<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns0="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> The stories of Will and Steve should serve as stark wake up calls to us. IRS auditors are not our friends and do not make the mistake of believing that because you have nothing to hide you are okay should you get audited. Steve had nothing to hide but he still spent big $$$ successfully defending himself with absolutely no recourse for recovery. If you get audited make sure that you use a professional to represent you in the audit. They know how to answer the entrapping questions the auditors ask. I’ve been audited twice and one of those times I had a pro represent me. I was amazed at how he worded some of the answers. Money well spent.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> For all the talk of freedom in this country this discussion should provide prima facia evidence that we aren’t free. When you have to work nearly half a year to pay the feudal lords I think they call it serfdom.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <u1:PERSONNAME u2:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on">Dean May</u1:PERSONNAME></st1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:CITY u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><u3:place u4:st="on"><u3:City u4:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City></u3:place></u1:CITY></u3:City> <u1:STATE u2:st="on"><st1:State u5:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</st1:State></u1:STATE></st1:State>  <u1:POSTALCODE u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode u6:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</st1:PostalCode></u1:POSTALCODE></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></u1:PLACE><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Will Truitt Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 7:55 PM To: '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>' Subject: RE: Taxes: Business use of vehicle<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> With all due respect to you Wim, I think you are sharing information about mileage substantiation that is erroneous.  I can speak from the personal experience of an IRS audit myself.  In 1994 my wife and I were given the dubious honor of a compliance audit .  This is an audit where taxpayers are chosen at random and audited, so that the IRS can get some idea of the level of compliance amongst us.  It is one of the more complete audits they do.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Long story short, after an exhaustive audit that lasted a couple of months, the only thing they nailed me on was business use mileage.  I had kept good records for the first 3 months or so of the year audited, but had gone to sleep on my record keeping for the rest of the year.  I figured the percentage of business mileage for the year on what it had been for those months I kept records.  It probably was not too far off the mark.  But they didn’t care to look at my appointment book.  I could not substantiate the mileage for the other 9 months.  Disallowed, plus interest and penalties.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Your suggestion works fine for the person who will never be audited, which is most people.  The self incrimination thing is beside the point – sloppy record keeping is not the same as willful deception.  They’re not going to put you in jail for keeping poor records, but they will collect the fines and interest.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> If it is too much trouble for someone to keep records, then simply do not claim your mileage as a deduction.  Or if you do, be able to substantiate it to the satisfaction of the IRS.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Will Truitt<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>