Voluntary compliance is the term used to refer to a taxpayer’s willingness to declare income accurately and pay taxes due, in accordance with their individual income tax laws. It is a way for the U. S. government to ensure that individuals are paying their fair share of taxes without having to conduct numerous system-wide audits.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relies on voluntary compliance to help fill the public coffers and support government functions, thereby helping to make the country run. Without voluntary compliance, economic growth and stability would be threatened by an inadequate tax collection.

In the U. S., individual taxpayers are expected to calculate their taxes due and submit their returns within a fixed timeframe. The taxpayers are responsible for providing accurate information regarding their income, deductions, credits and claiming exemptions. The IRS provides detailed guidelines and tools to assist taxpayers in calculating their own taxes.

Taxpayers should file a return even if they do not owe any tax. They may qualify for a refund due to overpaid taxes. Non-filing of taxes is a criminal offence and may lead to significant penalties. Taxpayers should also keep their records and supporting documents of taxes paid on file.

In cases of understated returns, auditing by the IRS or an independent auditor may be necessary. Auditing can take place if the taxpayer fails to pay the amount due such as overstated deductions, excessive credits, or excluding a certain source of income. Audits can also be conducted if significant discrepancies exist between the suspected and the actual tax liabilty.

The IRS uses a variety of measures to assess the level of compliance for taxpayers. This includes reviewing tax returns carefully for errors, IRS notices and letters, which can trigger an audit in specific cases. Systems of checks and balances can help avoid fraud and other criminal activities.

Ultimately, voluntary compliance is very important for maintaining a stable and fair economy by ensuring that taxpayers contributed their required share of taxes in a timely manner. It is also important that taxpayers helping the IRS to identify fraud and other unlawful activities. By being honest and forthcoming with tax information, taxpayers can provide the government the necessary resources to ensure a robust and equitable system of taxation.