The IRS has several methods for choosing which tax returns get audited, and only some of them involve known errors. For some taxpayers, the IRS uses a random screening and selection method, choosing some returns based solely on the presence or absence of certain factors and by chance. Also, if you have a relationship with someone else who was selected for audit, such as a business partner, then the IRS might select your return for audit because it’s likely to have the same issues.
Still, one of the most common reasons for getting audited is when your returns don’t match up with what other information providers have said. For instance, if your W-2 or 1099 forms show different amounts of income than you report, then the IRS will want to take a look to determine which records are in error.
