Ronald J. Cappuccio, J.D., LL.M.(Tax)

US Tax Audits

New Jersey tax audits. Businesses Need a Tax Lawyer Representation for the Audit

Business owners, professionals, corporations, partnerships and LLCs have more complicated business transactions than most W-2 wage earners.Tax increases, tax penalties, interest and even claims of civil tax fraud are the potential result of a mishandled tax audit. Without the assistance of a qualified tax lawyer before the audit even starts, a taxpayer is starting behind the IRS professionals.
IRS Revenue Agents are trained to increase your taxes!

IRS auditors, known as Internal Revenue Agents, and their criminal counter part, CID (Criminal Investigation Division) agents have extensive training and education designed to make businesses pay more taxes. The IRS relies on businesses to unnecessarily reveal information and lose the audit. Without the assistance of a qualified tax lawyer before the audit even starts, a taxpayer is starting behind the IRS professionals.
The first step is preparation and acquisition of tax law information

General Information Concerning Audits

You are not going to jail!!!!! Almost all tax audits are simply about the various levels of government trying to get more money. Every year, usually around the April 15 filing date, the IRS announces a vicious prosecution against nationally (or locally) known high profile individuals. This is part of the IRS enforcement technique to scare taxpayers into "following the rules" imposed by the Treasury. But the fact does not change that few taxpayers are indicted solely for tax matters. An IRS Audit notice is for money not jail!

Do Not Wait to See How the Audit "turns-out" to consult a tax lawyer!

Winning the audit requires the taxpayer to prepare for the audit. Good preparation is more than simply gathering the documents demanded. Identification of the tax law issues and factual areas of contention require the experience and knowledge of a tax attorney. Even if the return was prepared by a CPA or professional accountant, the approach of the tax attorney is to advocate for the taxpayer. Immediately, arrange for an initial consultation to prepare for the audit.

Types of Audits

There are three general types of IRS Audits:
    1.    Mail Audit
    2.    Office Audit
    3.    Field Audit

The Mail Audit is typically if there is a discrepancy within the return (such as a calculation error) or with third party information such as 1099's. Usually, these audits merely require submitting backup information, documents, and an explanation. Typically, this type of audit requires minimal assistance.

An Office Audit normally is for W-2 wage earners and some small business owners. The taxpayer is required to bring substantiating documentation for the return to the local IRS Office for analysis. The Office Audit typically lasts 1 day or less. Frequently, taxpayers are lulled into believing that the audit is "simple" and "straightforward" and try to not have legal representation. This is how an unwary taxpayer can fall into the traps of the IRS Revenue Agent. Immediately upon receipt of an Office Audit Notice, the taxpayer should consult a tax lawyer.

Field Audits, where one or more IRS Revenue Agents come to a taxpayer's office are usually received for corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies (LLC), although complex sole proprietorship are also subject to field audits. The audit has to go to the office of the taxpayer because the documentation and legal issues are voluminous and complex. The taxpayer should expect to obtain legal representation as well as further accounting assistance to prepare for the audit.

Tax Professionals
Tax Attorneys are the most educated professionals in the tax field. As a lawyer, a tax attorney earns a Bachelor's degree, then a Juris Doctor or Doctor of Law (J.D.) from a Law School. After taking the rigorous Bar Examination, and being admitted by the State Supreme Court to the Practice of Law, typically, the tax lawyer pursues further academic study and writes a thesis to earn a Master of Laws in Taxation, known as the LL.M.(Tax). Lawyers are comfortable advocating for their clients. Lawyers are not afraid of taking adversarial positions and filing the necessary appeals (including representation in the US Tax Court and US Court of Claims.) IRS Revenue Agents know the training and knowledge of the tax attorney.

Certified Public Accountants, CPAs, have earned a Bachelor's degree and have taken an exam to become Certified. Most CPAs are not specialists in the field of tax law or tax accounting even though they may prepare tax returns. CPAs typically assist taxpayers and businesses with bookkeeping, accounting issues, and "number crunching."

Public Accountants, PAs, frequently have a Bachelor's degree or some other training in accounting. They have not otherwise qualified to become a CPA. Many public accountants came to the accounting field based upon special training in a company or industry.

Enrolled Agents, EAs, are usually retired IRS employees permitted by the IRS represent taxpayers.

Tax Return Preparers are frequently part-time seasonal workers preparing individual tax returns.

Audits need to be fought from the first notice.

Do not wait until the audit is completed to call a Tax Lawyer!