Can you double check my Federal return? The IRS is auditing it and says that my return is going from 5,870 to 1,854. Did I put any info in the wrong spot?

[cconnors]

Help with understanding Federal audit and their revised return.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

If the IRS adjusted your refund they will be mailing you a letter explaining why they changed it.  It may have been offset for a debt you owe.  Treasury Offset Program TOPS

http://fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/debtColl/dms/top/debt_top.htm

I would check over your return and see if you can see anything wrong especially in the payments section.  Make sure you agree with all the amounts listed.   Like is the difference the same or close to the refund you got last year?  Maybe you put down that you applied last year's refund to this year?  Or you applied part of your refund to next year as an estimated payment.  Or you put down you made a payment with an extension or paid an estimated payment that you didn't make?

Do you get Social Security?   Is there an amount on 1040 line 6b or is it 0?

There is a new question this year asking if you lived in a foreign place.  People have been answering it wrong or skipping it.  Go back through the Social Security entries.  And it is for each spouse.  So if you have a low amount on 1040 line 6b you might have answered wrong for 1 person.

[xmasbaby0]

And...no one in the user forum has access to your tax return.  No one can check it for you.   You have to check over your entries for yourself, and as suggested by @VolvoGirl, look at the way you answered some of the income questions--especially if you entered Social Security.  If you owed any back taxes or child support the IRS can reduce your refund.   The IRS sends you a letter several weeks after they reduce your refund to explain why they reduced it.   A revised refund is not really an "audit."   

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

Did you already receive an IRS letter?   For help with an IRS letter, TurboTax has a free Audit Support Center that you can phone, if desired, and they may be able to further advise you.   The special phone number is low down in the table shown in the FAQ below:

FAQ:  TurboTax Audit Support Center

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-audit/turbotax-audit-support/L6AcMoN...

If you purchased the optional Audit Defense add-on, the FAQ also tells how to contact the company that provides it.   You can also phone the IRS If you need additional info that is not provided in the letter.