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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

8 Areas to Focus on to Avoid a Tax Audit

Stay Alert, Stay Aware!
FACE IT; 

you don't have much time on your hands as a small business owner to deal with combing through every aspect of your financial records to avoid an audit.

With the help of a professional CPA, you can easily prepare and avoid pitfalls by being aware of the most common triggers of an audit.

The IRS uses a computer program called the Discriminate Function System (DIF) that analyzes returns and flags them if they are outside statistical norms. When a return receives a high DIF score, an agent reviews it to determine if it should undergo an audit.

Therefore, here are the appropriate areas to ensure are squeaky clean:
  1. IF YOU HAVE A HIGH INCOME: 0.9 percent of people who make less than $200,000 were audited last year, compared to 10.9 percent of those who made $1 million or more.
  2. OUT OF PROPORTION DEDUCTIONS: The IRS uses tables to determine how much is too much for different income brackets when it comes to deductions, although the tables are not made public. For example, an IRS agent will want to know more if you claim charitable deductions that are not in line with your income.
  3. ROUNDING AND AVERAGING YOUR NUMBERS: Most folks appreciate rounding, but when it comes to IRS Agents, they  tend to believe that if you’re sloppy in this area, the rest of your return may not be entirely accurate.
  4. HOME OFFICE DEDUCTIONS ARE TRICKY: The requirements necessary to take this deduction are not relaxed. Many don't know that a portion of a room does not qualify, even if that large corner of your bedroom is taking up space where you don't do anything personal. Click here for the Simplified Option for Home Office Deduction that the IRS came up with last year. And follow the rules!!
  5. IF YOU CLAIM BUSINESSES LOSSES YEAR AFTER YEAR: The IRS may assume you are taking deductions you’re not entitled to in order to avoid paying taxes. They know, for example, that many claim hobby expenses (follow link to read more) as business losses, which is illegal under the tax code.
  6. FILING SCHEDULE C DOES INVITE MORE SCRUTINY: But don't let fear of an audit keep you from claiming legal deductions. Just do it accurately and keep clean records. Or, if you think it may be time to set up your business as a separate entity instead, read more here.
  7. EXCESSIVE BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT DEDUCTIONS: If you’re going to deduct these types of expenses, you must keep records for each write-off that includes when and where it occurred, who was in attendance, the purpose as it relates to your business, and a record of what was talked about. You’ll also need to keep receipts for expenses greater than $75 when you’re traveling for business.
  8. CLAIM YOUR VEHICLE FOR 100% BUSINESS USE? This will raise a flag. Also, when deducting for business use of a car, you’ll have to choose between the IRS standard mileage rate and actual expenses. Deducting both of these on your tax return will bring the IRS knocking.
So be smart and make sure you consider these issues in your tax records carefully, but then relax, for there is good news: 

The new IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said that last year less than 1 percent of all returns underwent an audit, and only 0.6 percent of business returns (meaning 0.006)!

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

7 Red Flags to Trigger an Audit: 7 of 7

Be shrewd and hire a good CPA
with external auditing and IRS
Representation experience: GBC
When it comes to audits of your small business taxes by the IRS, we are basically all...

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT!
*Call GBC Services at 678-366-9232 for immediate assistance*

If you've been chosen for an audit, the burden is unfortunately on you to answer the IRS' questions and to prove anything you claimed. They will be sniffing around aggressively for any unreported or under-reported income, along with over-stated deductions, as that is their job. Excuses of losing paperwork or being unaware will not work. Make sure you're on the ball!

*This is a series of 7 red flags to avoid, to help you not invite an audit. Hopefully you can escape this stress... Here is the final point #7:

*CASH BUSINESSES BEWARE:

*Cash-intensive businesses, such as beauty salons, restaurants and car washes, will always be under closer IRS scrutiny, as they are more likely to under-report taxable income.

To avoid an audit: Beware of warnings, follow procedure, keep good records, hire a CPA, and don't ever ignore tax notices. If you do get audited, be very cooperative and maintain a good attitude with them, and your CPA should be able to handle any IRS Representation for you.

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READ MORE>> www.AmericanExpress.com (from Small Business "OPENForum"): 7 Red Flags That Could Get Your Small Business Audited

Call GBC Income Tax Services today at 678-366-9232 for all your tax and IRS needs!
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READ MORE

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

7 Red Flags to Trigger an Audit: 6 of 7

Check in next month to learn
about the next red flag to avoid!
When it comes to audits of your small business taxes by the IRS, we are basically all...

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT!
*Call GBC Services at 678-366-9232 for immediate assistance*

If you've been chosen for an audit, the burden is unfortunately on you to answer the IRS' questions and to prove anything you claimed. They will be sniffing around aggressively for any unreported or under-reported income, along with over-stated deductions, as that is their job. Excuses of losing paperwork or being unaware will not work. Make sure you're on the ball!

*This is a series of 7 red flags to avoid, to help you not invite an audit. Hopefully you can escape this stress... Here is #6:

*CLAIMING 100 PERCENT BUSINESS USE OF A VEHICLE:

*If the vehicle is not designated for business use and there is no separate vehicle available for personal use, the business owner needs to maintain detailed mileage logs and calendar entries for the purposes of each trip.

To avoid an audit: Beware of warnings, follow procedure, keep good records, hire a CPA, and don't ever ignore tax notices. If you do get audited, be very cooperative and maintain a good attitude with them, and your CPA should be able to handle any IRS Representation for you.

--------------------------------------------------
READ MORE>> www.AmericanExpress.com (from Small Business "OPENForum"): 7 Red Flags That Could Get Your Small Business Audited

Call GBC Income Tax Services today at 678-366-9232 for all your tax and IRS needs!
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READ MORE

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

7 Red Flags to Trigger an Audit: 5 of 7

Check in next month to learn
about the next red flag to avoid!
When it comes to audits of your small business taxes by the IRS, we are basically all...

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT!
*Call GBC Services at 678-366-9232 for immediate assistance*

If you've been chosen for an audit, the burden is unfortunately on you to answer the IRS' questions and to prove anything you claimed. They will be sniffing around aggressively for any unreported or under-reported income, along with over-stated deductions, as that is their job. Excuses of losing paperwork or being unaware will not work. Make sure you're on the ball!

*This is a series of 7 red flags to avoid, to help you not invite an audit. Hopefully you can escape this stress... Here is #5:

*SHIFTING INCOME TO TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CHARITIES TO AVOID PAYING TAXES:

*This is considered tax abuse. Click here for further understanding (Washington Post).

To avoid an audit: Beware of warnings, follow procedure, keep good records, hire a CPA, and don't ever ignore tax notices. If you do get audited, be very cooperative and maintain a good attitude with them, and your CPA should be able to handle any IRS Representation for you.

--------------------------------------------------
READ MORE>> www.AmericanExpress.com (from Small Business "OPENForum"): 7 Red Flags That Could Get Your Small Business Audited

Call GBC Income Tax Services today at 678-366-9232 for all your tax and IRS needs!
--------------------------------------------------
READ MORE

Hiring An Accounting Firm for Your Small Business is Essential

A high-quality accounting
firm will address the payroll
concerns of your company.
HIRE A GEORGIA TAX PROFESSIONAL

For any Georgia business to survive in the ever turbulent corporate arena, it has to build on a firm and sensible foundation. One fundamental building block is locating the right accounting solutions in Atlanta, Georgia.

Many small companies make the mistake of assuming that taking on payroll and accounting roles themselves will save money.

What most small business owners do not know is that high quality Atlanta accounting services are surprisingly affordable for small to medium size companies.

Once your company makes the decision to hire an accounting firm in Atlanta, Georgia, you could soon discover that the investments.....


READ MORE > GBC Tax Services Website
For All Your Accounting Needs Call GBC 
Tax 678-366-9232

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