Can someone request or volunteer to be audited by the IRS? Is this possible?

While technically there's no formal "request an audit" form, you can actually get the IRS to review your return in a few ways. The closest thing to requesting an audit would be filing an amended return (Form 1040-X) with a detailed explanation of what you're uncertain about. This will trigger a review of the specific items you highlight. Another option is to call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 and explain your concerns. They can often address specific questions without a full audit. For real peace of mind, consider working with a CPA or Enrolled Agent who can review your returns. They're trained to spot issues the IRS would flag and can give you that reassurance without the stress of an actual audit.

I discovered a service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that might help with your audit anxiety. I was in a similar situation last year - totally paranoid I'd messed up something on my return and would get hit with penalties years later. I uploaded my tax documents to their system and it analyzed everything, looking for discrepancies or red flags that might trigger an IRS audit. It was way more thorough than I expected and actually found a mistake in how I'd reported some investment income that could have caused problems.

Just wanted to follow up on my skeptical comment about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after filing my 2024 taxes and wow, I'm actually impressed. The system flagged a home office deduction I'd taken that was technically correct but apparently a huge audit trigger (something my CPA never mentioned). It also showed me exactly what documentation I should keep for the next 7 years for each item on my return. Now I sleep better knowing I'm not just hoping I did everything right but actually have confirmation. Way better than begging the IRS to audit me!

If you're trying to get answers from the IRS directly (which honestly might be better than a full audit), I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in your shoes last year - had this complicated situation with some inheritance income and couldn't get through to a human at the IRS after trying for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent within about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent was able to review my specific concerns and give me definitive answers about whether I'd handled things correctly without triggering a formal audit. Saved me from uncertainty and probably saved the IRS from dealing with someone begging to be audited lol.

I need to eat crow about my skeptical comment on Claimyr. I tried it yesterday out of desperation after getting nowhere with the IRS for weeks about a CP2000 notice. Within 35 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS representative who answered all my questions and helped me understand exactly what I needed to do. I'm still shocked it worked. Honestly, this was SO much better than requesting an audit would be. I got my specific concerns addressed without opening my entire return to unnecessary scrutiny. If you're anxious about your taxes being correct, this is definitely the way to go.

Instead of asking to be audited (which honestly would be a nightmare even if you did everything right), you could also file what's called a Tax Court Petition without payment. This basically asks the court to review your tax return officially. Keep in mind though, this is pretty extreme and if the court finds you actually owe MORE than you paid, you'll have to pay that plus interest.

FYI the IRS actually encourages people to just file accurate returns and include detailed explanations when anything is unusual. Attach a statement explaining complicated situations. I'm an accountant and I tell my nervous clients to keep really good records and document everything. That's better than asking for an audit which is like asking for a police officer to follow u around just to make sure ur not speeding lol.

I totally understand your audit anxiety! As someone who's been through this exact same worry cycle, I can tell you that you're definitely not alone in feeling this way. While you can't technically "request" an audit, there are some practical steps that might give you the peace of mind you're looking for: 1. **Voluntary Disclosure Program**: If you're genuinely concerned about past mistakes, the IRS has voluntary disclosure programs where you can come forward about unreported income or errors before they find them. 2. **Professional Review**: Consider having a CPA or Enrolled Agent do a comprehensive review of your return. They can spot potential red flags and help you understand your audit risk. 3. **IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service**: If you have specific concerns about your return, you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They're an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve issues. 4. **Detailed Documentation**: Keep meticulous records of everything. The IRS is much more likely to accept your positions if you can demonstrate you made good faith efforts to comply. The reality is that most people who file honest returns have nothing to worry about. The IRS audit rate is extremely low (less than 1% for most taxpayers), and they're mainly looking for obvious discrepancies or patterns that suggest intentional fraud. Your anxiety is normal, but requesting an audit would likely create more stress than relief!

I completely relate to your tax anxiety! I used to lose sleep every year wondering if I'd made some catastrophic error that would come back to bite me. Here's what finally helped me break out of that cycle: I started doing a "pre-flight check" before filing. I use a simple spreadsheet to track all my income sources and deductions throughout the year, then cross-reference everything against my tax software before submitting. Also, consider the IRS's own guidance on this - they actually recommend that taxpayers with complex situations include explanatory statements with their returns. If you have anything unusual, just attach a brief explanation. This shows good faith effort and can prevent misunderstandings. The statistical reality is that your chances of being audited are incredibly low unless you have very high income or claim unusual deductions. Most "audits" these days are just correspondence audits where they ask for documentation on specific items, not the full forensic examination you're imagining. One thing that really put my mind at ease was learning that the IRS is generally looking for intentional fraud or major discrepancies, not honest mistakes. If you're making good faith efforts to comply and keeping decent records, you're probably fine. Maybe try setting a "worry deadline" - tell yourself you can stress about taxes until April 15th, but after that, what's done is done and you'll deal with any issues if they arise. Most never do!

As someone who used to have the exact same anxiety about tax accuracy, I can tell you that what you're feeling is completely normal! I spent years lying awake at night wondering if I'd made some mistake that would trigger penalties or interest charges down the road. Here's what I've learned that might help: The IRS actually has something called the "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" which includes the right to be informed and the right to quality service. While they don't offer voluntary audits, you can absolutely contact them proactively about specific concerns. A few practical approaches that have worked for me: - Call the IRS practitioner priority line if you're working with a tax professional - Use Form 843 to request abatement of penalties if you discover errors later (shows good faith) - Consider the IRS Free File program's audit support if you used their system The thing that finally gave me peace of mind was realizing that the IRS is actually quite reasonable when dealing with honest taxpayers who make good faith efforts. They're mainly looking for people who are deliberately trying to evade taxes, not folks like us who are just worried about getting it right. Your instinct to want certainty is admirable, but try to channel that energy into good record-keeping and maybe working with a tax professional rather than inviting unnecessary scrutiny. Most of us never hear from the IRS again after filing - and that's exactly how it should be!

I completely understand this anxiety! As someone who works in tax preparation, I see this worry all the time. While you can't formally request an audit, there's actually a middle-ground approach that might give you the peace of mind you're seeking. Consider requesting what's called a "reconsideration" of your return through Form 12153 or by writing a detailed letter to the IRS explaining your concerns and asking them to review specific items you're uncertain about. This isn't quite an audit, but it can trigger a review of the areas you're worried about. Another option is to file Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) along with your return if you have positions you're unsure about. This shows the IRS exactly what you're uncertain about and demonstrates good faith effort to comply. Honestly though, the fact that you care this much about accuracy probably means you're doing everything right. Most audit flags come from obvious inconsistencies or missing income, not from honest taxpayers who are trying their best to comply. Your anxiety itself is actually a pretty good indicator that you're not the type of person the IRS is typically looking for! If it helps, remember that even if you made a mistake, the IRS is generally quite reasonable with taxpayers who clearly made good faith efforts to get things right.