Likely tax cheats flock South, West
WASHINGTON Worried the Internal Revenue Service might target you for an audit?
You probably should be if you own a small business in one of the wealthy suburbs of Los Angeles.
You might also be wary if you're a small-business owner in one of dozens of communities near San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta or the District of Columbia.
A new study by the National Taxpayer Advocate used confidential IRS data to show large clusters of potential tax cheats in those five metropolitan areas. The IRS uses the data to target taxpayers for audits.
The study finds that people who own construction or rental real estate businesses may be more likely to fudge their taxes than owners of other types of businesses.
The National Taxpayer Advocate is an independent office within the IRS.
Where are the potential tax cheats?
The National Taxpayer Advocate used confidential data from 2009 tax returns to identify clusters of potential tax cheats in more than 350 communities. The Internal Revenue Service assigns a score to each tax return rating the likelihood agents will collect additional tax money from an audit. The higher your score, the more likely you are to get audited.
The study focused on sole proprietorships, which account for two-thirds of all U.S. businesses. The median scores for sole proprietors in these cities, towns and neighborhoods were among the highest scores in the country:
Brighton, Ala.
Center Point, Ala.
Dannelly, Ala.
Forestdale, Ala.
Phenix City, Ala.
Prichard, Ala.
Trussville, Ala.
Wenonah, Ala.
Buckeye, Ariz.
Cave Creek, Ariz.
Desert Hills, Ariz.
Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Tolleson, Ariz.
Agua Dulce, Calif.
Alamo, Calif.
Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Alpine, Calif.
American Canyon, Calif.
Anaheim Hills, Calif.
Apple Valley, Calif.
Arrowhead Farm, Calif.
Auburn, Calif.
Bakersfield, Calif.
Baldwin Hills, Calif.
Bear Valley Springs, Calif.
Bermuda Dunes, Calif.
Beverly Hills, Calif.
Bonita, Calif.
Brentwood, Calif.
Canyon Country, Calif.
Canyon Lake, Calif.
Castaic, Calif.
Chatsworth, Calif.
Cherry Valley, Calif.
Chino Hills, Calif.
Clayton, Calif.
Corona, Calif.
Corona Del Mar, Calif.
Delano, Calif.
Diablo Grande, Calif.
Discovery Bay, Calif.
Downey, Calif.
Eastvale, Calif.
El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Elk Grove, Calif.
Fontana, Calif.
George Air Force Base, Calif.
Gilroy, Calif.
Glendora, Calif.
Gilman Hot Springs, Calif.
Hesperia, Calif.
Highland, Calif.
Hodge, Calif.
Hollister, Calif.
Inglewood, Calif.
Jess Ranch, Calif.
La Quinta, Calif.
La Verne, Calif.
Ladera Ranch, Calif.
Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Lamirada, Calif.
Leimert Park, Calif.
Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Loomis, Calif.
Malibu, Calif.
Manteca, Calif.
Monarch Beach, Calif.
Moorpark, Calif.
Morada, Calif.
Moreno Valley, Calif.
Morgan Hill, Calif.
Murrieta Hot Springs, Calif.
Newport Beach, Calif.
Newport Coast, Calif.
Norco, Calif.
North Loma Linda, Calif.
Oak Hills, Calif.
Oakley, Calif.
Palm Desert, Calif.
Palmdale, Calif.
Perris, Calif.
Phelan, Calif.
Prunedale, Calif.
Pumpkin Center, Calif.
Quartz Hill, Calif.
Rainbow, Calif.
Ramona, Calif.
Rancho Belago, Calif.
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Rialto, Calif.
Riverside, Calif.
Rancho Dominguez, Calif.
Robinson Ranch, Calif.
Rocklin, Calif.
Rodeo, Calif.
Rolling Hills, Calif.
Rubidoux, Calif.
San Clemente, Calif.
San Dimas, Calif.
San Marcos, Calif.
Santa Clarita, Calif.
Saratoga Hills, Calif.
Shafter, Calif.
Simi Valley, Calif.
South Laguna, Calif.
Spring Valley Lake, Calif.
Stevenson Ranch, Calif.
Suisun City, Calif.
Sun City, Calif.
Temecula, Calif.
Topanga, Calif.
Tracy, Calif.
Upland, Calif.
Valencia, Calif.
Vallejo, Calif.
Valley Center, Calif.
Valley Home, Calif.
Victorville, Calif.
Wagner, Calif.
Westlake Village, Calif.
Wildomar, Calif.
Winchester, Calif.
Windsor Hills, Calif.
Woodland Hills, Calif.
Yorba Linda, Calif.
Yucaipa, Calif.
Belle Glade, Fla.
Country Lakes, Fla.
Homestead, Fla.
Lox, Fla.
Naranja, Fla.
North Miami, Fla.
Opa Locka, Fla.
Palm Springs North, Fla.
Redland, Fla.
South Palm Beach, Fla.
Acworth, Ga.
Albany, Ga.
Americus, Ga.
Austell, Ga.
Between, Ga.
Braswell, Ga.
Bryon, Ga.
Buford, Ga.
Cartersville, Ga.
Centerville Branch, Ga.
College Park, Ga.
Columbus, Ga.
Conyers, Ga.
Dacula, Ga.
Dallas, Ga.
Decatur, Ga.
Douglasville, Ga.
Dunaire, Ga.
East Point, Ga.
Eatonton, Ga.
Ellenwood, Ga.
Euharlee, Ga.
Fairburn, Ga.
Fayetteville, Ga.
Fort McPherson, Ga.
Grayson, Ga.
Griffin, Ga.
Grovetown, Ga.
Hampton, Ga.
Hapeville, Ga.
Hephzibah, Ga.
Hinesville, Ga.
Hiram, Ga.
Jackson, Ga.
Jonesboro, Ga.
Lagrange, Ga.
Lake Spivey, Ga.
Lawrenceville, Ga.
Leesburg, Ga.
Lithia Springs, Ga.
Lithonia, Ga.
Locust Grove, Ga.
Mableton, Ga.
Macon, Ga.
McDonough, Ga.
Morrow, Ga.
Norcross, Ga.
Peach Orchard, Ga.
Pooler, Ga.
Porterdale, Ga.
Powder Springs, Ga.
Radium Springs, Ga.
Rex, Ga.
Rincon, Ga.
Riverdale, Ga.
Rockbridge, Ga.
Shenandoah, Ga.
Smoke Rise, Ga.
Snapfinger, Ga.
Stockbridge, Ga.
Stone Mountain, Ga.
Temple, Ga.
Union City, Ga.
Vidalia, Ga.
Villa Rica, Ga.
Walnut Grove, Ga.
Waynesboro, Ga.
Woolsey, Ga.
Kahului, Hawaii
Lahaina, Hawaii
Rigby, Idaho
Bellwood, Ill.
Calumet City, Ill.
Dolton, Ill.
Grand Crossing, Ill.
Hazel Crest, Ill.
Matteson, Ill.
Maywood, Ill.
Ogden Park, Ill.
Phoenix, Ill.
Riverdale, Ill.
Roseland, Ill.
South Chicago Heights, Ill.
South Holland, Ill.
University Park, Il.
Nine Mile Point, La.
Baker, La.
Dixie Inn, La.
Harvey, La.
Montz, La.
Richwood, La.
Scotlandville, La.
Zachary, La.
Mattapan, Mass.
Bowie, Md.
Brandywine, Md.
Burtonsville, Md.
Calverton, Md.
Carroll, Md.
Clinton, Md.
Edgewood, Md.
Essex, Md.
Fairmount Heights, Md.
Forestville, Md.
Fort Washington, Md.
Garrison, Md.
Glenarden, Md.
Hillcrest Heights, Md.
Hyattstown, Md.
Laplata, Md.
Laurel, Md.
Loch Hill, Md.
Marlow Heights, Md.
McDonogh Run, Md.
Mitchellville, Md.
Montpelier, Md.
North Englewood, Md.
National Harbor, Md.
New Carrollton, Md.
Odenton, Md.
Raspeburg, Md.
Riverdale Park, Md.
Rosedale, Md.
Russett, Md.
Severn, Md.
South Bowie, Md.
University Park, Md.
Upper Marlboro, Md.
Walbrook, Md.
Waldorf, Md.
Windsor Mill, Md.
Woodlawn, Md.
Inkster, Mich.
Lathrup Village, Mich.
Southfield, Mich.
Byhalia, Miss.
Jago, Miss.
Metrocenter, Miss.
Mineral Wells, Miss.
South McComb, Miss.
Southaven, Miss.
Mount Holly, N.C.
Vandalia, N.C.
East Orange, N.J.
Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Industrial Hillside, N.J.
Roselle, N.J.
Sicklerville, N.J.
Irvington Township, N.J.
Vailsburg, N.J.
Weequahic, N.J.
Willingboro, N.J.
Incline Village, Nev.
North Las Vegas, Nev.
Arverne, N.Y.
Cambria Heights, N.Y.
Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Rosedale, N.Y.
Smiths Point, N.Y.
Springfield Gardens, N.Y.
St. Albans, N.Y.
Lynnewood Gardens, Pa.
Blythewood, S.C.
Columbia, S.C.
Moncks Corner, S.C.
Orangeburg, S.C.
Stark Terrace, S.C.
Walterboro, S.C.
Hickory Hill, Tenn.
Alton, Texas
Alvarado, Texas
Baytown, Texas
Cedar Hill, Texas
Channelview, Texas
Cleveland, Texas
Combine, Texas
Crosby, Texas
Dayton Lakes, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Everman, Texas
Fresno, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Haslet, Texas
Humble, Texas
La Tijera, Texas
Lancaster, Texas
Manvel, Texas
Missouri City, Texas
Oak Leaf, Texas
Palmview, Texas
Pharr, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
Progreso Lakes, Texas
Rio Grande City, Texas
San Jose, Texas
San Juan, Texas
Sandy Point, Texas
Sharyland, Texas
Sheldon, Texas
Sienna Plant, Texas
Springtown, Texas
Tarkington Prairie, Texas
Taylor Landing, Texas
Tool, Texas
Violet, Texas
Willis, Texas
Woody Acres, Texas
Zapata, Texas
Draper, Utah
Elk Ridge, Utah
Independence, Utah
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Riverton, Utah
Saratoga Springs, Utah
South Jordan, Utah
Washington, Utah
Dale City, Va.
Suffolk, Va.
Woodbridge, Va.