Have been audited by IRS for 2006 and have discarded all documents and reciepts, what can I do?

Question

cannot afford a lawyer at this time.

Answer 1

Looks like your screwed. Depending on what you claimed you can contact the companies you did transactions with. Current employers, doctors etc...

Answer 2

I have gone to at least two audits without a single piece of paper and in one case got an increase in the refund.  However it would be good to attempt to replicate your records as well as you can and have a good story for why you don't have the originals.  

Answer 3

Going forward, learn and become a pack-rat.

As for 2006: you will need to pay taxes on your gross income.  No deductions at all.  As you learn, you will get to keep your deductions and pay taxes only on  net income.

I suppose if you used a credit card you might be able to provide some documentation.  However, the auditor will probably know this is one for his quota and stick to his guns and require the receipt shows what was purchased.

Answer 4

You don't need a lawyer, you need a magician.  Do the best you can to get copies of documentation from the original sources and hope you can convince the auditor that you really had all the expenses you claimed.

Answer 5

Depends on what is being questioned.  Try to get duplicate receipts for the big items.  See what other items you might have, like bank statements or credit card statements, that could show what you spent.

A lawyer wouldn't be able to help you anyway on this.