USA Today’s story on IRS tactics for audits contains an amazing statement from an executive of TurboTax.

How do you get high score? The IRS won’t say, but veteran tax preparers and former IRS workers believe they have a pretty good idea.

“If you’re reporting $8,000 of charitable contributions when you’re only making $50,000, that’s a red flag,” said Bob Meighan, vice president of TurboTax, an online tax preparation service. “Likewise if you’re reporting business or employee expenses that are out of the ordinary for your income range, that would attract the interest of the IRS as well.”

The bottom line, according to the experts: People who take unusually large deductions for their income get a high score. Also, business owners who claim unusually large expenses for the size and type of their business get a high score.

Let’s think about Mr. Meighan’s statement for a moment. His example means that if someone donates 15% of their salary to charity, they could trigger an audit. I know plenty of people who take seriously their commitment to tithing to their church and donating to many other charities as well. This easily takes their contributions up to, and above, the 15% mark. Some are of modest income, others aren’t. How amazing – and unfortunate – that those who sacrifice to help others are singled out for scrutiny. It’s a sad commentary on our society when this level of commitment is so out of the ordinary that it can draw an audit.