We have handled the following situation many times so I figured I would write a post about it. This is very common.

The bad news. Taxpayer receives CP2000 from the IRS, which is IRS’s proposed changes to the 1040 tax return. IRS has a before (shown on return) and after column (as corrected by the IRS). Typically taxpayer has forgotten to include a 1099, such as a 1099-S from the sale of a home, or perhaps a 1099-MISC as to schedule C income.

Taxpayer is scratching his/her head thinking well no tax is owed since the gain from the sale of my home was less than the principal residence tax exclusion of $250,000 or $500,000 for married couples. True but the IRS wants to see the steps.

Also, you might think that the 1099-MISC income was included in schedule C gross income. True but the IRS wants to see the 1099 tied to gros income and reported with the return. In truth, IRS proposed change would double include that 1099 income since it was already included on your schedule C, but the IRS does not know that.

The IRS does not give taxpayers the benefit of the doubt. Taxpayers must apply appropriate tax rules in their return. The IRS assumes worst case scenario when proposing changes, which must then be disproved by the taxpayer. Give us a call to handle this for you.

If you go at it alone, you would have to correct the return and provide the correct documentation to the IRS. If the IRS accepts your corrections, the assessment will be adjusted correctly and you win, or at least set the record straight.