There are different levels of audit. The "standard" audit they apply to everyone is basically a cross-check of your 1099's and W-2's, as well as a form check to

There are different levels of audit. The "standard" audit they apply to everyone is basically a cross-check of your 1099's and W-2's, as well as a form check to look for computational errors (or didn't-follow-instructions errors). When people say "I am being audited", they mean the higher levels of audit where they must produce extra records for the IRS to prove deductions & such.