We doubt that anyone ever woke up thinking, “Gee, I hope I get audited by the IRS this year”. An IRS audit could easily be one of the worst things that could happen to you this year. So if you want to avoid receiving that ominous letter from the IRS that your 2015 tax return is being audited here are seven red flags you need to totally avoid.

Not reporting all of your taxable income

You won't be able to deduct gambling losses if you lost more money than you won (excess losses) or if you're taking the Standard Deduction. For example, if you have $5,000 in winnings but $7,000 in losses, your deduction is limited to $5,000. See this article about gambling loss deductions for more information. Aug 31, 2016 In conclusion, the Tax Law clearly indicates that Petitioner may claim his gambling losses only as an itemized deduction in accordance with Tax Law § 615. Petitioner is not allowed a subtraction modification for gambling losses in his computation of New York adjusted gross income. DATED: August 31, 2016 /S/ DEBORAH R. If you itemize deductions, you can deduct your gambling losses for the year on line 28 of Schedule A, Form 1040. You cannot deduct gambling losses that are more than your winnings. It is important to keep an accurate diary or similar record of your gambling winnings and losses.

Those 1099’s and W-2s you received this past January? You weren’t the only one that got them. The IRS got them too. It’s important to make sure you report all of the required income on your return. The computers used by the IRS are pretty darn good at matching the numbers on your return with the numbers on your 1099s and W-2s. If they turn up a mismatch this will create a red flag and the IRS computers will spit out a bill. If those darn computers do make a mistake and you receive a tax form that shows income that wasn’t yours or lists incorrect amounts of income, you will need to get the issuer to file the correct form with the IRS. And what about that income you earned on those side jobs? In most cases you should have received a 1099 documenting your earnings. If not, this is definitely a case where it’s better to be safe than sorry and report it.

Taking deductions that are higher than average

If the IRS spots deductions on your return that are disproportionately large in comparison with your income, it may pull your return for review. For example, a very large medical expense –again out of proportion to your income – could cause a red flag. However, if you do have the documentation to support the deduction then don’t be afraid to claim it.

Claiming really big charitable deductions

Charitable deductions can be a great write off. Plus, when you contribute to a charity it can make you feel all fuzzy and warm inside. However, if those deductions are disproportionately large in comparison with your income, it will raise a red flag. The reason for this is because the IRS knows what is the average charitable deduction for people at your level of income. Did you donate some very valuable property? In this case we hope you got an appraisal for it. Did you make a non-cash donation over $500? Then you better make sure you file form 8283. if you don’t file this form or if you don’t have an appraisal supporting that big donation you’ll become an even bigger target for auditing.

Claiming big gambling losses or not reporting gambling winnings

If you’re a recreational gambler you must report your winnings as “other income” on the front page of your 1040 form. If you’re a professional gambler you will need to report your winnings on Schedule C. If you don’t report gambling winnings this can draw the attention of the IRS – especially in the event that the casino or other venue reported your winnings on form W-2G. It can also be very risky to claim big gambling losses. In fact, what you should do is deduct your losses only to the extent that you report your gambling winnings. For example, if you were to report you had won $5000 gambling but had losses of $20,000, this could cause a red flag. Also, only professional gamblers can write off the costs of meals, lodging and other expenses related to gambling. And the surest way to invite an audit is by writing off what you lost at gambling but no gambling income. If you’ve done any of these things, or are worried about some other common tax return mistakes, it might be wise to file an amended tax return and account for those wins or losses correctly.

Writing off a hobby as a loss

You will dramatically increase the odds of “winning” an IRS audit if you file a schedule C showing big losses from any activity that could be considered a hobby such as jewelry making, coin and stamp collecting, dog breeding, and the like. IRS agents are especially trained to ferret out people who improperly deduct losses associated with a hobby. You must report any income your hobby generated or whatever but can then deduct your expenses up to that income level. But the IRS will not allow you to write off losses from a hobby. So if you want to write off a loss you must be running your hobby as if it were a business and must have the reasonable expectation of generating a profit. As an example of how this works if your hobby generates a profit in 3 out of every 5 years then the IRS will presume that you’re actually in business to make a profit unless it can prove something to the contrary. Of course, if you’re unfortunate and win the audit lottery the IRS will make you prove that you do have a legitimate business and that it’s not just a hobby. So make sure you keep all documents that support your expenses.

If you report income from self-employment of $100,000 or more

Let’s suppose that you’re self-employed, had a really great year and had earnings of $100,000 or more you are reporting on schedule C. This is likely to trigger an IRS audit because according to the IRS people who file a schedule C are more likely to under report their income and overstate their deductions. What this means is that if you earn $100,000 or more and are reporting it on schedule C you’ll need to make sure you have the documentation necessary to support your deductions and again, make sure you report all your income very accurately.

If you work in certain industries

The IRS knows based on past audit experience that there are certain activities or industries that have a higher incidence of what’s technically called noncompliance but really means cheating on their taxes. Included in this group are the tax returns of air service operators, gas retailers, auto dealers, attorneys and taxi operators. So, if you’re employed in one of these industries or activities and don’t want to suffer an IRS audit, it’s best to follow the old adage that honesty is the best policy.

The information in this article is up to date through tax year 2019 (taxes filed in 2020).

An estimated 57 million to 75 million people join fantasy football leagues through hosting sites like Draftkings, Yahoo!, ESPN and FanDuel every year. Just like the NFL draft, a fantasy draft allows you to pick and choose players from different positions and teams to put together the best team possible. Dedicated members know if you draft the right teams, you could win big by the end of the season.

But did you also know that you are accountable for reporting those earnings to the IRS?

Do I have to pay taxes on fantasy sports winnings?

Possibly, yes. The income from fantasy sports is treated just like any other cash prize or gambling win. If your net profit from playing fantasy football is $600 or more, you will need to report your winnings.

How do I report fantasy sports winnings?

Winnings are reported as “other income” on your tax return. The major leagues know to send you Form 1099-MISC, which has all the information you’ll need. They’ll send the same information to the IRS about your net profit, so make sure to report your winnings on your tax return. The IRS will know if you did not.

What should I do if I didn’t get a 1099-MISC?

Gambling Losses Taxes

If you don’t receive Form 1099-MISC from your fantasy sports host site, it does not mean you are free from tax liability. You will still be accountable for your income if it is over $600. It’s always a good idea to keep track of your winnings to report them accurately on your tax return.

Are there tax deductions for fantasy sports?

Currently, there are no tax deductions for fantasy league winnings. Before 2018, you could write off the entrance fees under miscellaneous deductions. But the tax laws changed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and got rid of miscellaneous deductions like this one. Learn more about it here.

Can I claim gambling losses for fantasy sports?

The general rule for claiming gambling losses is that you can never deduct more for losses than you report for income. So, if you win $1,000 and lose $1,500 in another league, your deduction is limited to just $1,000. You can’t deduct your losses without reporting your wins. Also note that to report gambling losses, you must choose to itemize your deductions instead of taking the standard deduction.

Gambling Losses 2019

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