Commentary for the IRS

[prkwork]

At times it is helpful to include an explanatory note to be sent to the IRS along with a tax return. Such a note can forestall questions later when the answer can be given here. ProConnect Online should have a place to do this.

[sjrcpa]

In my experience, IRS never reads those. I don't bother including any notes anymore.

[prkwork]

In other tax software, when amounts shown on a return have not made sense, I have included an explanatory note (or schedule) with the return, and I have never received a question from the IRS that such an explanation made clear.

[BobKamman]

On the other hand, have you ever received a response from IRS thanking you for the explanation?  IRS does not have a little man with green eyeshade looking at each return.  They abandoned that, back in the 60s.  A computer program looks at the numbers on a return and decides whether to spit it out for audit.  If an explanation is attached, the auditor is likely to conclude that it's an attempt to cover up something.  

I will sometimes attach an explanation just so it will be handy for a response to IRS.  Occasionally I have pointed out that such an explanation was attached, but the IRS employee will either respond that they don't iook at attachments, or that those aren't shown on the screen that shows them numbers.  

[IntuitGabi]

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