times, or with different banks/vendors. Check into a consolidation loan to hopefully lower your overall interest rate, and lower your payment.
Take Advantage of Balance Transfers– If you happen to see a great deal, like a 0% APR for an extended period of time, or for balance transfers, don’t be afraid to try it. Just read the small print, and make sure to close the old card. Don’t want to run it up again!
Request a Credit Card Rate Reductions– Many banks will entertain lowering your interest rate on your cards, for 2 different reasons. If you have an excellent payment history, and you’re thinking of moving accounts, many banks/institutions will lower the rate if asked. They will also entertain the idea of lowering the rate if you’re under financial hardship. This can be trickier, but many do it as a way to help lower your payment when in hardship.
Install LED Lightbulbs– While these can be more expensive, the savings are in the long haul. Lower utility rates, and no need to change for a very long time!
Install Programmable Thermostat– These can save you a ton of money. They’re relatively inexpensive and super cool. They can keep the house cool when it needs to be, and warmer when no one is home. Total money saver.
Lower Temperature on Water Heater– Most water heaters are set to 140degrees from the manufacturer. If you lower it to 120degrees, you’ll save a bunch of money on electricity.
Air Seal Home– Keeping your home sealed tight, whether you live in cold or warm climates, will save over time. Some things can be done by yourself, some need a handyman. Adding extra insulation and weather stripping will go a long way.
Cancel Gym Memberships– Just admit to yourself. You’re not using that gym membership much, if at all. I did. I was a gym rat forever, but in the last few years, I’ve just slacked off, (and gained weight, but that’s another article!) I recently started walking my new puppy every day. So guess what? After 17 years, I gave up the membership. At least for now. It hurt a bit, more pride than anything, but it’ll save me $600/year, so win-win.
Get Rid of Cable– I gave up my DirectTV account after 15 years, about 9 months ago, and it’s the best decision I could have made. I was paying $125/month for DirecTV. I switched to SlingTV and even added HBO, and my bill went down to $55/month. Quite a savings.
Cancel Magazine Subscriptions– I used to love to get US Weekly, and People, and sometimes those other rag magazines. But the truth is they’re a waste of money. Not only can you get them from the library, most of the magazine and the content, are all online now. Don’t waste your time or money on subscriptions, it’s not worth the cost.
Cook Meals at Home– This goes without saying, but do some meal planning and cook at home. It saves a ton of money. And you get to spend time with your family, on a probably much healthier meal then if you dined out.
Take Lunch to Work- So now that you’re cooking at home, just start packing that lunch, ok? It’s cheaper, a big time saver, and you’ll eat healthier. You’ll thank me later.
Buy Nonperishable Items in Bulk– Common items, like spices, and toilet paper, paper towels, etc., should all be bought in bulk. Much cheaper and they won’t go bad.
Use Coupons– I’m not a great couponer, don’t really have the patience, but if you do, you can save tons. My mom used to coupon from the Sunday paper and it still reminds me of being a kid. There are lots of deals and coupons on the internet, and you should always check online if nothing else before any major purchases. You’re bound to find a deal.
Start a Garden– I love this idea, and it’s so much fun! I don’t live in a very garden friendly area, but I can grow herbs, so I do. It’s peaceful, a great stress-reliever, and the food tastes great.
Buy Generic– Whether it’s cereal, prescription drugs, t-shirts, I always buy generic. There are certain things that I like to spend money on, like shoes, and sometimes work attire, but otherwise, I buy generic brands. Saves a ton!
Downgrade Health Insurance– This is a tough one because with the state currently of health insurance, the fact that you have any, and can afford it, is probably a blessing. I would not probably do this with a family, or someone with pending health issues, but if you’re a single, young, healthy person, this can be a great way to save money. But be very careful, because the consequences of being under-insured can be life-changing.
Change Car Insurance– I am a victim of this, I’ve had the same car insurance for like 11 years. I just recently checked other companies, because mine seemed high without any accidents and wow, was I shocked. I’m paying way to much!! Time for a change.
Raise Car Deductibles– Another way to save money is to raise your car deductibles. It really depends on the vehicle and your driving record. Also, if you’re paying on your car, the dealer/loan originator may have specific minimums that must be kept on the car. But if you’re driving an older car, and have a great record, check out this option. Don’t over insure an older vehicle, you’re just wasting money.
Reduce or Eliminate Cell Phone– Eliminating a cell phone may not be an option for many, but changing your cell phone plan can save tons. Many name brand companies, like T-Mobile, offer great plans. There are plenty of pay-as-you-go or pre-pay plans available that will work for a lot of people. Look around, you’d be surprised at the savings.
Cut/Dye Hair at Home– This has become a staple in my life. I was spending close to $250 every 8 weeks on a cut/dye job at the salon. I started by dyeing my hair at home, then progressed to cutting my hair. It’s really not that tough, and if push comes to shove, you can always just try a cheap hair cutting place for touch-ups. All in all though, even if you do it once or twice a year, it will still save lots of money.
Reduce Cigarettes/Alcohol– This is undoubtedly the hardest one. I don’t even tell someone to just cold turkey either, but tapering down, sure does help. Of course, it would probably be best to stop altogether, that’s probably not a realistic goal at first. Just try eliminating a few drinks, or a pack of cigarettes a week, and see how it goes.

I hope that even trying just a few of these things, can help you save money. All might not work for everyone, but just trying a few can certainly make a difference in your bottom line.

And think about what you can do with all that extra cash? Take a vacation. Pay down debt. Or even add to your emergency fund.

Happy Saving!