Audit Representation Archives - Professional Tax Resolution

Audit Reconsideration Eliminates $100,000 Tax Balance

Audit Reconsideration Eliminates $100,000 Tax Balance

When Ms. H contacted our office, she was panicked over how to pay a back tax balance of $101,000.  She had recently received an official IRS Letter informing her of a balance due and threatening enforcement action since she had not responded to previous notices. This was followed almost immediately by a Notice of Intent to Audit. It turns out that Ms. H had sold her personal residence in a previous tax year and had forgotten to report the sale of the home on her tax return.  Although the IRS had sent various letters informing her of the discrepancy and assessing a tax balance due, she had not received them due to the fact that she had been moving around.

Our office quickly began working on the client’s back tax issues. We filed Powers of Attorney with the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board and followed up by contacting both tax agencies to ensure that the client’s accounts would not be subjected to any collection activity while our tax professionals the prepared an audit reconsideration packet.  Within a few days, we had submitted a complete audit reconsideration request to the IRS and had stopped the CA FTB from assessing Ms. H’s accounts. The final ruling from the IRS was very favorable. Not only did our client not owe a back tax balance, but she received a refund of $8,000 from funds the IRS had withheld from previous tax years!

The tax settlement case of Ms. H illustrates several important points. First and foremost, it shows that a reputable tax settlement firm offers a huge advantage to clients who are trying to resolve on outstanding tax balance. Not only do these professionals know exactly what problems to look for when analyzing a client’s finances, but they have the experience necessary to successfully resolve those problems with the IRS and State Tax Agencies. In addition, this case shows that receiving a Notice of Intent to Audit does not necessarily mean that the recipient will owe a large tax amount. In addition to plain old random sampling, a tax return may be selected for audit for a variety of reasons including a filing error or missing tax information. Such was the case with Ms. H whose return was targeted for closer scrutiny due to her failure to report the proceeds from the sale of a home. Once the error is corrected and an accurate tax situation is presented for examination, the audit may actually result in a reduced tax balance or even a refund as happened in the situation described above.

If you have tax questions or a tax debt you are unable to pay, our tax settlement professionals are happy to discuss your tax resolution options free of charge. For more information about our services, visit us today at www.professionaltaxresolution.com or call us at 877.889.6527. With over 16 years in the business of resolving tax debt, we have a thorough understanding of tax law together with the experience to know which settlement option will be the best fit for your specific set of circumstances.

Government Employees Have Delinquent Tax Balances

Delinquent Taxes and Government Employees

Delinquent Taxes and Government Employees

Government Employees Have Delinquent Tax Balances – Various government workers have been in the news recently for their delinquent taxes. One article reported that over 1100 IRS employees who owed back taxes and had other tax related problems had, in fact, received bonuses. Another recent report divulged that, as of September 2013, various federal government employees and government retirees owed over three million dollars in unpaid taxes. In a nutshell, it appears that government employees are no different than the general population of taxpayers. Some do not pay their tax bills.

A recent audit of the IRS revealed that over 1000 IRS employees who were in violation of one or more of the tax guidelines set by the  very agency they work had received bonus pay in spite of their noncompliance. The Treasury General for Tax Administration reported that the IRS employees who had received bonus compensation had various tax violations including back tax balances, the underreporting of income and late tax payments. While the IRS is not currently required to withhold bonuses for tax law noncompliance, it has said that it will work toward changing this policy based on the recommendations of the recent audit. In a recent statement, IRS officials said they “recognize the need for proper personnel policies” and will “strive to protect the integrity of the tax system.”

Another recent report discussed the delinquent taxes owed by government employees in general. According to his study, members of Congress have a higher percentage of delinquent taxpayers than the IRS. While the Treasury Department, which includes the IRS, has a 1.2% rate of noncompliance, the percentages are 3.24% for Senators and 4.87% for members of the House of Representatives. Results of this same study showed that the departments with the highest noncompliance rates were the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development with rates of 4.38% and 5.29 % respectively. Off the large governmental agencies, the worst offenders were the Smithsonian Institution, the Government Printing Office and the Court Services and Offender Services Agency, all with tax noncompliance rates in excess of six percent. According to the IRS data released in this recent study, approximately 3.3% of federal government employees and federal government retirees owe back taxes.

If you have a delinquent tax bill, our tax settlement professionals are happy to discuss your tax resolution options free of charge. For more information about our tax settlement services, call us at 877.889.6527 or visit our website at www.professionaltaxresolution.com. Our experienced CPAs and Enrolled Agents have a thorough understanding of tax law together with the experience to know which tax settlement option will be the best fit for your specific tax delinquency.

 

IRS Audit Facts | Interesting Infographic

This infographic presents a visual story of how to avoid an IRS Audit. Over a million people just like you get audited each year. Are you at risk of an audit? Find out now.

IRS Audit Facts Infographic

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Business Tax Audit Advice From Former IRS Commissioner

 

Audit

 

An audit can be both an alarming and bothersome time for a business. Here are some simple and helpful steps from the Commissioner of the IRS to make the process go as smoothly as possible. These suggestions are especially useful to small and medium sized businesses.

How to Maneuver the Audit Process:

1. Gather your Workplace Organization – Upon receiving the notice, immediately meet with your employees, tax professionals/CPA, and other involved groups. Also, thoroughly examine all documents. It is vital to be prepared in a timely and organized fashion for your first meeting. First impressions can be critical.

2. Courtesy to the Agent – Keep in mind IRS agents have a challenging job. If the agent is treated respectfully, they are more apt to be understanding on your matter.

3. From the Offset Establish the Whole Outlook of the Investigation – This is very important. The IRS is very open about business matters. It pays to have no unknowns or surprises during the audit. Everything should be carefully examined.

4. Be Punctual on Timelines – The IRS will want to establish timelines and target dates for reports and materials. Missing a deadline due to setting an improbable timeline could have serious consequences. That being said the IRS has resource limitations and will want to get the audit done on a prompt schedule. Be prepared in knowing this.

5. Record Preparation and Communication – It is very important to have all of your materials organized and labeled. Everyone involved in the process should be thoroughly prepared and well-informed.

6. Execute your Own Review – Be thorough and go beyond what the IRS expects of you. The results can be advantageous. There have been situations where in fact checks have been received from the Treasury.

7. If it is Imperative, Speak to the Manager – If question’s or complications arise just ask to speak to the IRS agent’s manager. The IRS actually encourages business owners to contact the higher up personnel to seek a resolution.

8. Mediation and Arbitration – The IRS has significantly broadened its opportunity for taxpayers to seek a resolution. When it is applicable mediation and arbitration are great channels to consider for solving a problem.

9. Appeals and Litigation – The minute you receive the audit notice, always know that you might have to seek the final outcome through mediation and arbitration, IRS appeals, or even litigation.

If you have a concern in regards to an audit or any other tax question(s), our tax settlement professionals can help you. For more information about our services, visit us today at  www.professionaltaxresolution.com. With over 16 years in the business of resolving tax debt, we have a thorough understanding of tax law together with the experience to know which option will be the best fit for your specific set of circumstances.

For more information about our tax resolution services, visit us today at www.professionaltaxresolution.com.  Contact us by phone at 877-889-6257 to receive a free, no obligation consultation.