Audit Strategy

[Burke]

Recent article I read advised never to bring copies of other years' tax returns to an audit. (They usually ask for them in the audit letter.) But this article says "IRS rules state that you are required to provide only the information relating to the specific tax year listed in the audit notice. You are not required to provide information relating to any other tax year, except as it might relate to the year under audit -- such as carryovers." Anyone with experience in this?

[ChEAr$]

Recent article I read advised never to bring copies of other years' tax returns to an audit. (They usually ask for them in the audit letter.) But this article says "IRS rules state that you are required to provide only the information relating to the specific tax year listed in the audit notice. You are not required to provide information relating to any other tax year, except as it might relate to the year under audit -- such as carryovers." Anyone with experience in this?

One time the auditor in my office (it was a corporate audit and all records were in my office)
asked for the president's other returns straddling the year and I calmly said "if you want to audit those, send me a letter. Besides, I didn't have a POA from client authorizing me to even see his returns for year before and after.

Next appointment, two weeks later, she duly brought an official letter.