SENTINEL WATCH May 17, 2004 Issue

Maintain your integrity

By Diane Dailey

The April 15 US tax deadline has passed. Most tax returns have been filed. Many people utter sighs of relief. Some even smile.

That's how I felt last spring—until an official-looking envelope arrived. Then I wasn't smiling. It wasn't a refund check. It was a notice for something that gives rise to intense anxiety for many people: the dreaded tax audit. An Internal Revenue Service representative would be coming to my house in two weeks for a line-by-line examination of my tax return.

Why me? I considered myself honest, only taking allowable deductions and using a reputable tax preparer.