The Internal Revenue Service audited 5.3 percent fewer taxpayers in 2012 compared with 2011, according to data released by the agency.

The IRS audit rate for individuals declined to 1 percent from 1.1 percent.

High-income taxpayers are much more likely to get audited than others. In 2012, the IRS audited 12.1 percent of individuals with income exceeding $1 million, down from 12.5 percent the year before.