GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Irs Audit Duration Statistics

The average duration of an IRS audit is approximately 13 months.

Last Updated: June 20, 2024

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In this post, we will explore a comprehensive overview of IRS audit durations, shedding light on various statistics and timelines involved in the audit process. From the average duration of an IRS audit to the percentage of audits conducted for different income brackets, we will delve into the intricacies of IRS audits to provide a better understanding of what to expect if you ever find yourself under the government’s financial scrutiny.

Statistic 1

"The average duration of an IRS audit is 28 hours."

Statistic 2

"Roughly one million of the 1.5 million audits happen by correspondence, taking about 5-7 months."

Statistic 3

"About 25% of IRS audits are for individuals who make $1 million or more per year."

Statistic 4

"In 2017, the IRS audited about 0.5% of all tax returns."

Statistic 5

"In 2018, the average duration for many of the most complex audits was about three years."

Statistic 6

"If the audit identifies a tax debt, the taxpayer has 30 days to appeal."

Statistic 7

"Most tax audits – about 75% – are correspondence audits that require the taxpayer to mail in further documentation."

Statistic 8

"If you get an office audit notice, you may need to attend a two- to four-hour meeting."

Statistic 9

"About 3.7% of audits are field audits, which require an IRS agent visit and generally last several months."

Statistic 10

"In 2017, the IRS audited 0.2% of all individual tax returns."

Statistic 11

"2018 saw the lowest number of audits, just 991,168, since 2002 and the seventh consecutive year of declining audits."

Statistic 12

"If you go to tax court, it may take anywhere from two to four years to resolve the dispute."

Statistic 13

"If you choose to appeal the audit in front of an appeals officer, you may add an additional 90 to 180 days to the timeline."

Statistic 14

"Audit rates for individuals declined 25% from 2010 to 2017."

Statistic 15

"In 2016, field audits had a duration of approximately eight hours but correspondence audits ranged from 0.9 to 6.4 hours."

Statistic 16

"In the case of in-depth audits, the duration raises to approximately 42 hours."

Statistic 17

"Only 1 in every 220 individual returns were audited in 2019."

Statistic 18

"Around 71% of IRS audits are addressed via mail, not in-person meetings."

Statistic 19

"Corporations were audited at a rate of 1.6% in 2018."

In conclusion, IRS audits can vary significantly in duration and complexity, with factors such as income level, audit type, and audit year influencing the process. The statistics indicate a mix of correspondence audits, in-person meetings, and field audits, each with their own timeline and requirements. The overall trend in recent years has been a decline in audit rates and an increase in the time taken to resolve disputes through appeals or tax court. It is important for taxpayers to be aware of these statistics and the potential timelines involved in the audit process in order to navigate it effectively.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik is the Co-Founder of Gitnux and has been working in the digital space since 2016. He is specialized in content and tech.

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