Legal Definitions - office audit

An office audit is a type of audit where the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examines a taxpayer's return in the office of an IRS agent. An audit is a formal examination of an individual's or organization's accounting records, financial situation, or compliance with some other set of standards.

For example, if a taxpayer claims a deduction for business expenses, the IRS may conduct an office audit to verify that the expenses were actually incurred and were necessary for the taxpayer's business. During the audit, the IRS agent may ask the taxpayer to provide documentation, such as receipts or invoices, to support the deduction.

Other types of audits include:

• Tax audit: The review of a taxpayer's return by the IRS, including an examination of the taxpayer's books, vouchers, and records supporting the return.
• Compliance audit: An audit conducted by a regulatory agency, an organization, or a third party to assess compliance with one or more sets of laws and regulations.
• Environmental audit: A company's voluntary self-audit to evaluate its environmental-management programs and to determine whether it is in compliance with environmental regulations.

These examples illustrate how audits are used to ensure that individuals and organizations are following the rules and regulations set forth by the government or other governing bodies. Audits help to promote transparency and accountability in financial and business practices.