what does it corroborate exactly? they're requesting all account info/history linked to his identity
from coinbase, right? to confirm whether his accounting is legitimate and whether he is hiding other accounts.
i guess that still doesn't tell us exactly what an audit entails on the taxpayer side.
here is one important lesson---don't report a shitload of bitcoin capital gains, then later amend your tax return to remove those capital gains and claim a refund. it's gonna look fishy as hell and land you on the IRS's radar. i dunno what this guy was thinking:
Petitioner and his wife filed a joint 2016 federal income tax return, reporting a tax liability of $36,594, which they paid in full. (Dkt. No. 10-1 (Declaration of Amanda Snow), ¶ 10). Petitioner and his wife then filed an amended 2016 federal income return, showing a reduced tax liability of $21,119 and claiming a refund of $15,475. (Id., ¶ 11). In their original tax return, Petitioner and his wife reported long-term capital gains from seven transactions involving the sale or disposition of bitcoin. In their amended return, they removed the two largest of these transactions, reducing Petitioner's long-term capital gains from $104,482 to $410. (Id., ¶¶ 12, 14.) This reduction in reported their long-term capital gain is the sole basis for their claimed refund. (Id., ¶ 14).
Petitioner's amended return and requested refund spurred the IRS's investigation into Petitioner's 2016 tax liability and his bitcoin transactions. In connection with its investigation, the IRS issued the disputed Summons to Coinbase.