Barry G. Fowler, EA, leading expert in tax resolution issues and CEO of Taxation Solutions, explains how it is possible for the IRS to travel back in time for decades if a taxpayer is suspected of hiding income.

Houston, TX – May 26, 2015 – Barry G. Fowler, CEO of Taxation Solutions, posted a new blog on the company website entitled “How Far Back Can the Taxman Reach If You’ve Been Hiding Income? ” If anyone is suspected of hiding income the idea of a three-year statute of limitation gets thrown right out the window.

As Fowler begins his blog he writes, “Some people who have been hiding income take great comfort in thinking there is a specific end date to the long reach of the IRS. However, taxes are extremely complex so there are many things to take into consideration.” He elaborates, “The usual risk for an audit runs from three to six years. However, even if you didn’t get overly aggressive or consciously decide to hide income, sometimes very innocent activities can appear suspect to the IRS, which can trigger an audit.”

While it is the case that as Fowler verifies, “the basic rule of thumb is that the IRS has three years after taxes have been filed to initiate an audit.” He adds, “Things get a little more complicated depending on how much income was omitted. Suspicion of tax evasion or fraud can turbo-charge an IRS audit.”

As an example, Fowler writes, “Say you failed to report 25% of your income. In this instance, the IRS gets a full six years or twice the usual amount of time to audit. The IRS may even extend that time frame often saying it needs more time.” Even worse, he says, “If the IRS suspects that a taxpayer has failed to report income over the course of many years, the statute of limitations begins with the last filed tax return.”

Fowler advises not going it alone against the IRS. He writes, “No matter what your circumstances are with the IRS, professional advice can expedite the entire process and very often may be able to limit the time of any extension. And one of the comforting things about seeking professional advice is client attorney privilege.”

The entire blog can be read at http://www.taxationsolutions.net/how-far-back-can-the-taxman-reach-if-youve-been-hiding-income/

About Barry G. Fowler, EA

Barry G. Fowler founded Taxation Solutions out of a genuine concern for the IRS issues his clients face, many of whom are self-employed, contract employees, or entrepreneurs. For his contributions to his profession and expertise in tax resolution and financial planning, Fowler has been featured as one of America’s Trendsetters on CBS and Yahoo, and as a Premier Expert in Inc. Magazine. He has been instrumental in helping hundreds of people resolve complex tax issues with the IRS.

Fowler is licensed to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, and is a longstanding member of several tax industry professional organizations: NAEA, NATP, TSEA, ASTPS.