Client Audit Information Form Tax Year: The key to good representation is a thorough understanding of your personal situation. Some of these questions may seem very personal, but they are all necessary. Today s Date: Name (Taxpayer) Birth Date: (Spouse) Birth Date: Address City State Zip How long at this address Taxpayer: Home Phone: Cell: Work Phone: E Mail: Spouse: Home Phone: Cell: Work Phone: E Mail: Taxpayer/Spouse Fax: 1. If you filed a joint return, what year did you marry? Are you: Still married Separated date Divorced Date 2. Who prepared your return? (EA, CPA, Attorney, RTRP, Friend, Etc.) 3. Did you pay someone to prepare your return? Name: Phone: 4. What service(s) does accountant perform for you? 1
5. How long has this person/firm prepared your return? What records do you supply? 6. Did you contact the IRS when preparing your return? If yes what did you inquire about? 7. Did you use any IRS Publications when preparing your return? If yes, which publications? 8. Was an amended return filed? 9. If a refund was due, did you cash/deposit it? Was it applied to another tax year or tax bill? If Yes Please provide details 10. Are you or your spouse blind? 11. Did you receive any IRS notices regarding this tax return prior to the audit notice? (If yes please provide details.) Did you respond to any prior notices? 12. Have you had any prior year audits? If so, what year(s)? 13. Are your required to file any other tax returns? 14. Have you filed all tax returns including the current year s tax return? 15. Are there any changes or additions to your return since filed? (Any known errors or omissions) 2
16. If yes, did you discover any income items not included or possible deductions not taken? 17. To the best of your knowledge, was all income reported? 18. Did you pay any excise tax? did you collect any excise tax? 19. Did you pay any household help or other employees? 20. Income Sources: Yes No Yes No Yes No Interest Child Support Welfare Dividends Prizes, Awards Unemployment Sale-Assets Bonuses VA Benefits Other Jobs Gambling Military Allow Investments Lotteries Foreign Banks Tips Insurance Pensions Commissions Tax Refunds Annuities Hobbies Employer Reimburs Profit Sharing Rent/Royalty Gifts/inheritance IRA Distribution Alimony Scholarships/grants Stocks Partnerships Loans Foreign Income Sick Pay Social Security Other If income was received but not reported on your tax return please explain: 21. Do you belong to any bartering clubs or organizations? If so please explain: 3
22. Exemptions: (claimed on your tax return) Name Age DOB Handicapped Relationship Residence Occupation 23. Other Children, regardless of age (not claimed on your return) Name Age DOB Handicapped Relationship Residence Occupation 24. Do the exemptions noted in 22 & 23 above attend public or private school? 25. If any of the exemptions noted in 22 & 23 above have disabilities? Please specify: 26. If any of the exemptions noted in 22 & 23 above receive any income? 27. Please list all former spouse and dates of marriage and/or divorces: 28. Do you pay alimony or child support? Please give details? 4
29. Describe your current job and name of your employer: Taxpayer: Employer Name Job Title/Description How Long Annual Salary Spouse: Employer Name Job Title/Description How Long Annual Salary 30. How are you paid? How often? 31. Please tell us about your hobbies, pets and other interests. 32. Do you have any income/expense producing hobbies? 33. Please list and describe all of your personal vehicles: 5
34. Do you own your current residence? If yes when did you purchase it? What was the purchase price and down payment? What kind of mortgages do you have? What are the monthly payments? 35. How was the down payment paid? Cash or check? Was this money borrowed? From whom: (source) Was this money repaid? Please give details. 36. What was the beginning and ending mortgage balance of the year under audit? Beginning Ending 37. What was the mortgage payment and property taxes for the year? Payment Taxes 38. Do you have any other real estate? 39. Have you had any financial investments or own property in any foreign city in the nature of: Bank Accounts: If so, bank name, account number and average balances Securities: Investments in corporations, partnerships, trust accounts, real estate or other assets: Do you still own these accounts? (are they still open) if not when were they closed? 6
40. Do you use Online Banking? 41. Do you use Online Bill Pay? 42. Do you have any other loans? (Auto, installments?) Do you have credit card payments? What are the monthly payments? 43. Have you refinanced your mortgage loan in the Audit year? 44. Did you have any property or cash settlements? 45. Do you own stock? Did you sell any stock? 46. Did you make any other major purchases in this tax year? (Car, Boat, Furniture, Etc.) 47. What is your educational background? What degree(s) do you hold? What certificates (work) do you hold? 48. Where do you maintain your personal bank accounts Name of financial institution and address 49. Do you have a PayPal account? If so, do you use it for more than paying bills? 50. Generally how much cash do you have on hand (not cash in the bank, but cash that you actually carry with you and keep at home?) 51. Do you have a safe deposit box? 52. Did you give any monetary gifts to relatives or friends? Provide details: 53. Did you buy and/or sell on internet sites, such as E-Bay or Craig s list? 54. Did you (do you) make any purchases on line? 7
55. Did you make any online purchase where no sales tax was charged? 56. Do you do any on-line gambling? 57. Do you have a website for personal or business use? If yes did you receive any contributions or donations for providing free downloads of digital media? 58. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? If so, when: 59. Did you take any distributions from an IRA in this tax year, not reported on you return as income? 60. Did you make any contributions to an IRA in this tax year, not reported on your tax return? 61. Did you participate in any 1031 like-kind exchanges? Was a Third Party Facilitator involved? Who initially alerted you to the possibility of a like kind exchange? Was any of the like kind exchange property used at any time for personal use? 8
TIPS TO SHORTEN YOUR AUDIT You can shorten your audit process if you take time before your appointment to review the list of records needed and to organize your records. What if someone else prepared my return? If you had someone else prepare your return, you may wish to contact your tax preparer for any notes or work papers used. What records do I need to bring to the audit? Please look on the list attached to your audit letter. Also bring in any work papers or notes used in preparing your return. How should I organize my records? Review your records for each item being audited as shown on the list attached to your audit letter. Pull out the specific records needed to match the dollar amount shown on the tax return. Summarize and group your cancelled checks, receipts, and invoices by item being audited. Some examples follow which may or may not apply to your case. EXAMPLE 1 Your advertising expense is being audited and your return shows that your expenses for the year were $899.00. Your summary would show the following : Newspaper Ad 46.00 Yellow Pages 600.00 Print Shop 82.00 Regional Directory 171.00 Total Deductions $ 899.00 Please attach cancelled checks and receipts to show that each of these amounts was paid during the year. EXAMPLE 2 Your charitable contribution expense is being audited and your return shows that your expenses for the year were $3,630.00. Your summary would show the following: Salvation Army (non-cash) 200.00 Religion Church 3,000.00 State University 430.00 Total Deductions $ 3,630.00 Please provide receipts for non-cash contributions and the required cancelled checks for all items and written statements from the charitable organization for one time contributions of $250.00 or more. 9