Naked Lohan Makes Us Think of Taxes

Lindsay Lohan crashed again this week.

To be more specific, fans searching for nude images of the actress posing as Marilyn Monroe overloaded New York Magazine’s website, causing a temporary systems crash and extreme downloading delays. The clothes-free snaps for the spring fashion issue of New York Magazine recreate Monroe’s final photo shoot at the Hotel Bel-Air with photographer Bert Stern, who also did Lohan's shoot in the same location. Six weeks after “The Last Sitting,” Monroe died of an accidental overdose, at age 36.

“I was comfortable with it, the nudity and everything,” says Lohan, 21, who recently completed her third stint in rehab. Comfortable? Getting naked for a camera? Guess the stars aren’t always like us.

Unlike Hollywood starlets, most people are not stripping for the public, but there is a good chance that their financial records could undergo a shocking undressing. (Yes, we know it’s stretch, but go with it, dearest readers.) According to Surviving an IRS Tax Audit, nearly 50% of all taxpayers will be audited during their lifetime. While the initial notice in the mail can be cause for concern, an audit from the IRS doesn’t mean the worst as long as people know what to expect and are prepared.

“Don’t be afraid of the IRS. They are just out to get the right answers,” says Tom Ochsenschlager, the vice president of taxation at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. “Be more concerned that you have he proper documentation than that you are actually being audited.”

According to Jane Bergner, a tax attorney in Washington D.C., there are some important first steps to take when the IRS audits you. Begin by opening any mail from the IRS immediately and attend to it as quickly as possible. “The sooner that it is attended to, the better off you are,” she says.

It is the job of the IRS to prove income, and it is the job of the taxpayer to prove deductions. Therefore anyone audited should keep themselves armed with as much proof of their deductions as possible, says Dewey Watson, a tax attorney in San Francisco. It is most important to be truthful and remember that with the correct documentation, people should be able to answer any questions presented by the auditor.

Be sure to keep copies of all documents given to the IRS and it proves helpful to present the records in a neat and tidy package. Watson, however, says to give the IRS only what they ask for; any additional information can unknowingly open doors to further investigation. It is also important to remember that taxpayers have the right to appeal the claims made by the auditor and also can request the basis of the position being taken by the IRS. “You should ask questions,” says Bergner. “The service can make errors and you can’t defend against something if you don’t know its origin.”