IRS Auditor’s and their Attitudes

An IRS Audit is a stressful time. Your emotions may be running high. At the same time, the auditors deal with dishonest and hostile citizens everyday. While you may feel that an auditor is playing “God” because they have limited authority over you at the moment, there are some steps that can be taken to avoid a conflict which isn’t in anyone’s best interest. Also, you need to remember the position of the auditor and perhaps why he is expressing himself the way he is.

IRS auditors aren’t high paid employees, and their working environments can be stressful since they are dealing with defensive people day to day. IRS auditors are on deadlines and many times, finding the person in order to speak with them causes more and more delays, adding to their case load. Their goal is to get your case closed out as quickly as possible. Since they are underpaid and deal with other’s attitudes all day, you should expect their morale to be low.

With that said, there are ways to alleviate some of the challenge. First, don’t get upset. Try to reason with your auditor. Explain that you want to get along and assist them with getting this case closed. In the auditors mind, you are the enemy. Try changing that so that you are more of friend then a foe, helping them through their mundane and underpaid 9-5 workday.

If that attempt fails, speak kindly to the agent’s supervisor, asking to resolve the issue. Be polite and explanatory. It is the supervisor’s job, as much as it is the auditor’s to close the account. If the supervisor sees that you are attempting to work with them to get the goal accomplished, the hostilities should end.

If you are dealing with an aggressive or dishonest IRS auditor, then certainly contact the chief inspector at 800-366-4484 or write to P.O. Box 589, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044-0589. This is not an interactive investigation however, and you will not be informed of the outcome. While it is rare, some auditors may imply that favors could get rid of your problem. Report this right away as it is bribery and will do nothing for your position. Either way, the best bet is to try and assist the auditor in order to get your case closed as soon as possible so that you can move on with your life and the pesky auditor will be gone.