Most Audited County in Every State
milesgehm / Flickr Massachusetts: Nantucket County > Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.6 (state: 7.2) > Median household income: $91,942 (state: $74,167) > Poverty rate: 11.2% (state: 11.1%) > Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 45.1% (state: 42.1%) Kimberly Skirha /…
Of all potential bureaucratic ordeals, tax audits connote a level of dread few others can match. The Internal Revenue Service processed 586.1 million tax returns between 2012 and 2015 and audited 4.5 million of them.
With a full-time staff of just 76,800, the IRS has limited capacity to ensure every American pays exactly what he or she owes. But the IRS does not choose tax returns to be audited entirely at random. Tax returns that do not match established patterns are at increased risk of an audit. And though filing by the book is the best way to avoid an audit, it is by no means a guarantee.
Americans filing taxes this year should take comfort knowing that the likelihood of being selected for an audit is low. Each year, there are about 7.7 audits for every 1,000 returns. Still, in nearly every state, there is at least one county where the likelihood of being targeted by the IRS is higher than average. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed audit rates in over 3,000 counties, county equivalents, and independent cities to determine where audits are most common in every state.
While conventional wisdom may suggest wealthier Americans are more likely to avoid paying taxes, and are therefore more likely audit candidates, the opposite appears to be true. Poverty is more common in 43 of the 50 counties on this list than it is across the state as a whole — and many of these counties rank as the poorest county in the state.
This is no coincidence. Many low-income households claim the earned income tax credit — or EITC — a program designed to ease financial hardship for the working poor. According to a 2018 report released by ProPublica, a non-profit investigative publication, EITC recipients are disproportionately targeted for audit to better ensure no one is unfairly taking advantage of the system. Further reinforcing evidence of the trend, only three counties on this list have a higher median annual household income than the median nationwide of $57,652.
Click here to see the county most likely to be audited in each state
To identify the county where you are most likely to be audited in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of audits per 1,000 tax returns in 3,142 counties, county equivalents, and independent cities. Audit rates were calculated by tax analysis website, Tax Notes, using four years of data — from 2012 to 2015. State audit rates were calculated by averaging county-level data. Median household income, poverty rates, and educational attainment rates are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.
Alabama: Greene County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.9 (state: 8.2)
> Median household income: $20,954 (state: $46,472)
> Poverty rate: 38.8% (state: 18.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.4% (state: 24.5%)
[entry-topics ids=”8017″]
Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.4 (state: 7.0)
> Median household income: $36,468 (state: $76,114)
> Poverty rate: 39.1% (state: 10.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 4.9% (state: 29.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”176″]
Arizona: Santa Cruz County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.0 (state: 7.9)
> Median household income: $39,630 (state: $53,510)
> Poverty rate: 21.8% (state: 17.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 22.1% (state: 28.4%)
[entry-topics ids=”24592″]
Arkansas: Phillips County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.2 (state: 8.1)
> Median household income: $26,652 (state: $43,813)
> Poverty rate: 33.0% (state: 18.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.3% (state: 22.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”50255″]
California: Imperial County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.7 (state: 8.0)
> Median household income: $44,779 (state: $67,169)
> Poverty rate: 23.8% (state: 15.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.3% (state: 32.6%)
[entry-topics ids=”1337″]
Colorado: Saguache County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.5 (state: 7.4)
> Median household income: $34,765 (state: $65,458)
> Poverty rate: 21.0% (state: 11.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.0% (state: 39.4%)
[entry-topics ids=”180″]
Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.2 (state: 7.4)
> Median household income: $89,773 (state: $73,781)
> Poverty rate: 8.8% (state: 10.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 46.5% (state: 38.4%)
[entry-topics ids=”22247″]
Delaware: Sussex County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.4 (state: 7.3)
> Median household income: $57,901 (state: $63,036)
> Poverty rate: 12.0% (state: 12.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 25.1% (state: 31.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”3426″]
Florida: Miami-Dade County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.1 (state: 8.2)
> Median household income: $46,338 (state: $50,883)
> Poverty rate: 19.0% (state: 15.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.8% (state: 28.5%)
[entry-topics ids=”1657″]
Georgia: Calhoun County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.8 (state: 8.4)
> Median household income: $29,617 (state: $52,977)
> Poverty rate: 32.2% (state: 16.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.4% (state: 29.9%)
[entry-topics ids=”22721″]
Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.1 (state: 7.4)
> Median household income: $56,395 (state: $74,923)
> Poverty rate: 17.4% (state: 10.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.6% (state: 32.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”14042″]
Idaho: Butte County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.3 (state: 7.7)
> Median household income: $43,207 (state: $50,985)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (state: 14.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.5% (state: 26.8%)
[entry-topics ids=”59347″]
Illinois: Alexander County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.8 (state: 7.5)
> Median household income: $31,014 (state: $61,229)
> Poverty rate: 33.4% (state: 13.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.7% (state: 33.4%)
[entry-topics ids=”11106″]
Indiana: Marion County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.8 (state: 7.3)
> Median household income: $44,869 (state: $52,182)
> Poverty rate: 19.8% (state: 14.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.7% (state: 25.3%)
[entry-topics ids=”35717″]
Iowa: Ringgold County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.5 (state: 7.0)
> Median household income: $50,642 (state: $56,570)
> Poverty rate: 10.9% (state: 12.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.1% (state: 27.7%)
[entry-topics ids=”59348″]
Kansas: Sheridan County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.3 (state: 7.3)
> Median household income: $56,607 (state: $55,477)
> Poverty rate: 4.8% (state: 12.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 24.6% (state: 32.3%)
[entry-topics ids=”14041″]
Kentucky: Clay County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.9 (state: 7.7)
> Median household income: $24,596 (state: $46,535)
> Poverty rate: 39.5% (state: 18.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.5% (state: 23.2%)
[entry-topics ids=”59349″]
Louisiana: East Carroll Parish
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 11.4 (state: 8.4)
> Median household income: $20,795 (state: $46,710)
> Poverty rate: 48.2% (state: 19.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.8% (state: 23.4%)
[entry-topics ids=”59350″]
Maine: Washington County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.9 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $40,328 (state: $53,024)
> Poverty rate: 18.2% (state: 12.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.9% (state: 30.3%)
[entry-topics ids=”36448″]
Maryland: Baltimore
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.3 (state: 7.3)
> Median household income: $46,641 (state: $78,916)
> Poverty rate: 22.4% (state: 9.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 30.4% (state: 39.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”28049″]
Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.6 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $91,942 (state: $74,167)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (state: 11.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 45.1% (state: 42.1%)
[entry-topics ids=”22627″]
Michigan: Wayne County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.1 (state: 7.4)
> Median household income: $43,702 (state: $52,668)
> Poverty rate: 23.7% (state: 15.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 22.8% (state: 28.1%)
[entry-topics ids=”11110″]
Minnesota: Mahnomen County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.4 (state: 7.0)
> Median household income: $42,439 (state: $65,699)
> Poverty rate: 22.7% (state: 10.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.1% (state: 34.8%)
[entry-topics ids=”19886″]
Mississippi: Humphreys County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 11.8 (state: 8.9)
> Median household income: $26,188 (state: $42,009)
> Poverty rate: 40.5% (state: 21.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.6% (state: 21.3%)
[entry-topics ids=”59351″]
Missouri: Pemiscot County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.5 (state: 7.6)
> Median household income: $32,468 (state: $51,542)
> Poverty rate: 28.5% (state: 14.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.0% (state: 28.2%)
[entry-topics ids=”28577″]
Montana: Big Horn County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.6 (state: 7.4)
> Median household income: $47,276 (state: $50,801)
> Poverty rate: 26.8% (state: 14.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.6% (state: 30.7%)
[entry-topics ids=”3837″]
Nebraska: Greeley County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.5 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $47,218 (state: $56,675)
> Poverty rate: 9.8% (state: 12.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.3% (state: 30.6%)
[entry-topics ids=”11091″]
Nevada: Clark County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.7 (state: 7.6)
> Median household income: $54,882 (state: $55,434)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (state: 14.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.3% (state: 23.7%)
[entry-topics ids=”59354″]
New Hampshire: Coos County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.3 (state: 6.9)
> Median household income: $45,386 (state: $71,305)
> Poverty rate: 13.3% (state: 8.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.3% (state: 36.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”22615″]
New Jersey: Essex County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.4 (state: 7.5)
> Median household income: $57,365 (state: $76,475)
> Poverty rate: 16.7% (state: 10.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 34.0% (state: 38.1%)
[entry-topics ids=”22720″]
New Mexico: McKinley County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.2 (state: 8.1)
> Median household income: $30,336 (state: $46,718)
> Poverty rate: 37.5% (state: 20.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.8% (state: 26.9%)
[entry-topics ids=”59355″]
New York: Bronx County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.1 (state: 7.8)
> Median household income: $36,593 (state: $62,765)
> Poverty rate: 29.7% (state: 15.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.4% (state: 35.3%)
[entry-topics ids=”4614″]
North Carolina: Edgecombe County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.3 (state: 7.9)
> Median household income: $32,929 (state: $50,320)
> Poverty rate: 24.6% (state: 16.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.6% (state: 29.9%)
[entry-topics ids=”20037″]
North Dakota: Sioux County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.5 (state: 7.0)
> Median household income: $40,795 (state: $61,285)
> Poverty rate: 37.1% (state: 11.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.3% (state: 28.9%)
[entry-topics ids=”15103″]
Ohio: Adams County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.0 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $36,320 (state: $52,407)
> Poverty rate: 23.8% (state: 14.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.1% (state: 27.2%)
[entry-topics ids=”4458″]
Oklahoma: Adair County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.4 (state: 7.8)
> Median household income: $33,366 (state: $49,767)
> Poverty rate: 30.8% (state: 16.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.6% (state: 24.8%)
[entry-topics ids=”6084″]
Oregon: Sherman County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.5 (state: 7.3)
> Median household income: $42,074 (state: $56,119)
> Poverty rate: 13.7% (state: 14.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.6% (state: 32.3%)
[entry-topics ids=”59358″]
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.4 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $40,649 (state: $56,951)
> Poverty rate: 25.8% (state: 13.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.1% (state: 30.1%)
[entry-topics ids=”11113″]
Rhode Island: Providence County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 7.5 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $52,530 (state: $61,043)
> Poverty rate: 16.7% (state: 13.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.8% (state: 33.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”9799″]
South Carolina: Allendale County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.3 (state: 8.0)
> Median household income: $23,331 (state: $48,781)
> Poverty rate: 30.4% (state: 16.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.4% (state: 27.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”11112″]
South Dakota: Oglala Lakota County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 11.2 (state: 7.3)
> Median household income: $27,804 (state: $54,126)
> Poverty rate: 51.9% (state: 13.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.4% (state: 27.8%)
[entry-topics ids=”14040″]
Tennessee: Lake County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.3 (state: 7.9)
> Median household income: $31,993 (state: $48,708)
> Poverty rate: 29.9% (state: 16.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.4% (state: 26.1%)
[entry-topics ids=”59360″]
Texas: Starr County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 10.4 (state: 8.1)
> Median household income: $27,133 (state: $57,051)
> Poverty rate: 35.0% (state: 16.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.7% (state: 28.7%)
[entry-topics ids=”1575″]
Utah: Rich County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.0 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $52,917 (state: $65,325)
> Poverty rate: 18.0% (state: 11.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 22.8% (state: 32.5%)
[entry-topics ids=”59361″]
Vermont: Essex County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.0 (state: 7.1)
> Median household income: $38,767 (state: $57,808)
> Poverty rate: 15.5% (state: 11.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.7% (state: 36.8%)
[entry-topics ids=”1866″]
Virginia: Emporia city
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.6 (state: 7.5)
> Median household income: $27,426 (state: $68,766)
> Poverty rate: 30.9% (state: 11.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.3% (state: 37.6%)
[entry-topics ids=”1834″]
Washington: Garfield County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.4 (state: 7.2)
> Median household income: $51,399 (state: $66,174)
> Poverty rate: 11.7% (state: 12.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.0% (state: 34.5%)
[entry-topics ids=”8439″]
West Virginia: McDowell County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.6 (state: 7.4)
> Median household income: $25,595 (state: $44,061)
> Poverty rate: 34.9% (state: 17.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 4.9% (state: 19.9%)
[entry-topics ids=”38858″]
Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 9.2 (state: 6.9)
> Median household income: $38,080 (state: $56,759)
> Poverty rate: 35.8% (state: 12.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.9% (state: 29.0%)
[entry-topics ids=”11108″]
Wyoming: Niobrara County
> Audits per 1,000 tax returns: 8.8 (state: 7.1)
> Median household income: $36,793 (state: $60,938)
> Poverty rate: 14.9% (state: 11.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.3% (state: 26.7%)
[entry-topics ids=”19422″]
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Stebbins is a writer at 247WallSt.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.
