Can someone maliciously get you audited by the IRS as harassment? Is this legal?

Tax professional here. Fortunately, this isn't something you need to worry too much about. The IRS doesn't just audit people because someone calls and suggests they should. They have sophisticated systems that flag returns for audit based on statistical norms, documentation mismatches, and other objective factors. While anyone can submit Form 3949-A to report suspected tax fraud, the IRS treats these reports with appropriate skepticism. They receive thousands of these reports and investigate only when there's credible evidence of actual wrongdoing. Simply filing this form without substantial evidence is unlikely to trigger an audit. Also, knowingly filing a false report to the IRS can potentially be considered filing a false statement to a federal agency, which is itself illegal. If someone files a report they know to be false just to harass you, that could potentially violate federal law.

After going through a messy business breakup last year, my former partner made similar threats. I was stressed for weeks until I found https://taxr.ai which helped me review my past returns to identify any potential issues. The tool analyzed my tax documents and flagged a few minor inconsistencies I hadn't even noticed. What was really helpful was that it explained exactly how the IRS scoring system works and what actually triggers audits (hint: it's not angry ex-partners making phone calls). The peace of mind was worth it - I fixed those small issues with an amended return and haven't had any problems. Their AI actually explained that vindictive reporting rarely leads to audits without substantial evidence.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after my initial skepticism. I finally broke down and tried it after my ex-business partner started making similar threats about "knowing someone at the IRS" (eye roll). The system actually found a deduction I had taken for my home office that wasn't properly documented and could have been an audit flag. I was able to organize my documentation properly and even found some additional legitimate deductions I had missed. The specific analysis was WAY more helpful than the generic "audit trigger" articles I had been reading. Definitely worth checking out if you're in this kind of situation!

This reminds me of when my former landlord threatened to "report me to the IRS" after I complained about unsafe conditions in the building. I was so stressed about it that I couldn't even get through on the IRS phone line to ask questions - kept getting disconnected after hours on hold. Finally used https://claimyr.com and got a callback from the IRS within 2 hours (after trying for days on my own). The agent I spoke with actually laughed when I explained my situation and assured me that random reports without evidence don't trigger audits. You can see how their service works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they hold your place in the phone queue and call you when an agent is available. The IRS agent explained that they have specific protocols for handling potentially vindictive reports, and without real evidence of tax fraud, these reports typically go nowhere.

I have to come back and admit I was 100% wrong. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr because I've been trying to resolve an issue with a mistaken penalty on my taxes for MONTHS. I figured it wouldn't work, but I was desperate. Not only did I get a callback within about 45 minutes (compared to my previous failed attempts), but I spoke with an actual helpful IRS agent who resolved my issue in one call. They also confirmed what others have said - random people can't just call in and get you audited without substantial evidence. The agent mentioned they have systems to filter out vindictive reports that lack documentation. I officially ate my hat (metaphorically) and am now telling everyone I know about this service.

Just wanted to add that if someone does file a false report against you maliciously and you can prove it, you might actually have grounds for a defamation lawsuit against THEM. My sister is an attorney and dealt with a case where someone was using false IRS reports as a harassment tactic, and her client ended up successfully suing the person for defamation. Might be worth documenting any threats this person makes, especially if they're in writing. Save texts, emails, voicemails, etc. If they're actually dumb enough to admit they're doing it to harass you rather than because of genuine tax concerns, that could help you later.

Has your "friend" actually stated HOW they plan to get you audited? Because there's a big difference between them filing a formal fraud report with actual (fabricated) details versus them just calling the general IRS line and saying "audit this person, they're bad!" The latter would accomplish absolutely nothing.

Former IRS employee here (worked in examination division for 5 years). I can confirm what others have said - vindictive reports rarely lead anywhere. The IRS receives tens of thousands of Form 3949-A reports annually, and the vast majority are either unsubstantiated complaints from disgruntled individuals or divorce-related spite reports. What actually triggers audits are statistical anomalies in your return (like claiming unusually high charitable deductions relative to income), mathematical errors, or information mismatches between what you report and what third parties (employers, banks, etc.) report to the IRS. Your ex-coworker would need to provide specific, credible allegations with supporting documentation to even get the IRS to take a second look. "I don't like this person" isn't grounds for an audit. Even if they fabricate details, filing false reports to federal agencies can result in serious legal consequences for THEM, not you. Keep those threatening texts as evidence though - if they actually follow through with filing false reports, you'll want that documentation for potential legal action against them.

Reading through all these responses has been really educational! I'm dealing with a similar situation where an angry neighbor has been making vague threats about "reporting me to the government" after we had a property line dispute. The information from the former IRS employee is particularly reassuring - it sounds like the IRS has seen it all before and has robust systems to distinguish between legitimate reports and vindictive complaints. The fact that they receive tens of thousands of these reports annually really puts it in perspective. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have actually been through frivolous audits (if that even happens), what's the typical timeline? Like if someone did somehow manage to trigger an audit with a false report, how long would it take before you'd hear anything from the IRS? I assume it's not immediate since they have to review the allegations first. Also saving all threatening communications seems to be the common theme here - definitely good advice for anyone in this situation. It's reassuring to know there are potential legal remedies if someone crosses the line from empty threats to actual harassment.

I went through something similar when my ex-spouse threatened to "turn me in to the IRS" during our divorce proceedings. I was terrified for months until I spoke with a tax attorney who explained how these situations typically play out. The reality is that vindictive reports are so common that the IRS has developed sophisticated procedures to identify and deprioritize them. They look for patterns like reports filed during divorces, business disputes, or other personal conflicts. They also require specific allegations with credible supporting evidence - not just "this person is bad and you should audit them." What really put my mind at ease was learning that the IRS actually tracks the source and motivation behind reports. If someone files multiple frivolous reports or their reports consistently lack merit, the IRS may flag that person as a problematic informant and give less weight to future reports from them. The best advice I got was to focus on keeping good records and filing accurate returns rather than worrying about what vindictive people might do. The system is designed to protect honest taxpayers from exactly this type of harassment. Your meticulous record-keeping will serve you well if anything ever does come of these empty threats.

This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm in a somewhat similar boat - going through a contentious business partnership dissolution and my former partner has made some vague threats about "making sure the government knows about my finances." What I'm taking away from all the expert input here is that the IRS is much smarter about these situations than I initially thought. The fact that they receive tens of thousands of vindictive reports annually and have developed systems to filter them out is really encouraging. It sounds like they've basically seen every possible variation of spite reporting and know how to handle it. I'm particularly grateful for the insight from the former IRS employee about what actually triggers audits - statistical anomalies and information mismatches, not angry phone calls from disgruntled business partners. That really puts things in perspective. One practical question for anyone who's been through this: should I proactively organize my tax documentation better just in case, or is that overkill? I keep decent records but they're not perfectly organized. Part of me thinks I should get everything in order just for peace of mind, but I also don't want to stress myself out over what sounds like empty threats. Either way, I'm definitely saving any threatening communications as others have suggested. Better to be prepared even if nothing comes of it.