Customer Reviews

How to Beat the I.R.S. at Its Own Game: Strategies to Avoid-and Fight-an Audit

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Amir Aczel is a professor of statistics whom the IRS treated badly during an unnecessary and unjustified audit. For example, the IRS auditor repeatedly telephoned Aczel at his home before dawn, depriving Aczel, his wife and small baby of sleep. Wanting to avoid such a nasty experience in the future, Aczel used his statistical skills to detect the rules that the IRS uses to choose taxpayers to audit.

He used a super computer to compare thousands of audited income tax returns with thousands of other returns which were not audited. The result is this fascinating book. It explains 14 rules for avoiding an IRS audit.

This book is invaluable...I won my audit because of the tips I learned from this book.

I know this book is older, but the basic advice is still valid. The IRS audits on a set of rules. Knowing the limits of how much you can deduct, without triggering an audit, saves you money.

EX: you spend $100 on book. Should you deduct it as a business expense or ... a school expense (because you are taking classes and the book is on the same topic). Either way you will get the deduction. But, if your business expenses are high, you'll lower your chances of being audited by listing the book as a education deduction.

After reading this book, you can use computer software to do your taxes. Then adjust deductions on the right schedules to minimize the chance of an audit.

Easy to read with bold margin notes for fast skimming and yearly reference.

I love that this guy is a statistician and used his skills to 'crack the IRS code' and then share his findings. However, the chapters end at page 179 and the good stuff doesn't start until page 121. This is where the results of his research begin and I will definitely keep the book to refer to these 58 pages. The rest of the book has some useful information but it's overly fluffed up with the author's negative views toward the IRS. An excellent alternative is "Stand Up to the IRS," by tax attorney Frederick Daily. I give this book a 4 star rating though because the author provides readers with the results of a very extensive review of over 1200 tax returns. I hope Dr. Aczel does another study and provides an updated book soon (this book was published 17 years ago).

Even though the book is old,it gives an excellent insight into the IRS and will help you plan your taxes better.I wish there was a revised version suited to the current times.

This book arrived quickly and in great condition. I have perused but not yet read thoroughly - it looks great.