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Filing your tax return can feel like the finish line, but for many people, a quiet worry lingers: will the IRS come back with questions? The short answer is that most people who are audited usually hear from the IRS within the first year or two after filing.

At the heart of this is the IRS’s self-reporting system. You calculate your income and deductions, file your return, and the agency checks it against the information it already has. An audit only enters the picture when the IRS believes something in your return may be inaccurate and needs proof.

Here’s When IRS Usually Audits a Return

In most cases, the IRS focuses on recent returns. Audits typically involve tax returns filed within the last two years. By law, the agency can usually audit returns going back three years from the date you filed. That three-year window covers the vast majority of audits.

There are exceptions. If the IRS believes you left out a large chunk of income, generally 25% or more, it can go back as far as six years. In rare cases involving suspected fraud, there is no time limit at all. Still, for the average filer, the risk drops sharply once a few years have passed without hearing anything.

How IRS Chooses Who Gets Audited

One of the biggest myths about audits is that they are always triggered by something you did wrong. In reality, there are three main ways returns are selected.

Some audits are purely random. The IRS audits a small number of returns each year just to test its systems and keep the overall process honest. These are not personal and do not mean the filer did anything suspicious.

More commonly, returns are flagged by computer screening. The IRS compares your return to others like it. If something looks out of line, such as unusually high deductions or income that does not match reported forms, the system may flag it for review. A human examiner then decides whether it is worth pursuing further.

The third path is a related examination. If the IRS audits a business, investor or partner you are connected to, your return may also be reviewed as part of that broader picture.

What Raises Red Flags

There is no single mistake that guarantees an audit, and the IRS updates its criteria every year. That said, certain patterns tend to attract attention more than others. Underreported income is a major one, especially when it does not line up with W-2s or investment forms already sent to the IRS.

Large charitable donations compared to income can also stand out. The same goes for heavy business losses, unusually high expenses, or investment income that seems incomplete. Even rounded or estimated numbers used too often can look suspicious if they do not match typical reporting patterns.

What Actually Happens During Audit

If your return is selected, the IRS will notify you by mail. Audits do not start with phone calls or surprise visits. The agency will explain what it wants to review and what documents you need to provide.

Many audits are handled entirely by mail. You send copies of receipts, statements or other records, and that is the end of it. Some audits require an in-person meeting at an IRS office, where you answer questions and present documents. The most serious cases involve field audits, where an agent visits your home, business or accountant’s office.

Possible Outcomes You Should Know About

Many audits end quietly and mostly, there are no changes in the returns. The IRS accepts your return as filed. Another frequent outcome is an agreed change, where the IRS adjusts your tax bill and you choose to accept it, pay what is owed, or set up a payment plan.

If you disagree with the findings, you have the right to appeal within the IRS or take the issue to court.