Your tax returns can be audited after you’ve been issued a refund. The IRS can audit returns for up to three prior tax years and in some cases, go back even further. If an audit results in increased tax liability, you may also be subject to penalties and interest.

Can the IRS audit you twice for the same year?

The IRS can audit him year after year. Our own tax experts at The Tax Institute state, “The IRS can conduct only one inspection of a taxpayer’s books and records for any given year unless the taxpayer requests a second inspection or the IRS notifies the taxpayer in writing that an additional inspection is necessary.”

When does the IRS have to go back to audit you?

In most situations, the IRS can go back three years. That means if your 2016 tax return was due April 2017, the IRS has three years from April 2017 to audit you (if you file the return timely, either before or on the April due date).

How many years should I go back on my unfiled tax returns?

You have not filed your tax returns with the IRS in years, and want to put that behind you and make amends with the IRS. But how many years of nonfiled returns do you need to prepare to become compliant with the IRS? It seems so overwhelming – where do you start? 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

How long do you have to file a delinquent tax return?

The six year enforcement period for delinquent returns is found in IRS Policy Statement 5-133 and Internal Revenue Manual 1.2.14.1.18. Part of the reason the IRS requires six years is manpower – the IRS cannot administer and staff the enforcement of unfiled tax returns going back as far as 10 or 20 years.

What’s the Statute of limitations for an IRS audit?

Generally, the statute of limitations for tax return audits is three years. For example, the IRS would have until April 15, 2016 to assess additional tax on a business that files a 2012 tax return on April 15, 2013.