Can the IRS audit me multiple years in a row?

Yes, the IRS can audit you in consecutive years, and there's no legal prohibition against it. However, the IRS has an internal policy called the 'repetitive audit' rule: if the IRS audited the same issue in the prior year and proposed no changes, they generally will not audit the same issue again the following year. If you receive an audit notice for an issue that was previously audited with no change, you can contact the IRS and reference the prior audit results. Provide the prior audit closing letter showing no change. The IRS should close the new audit based on this policy, though it's not guaranteed. In practice, being audited two years in a row for different issues can happen, especially if you have ongoing audit triggers (high income, cash business, large deductions). Being audited does not increase your likelihood of being audited again, the selections are independent. If you're concerned about repeated audits, ensure your returns are well-documented, consistently prepared, and use conservative positions on deductions that commonly trigger scrutiny.