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fsuadamson Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 16 2005 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 6:57am | IP Logged
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Last week we received a notice from the IRS that we are being audited to "prove the number of dependents" on our 2007 tax returns! Now this would be the same number of dependents that we put on our 2008 & 2009 returns yet we have to prove for 2007!!!??? I am just a little annoyed that I have to prove my six kids are MINE?!?
Has anyone else been through this and do you mind sharing your experience?
__________________ Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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juststartn Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 8:08am | IP Logged
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At least it is a simple 'fix'!
Sorry you're having to deal with it, though...
Rachel
__________________ Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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Booksnbabes Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 8:28am | IP Logged
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Ugh! Hope it is a simple process to clear things up.
__________________ Wife to wonderful DH, mom to SIX beautiful gifts from God!
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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If I hadn't just seen those Acorn videos, I would be completely shocked. It is still awful for you, and yet, in those videos, the workers recommended that the couple claim the underaged, illegal El Salvadorians they were bringing in for reasons of ill-repute, as dependents on their tax return.
It makes your stomach turn, and yet the complete nonchalance way in which it was recommended makes you realize there are a lot of crazy people out there who think nothing of lying about such things. I would never have imagined.
Anyway, while I do think it could be taken as a prejudice against large families, it also seems that claiming extra dependents is a common way to cheat on taxes. Sorry you are having to go through this hassle, though. I can completely understand your frustration.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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PDyer Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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Since you can't claim a dependent on a return without a social security number, it could be there is a problem with one of the kids' social security numbers (a number transposed, etc.).
The IRS checks the SSNs reported on the return against the records of the Social Security Administration. If they don't match then you'll get a notice.
That may not be the problem in your case, but it's a thought. Hope you get through this with a minimum of trouble.
__________________ Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
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fsuadamson Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 16 2005 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 9:02am | IP Logged
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Lindsey, I didn't know about that stuff from Acorn (not surprised though).... then hopefully all this is is just a case of the good has to pay the price for the bad?
Patty, good idea. I am going to take all their SS# cards with us so if one is not good they can check it.
Thanks for the support! I'm feeling a little better.
__________________ Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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guitarnan Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 9:03am | IP Logged
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The IRS has three years to audit your return. I would imagine they haven't checked your 2008 and 2009 returns, just noted the large number of children you listed on your 2007 forms.
Just keep copies of anything you send (maybe get that delivery confirmation thing, too).
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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sewcrazy Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 9:15am | IP Logged
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Actually the IRS has 10 years to audit you. We learned that the hard way!
It is probably a SS number issue. We were audited back 10 years, because one year we accidentally transposed 2 digits in my son's SS number. In 2007 the IRS system linked with the SS system to "automatically verify" social security numbers. The IRS agent we worked with told us it has been the source of many headaches for them, as there are a lot of glitches in the system.
Good luck! And remember to read all your rights before you go. the IRS has a very loud bark, but if you know your rights, they actually don't have that much of a bite
__________________ LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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PDyer Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 9:18am | IP Logged
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fsuadamson wrote:
Patty, good idea. I am going to take all their SS# cards with us so if one is not good they can check it. |
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So are they asking for you to visit, or can you just write a letter to resolve the issue?
It's quite possible having many dependents is a auditable variable in the IRS' system. I see your two year old would have been born in 2007 (or thereabouts), so you may have been one of the lucky people with more children than is currently typical whose returns were pulled for audit because your return triggered that variable. Given the number of deductions/credits keyed from the number of dependents a family has, it's not unrealistic for the IRS to want to make sure people aren't overstating the number of dependents on their returns. Dependency is an area where people tend to want to take liberties, if I remember correctly (from a loooong time ago).
I admit I'll be curious to hear how it goes.
__________________ Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
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fsuadamson Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 16 2005 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 9:24am | IP Logged
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I wish it was a simple letter....but no we have to go down town and the appointment is estimated to take up to 4 hours!! They would not allow us to discuss anything over the phone.
This is why I am so annoyed.
I am going to have my husband double check those SS#s against our tax return. I am wondering if he put our baby girl's in wrong because she was born July 2007. Thank goodness we use Turbo Tax.
__________________ Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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sewcrazy Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 9:57am | IP Logged
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You don't want to discuss anything over the phone anyway. The IRS doesn't consider phone coversations "binding". Record the session with them (you are allowed to bring in a tape recorder) And don't bring in more info than they are asking for. If you are being audited for 2007, don't bring in any other year and they can't legally ask you to bring in more returns than are being audited.
I think they estimate high in the amount of time it wil take, I was told 4 to 6 hours, and it actually took about 1 hour. And we are self employeed and file a schedule C so our returns are huge!
__________________ LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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Milehimama Forum Pro
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 11:08am | IP Logged
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Heh, I'd take ALL of my little dependents WITH me.
Hope things work out for you!
__________________ Milehimama in Houston
Mother of 11 - 8 Church Militant and 3 Church Triumphant
Mama Says
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stacykay Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 11:09am | IP Logged
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Just talked to my CPA hubby. He said the IRS will want documentation that proves a relationship between you and your children (nuts, huh?) He said to take all six birth certificates and their ss cards.
Keep us posted!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Tami Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 11:34am | IP Logged
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Oh, Leslie, what obnoxious harrassment! I'm sorry this is happening to you.
Just a little side story, a long time ago I knew of a family that had 2 sets of twins in less than 12 months (I knew some of the siblings in high school) and went from 6 to 10 dependents in one year. And yes, the IRS didn't believe the tax return, so a field agent was sent to the house to count the children!!
The real clincher? The dad was an OB/BYN.
__________________ God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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mimmyof5 Forum Pro
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
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This is so frustrating. We've twice had problems with claiming our children as dependents. We have twins (same date of birth) but, of course, different socials. They never looked past the birthday, I guess, to see the different socials. That was a mess.
The last thing was when we went to claim the education credit on our oldest dd. IRS said since we didn't claim her as a dependent we couldn't claim the education credit. Well, if they put enough lines on the form she would have been on the front page, but since they limit you to four dependents (I think) we had to attach another sheet. They lost it. We're still trying to get that settled.
Anyway, none of that is as frustrating as what you're going through. Hope all goes well with your appointment.
Janet
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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 1:08pm | IP Logged
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Leslie~
I think it's WONDERFUL that you posted this on the Feast Day of St. Matthew!!!!! Patron of Tax Collectors and Accountants!!!!! I'm sure he will take good care of your family!!!!
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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fsuadamson Forum Pro
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 1:14pm | IP Logged
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Suzanne I really needed that laugh today I had no idea about St. Matthew so "thank you". I wonder if he can help us in the leaky roof department.
While half of Ga is suffering with floods and flooded basements we have been running around putting buckets under leaks from the roof today -- sigh.
__________________ Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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KackyK Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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A good friend of mine had this happen to them this summer. And yes they brought the birth certificates. She said the agent there was sort of apologetic, sort of like, sorry, this sometimes happens, type of thing. All the ss#s were fine...they just ended up singled out for one reason or another. And their visit didn't take 4 hours. But I think they had an early morning appointment...so that might make the difference. I'm betting the actual time with the agent is shorter than the wait! Sorry you have to go through it!
__________________ KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 3:55pm | IP Logged
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It seems to me that there are simply random audits.. nothing wrong but the forms are pulled to check over.. and the number of dependants might be the only questionsable thing about some.
A friend of mine just went through this and that was all it was.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 21 2009 at 7:41pm | IP Logged
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We recently had an audit on our 2007 returns as well. It wasn't a big deal, but we did end up having to pay a bit more money. Not much. I think these things just happen sometimes, like being "randomly selected" for a full search on an airport security line.
I just offer it up.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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