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Finance Exam Prep

Finance Exam Prep

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 51, How Returns Are Selected for Examination

Finance Exam Prep · Sep 25, 2026 · 3:52

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This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.

In this episode you will learn:
- How the IRS primarily uses the computer-based Discriminant Inventory Function (DIF) score to select returns with a high potential for error.
- The critical role of Information Matching Programs in flagging discrepancies between taxpayer-reported income and third-party forms like W-2s and 1099s.
- Various other selection methods, including examinations of related taxpayers, informant referrals, and targeted IRS campaigns.
- The three main types of examinations—correspondence, office, and field—and when each is typically used.
- The crucial exam point that selection for an examination does not, by itself, imply the taxpayer has done anything wrong.

For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

Episodes: Finance Exam Prep

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