Our tax laws are complex and often difficult to understand. Tax professionals warn us of the perils of audits. Penalties for getting our taxes wrong can be stiff — up to and including jail for those who deliberately evade the taxman.
So why don’t we fear the IRS?
Clearly, we have some fears about April 15. A recent NerdWallet survey found seven out of 10 taxpayers have concerns about filing their taxes, such as making a mistake (17%), paying too much (15%) and not getting the biggest possible refund (14%).
But only 11% feared getting audited, NerdWallet found. A recent Rasmussen Reports poll put the number at 14%.
In my latest for NerdWallet, why Americans are less afraid of the IRS than they are of reptiles.