IRS Tax Audit Help
The Internal Revenue Service and/or your State Department of Taxation can choose to review your income tax return for accuracy if it believes some or all of your return is incorrect or on rare occasions the audit can be completely random. Although the audit may strike fear in most people, it does not necessarily mean you have broken any tax laws or that your return was filed incorrectly. It may mean you need audit representation from a New Jersey tax firm that is experienced in working with the IRS, State & City authorities.
Many times, an individual that is subject to an audit immediately assumes that they will need an attorney. This is not always the case – in fact, many times a CPA is a great choice for audit representation and much more reasonably priced than a tax attorney. If you find yourself on the receiving end of an IRS, or New Jersey tax audit, the Jersey City accountants at JLD Tax can thoroughly analyze and defend your case, giving you the peace of mind you need to have a successful resolution.
How Returns Are Chosen
Large, unusual, and suspicious items reported on a tax return increase the odds that the IRS will choose to analyze your return. Several years in a row of Schedule C losses is another reason. If the IRS suspects that you or your tax preparer made mistakes on your return, it may choose to audit. In general, the IRS searches for extra revenue by seeking individuals who underreport or fail to report – or who inflate deductions to reduce total tax owed.
What to Bring to Your Initial Consultation
When you meet with JLD Tax for your initial consultation, you will need to bring all documents that pertain to your case including the notice or notices sent by the IRS, an accurate and complete copy of the return you submitted, and any supporting documentation.
These supporting documents can include:
Expense Receipts
Mortgage interest and Property Tax statements
1099s
W2s
Documents pertaining to your business if you are Self-Employed
Any other important ax documents that are relevant to the year being audited
It is much better to hire an accountant to defend your case early in the audit process rather than wait until the IRS threatens to levy or collect on the tax debt it thinks you owe. You have rights during the tax audit process, and many taxpayers answer questions during IRS hearings they are not legally required to answer.
What to Expect During the Audit Process
If you are worried about meeting an IRS officer face-to-face, the accountants at JLD Tax can handle it for you. In fact, we usually recommend that you cease contact with the IRS and allow us to defend your case for you. To get started, our tax accountants will take the time to understand your story and will thoroughly explain the audit process to you. Following our analysis, we will identify probable outcomes and recommend a strategy. If you get additional notices from the IRS, it is important to share those notices with JLD Tax immediately. Many notices highlight important deadlines, dates, and instructions. Do not expect the audit to resolve itself in a few weeks – dealing with certain departments of the federal, state and local governments usually takes at least a couple months.