The Dreaded IRS Audit - What Actions You Should Take |
You've done everything humanly possible to avoid it, but your worst fears have been realized. Before you fling yourself headlong into panic mode and start checking out real estate in Tahiti, relax. An audit isn't necessarily the end of the world, especially if you know what to do in preparation for one.
Great – I am Being Audited – Now What?
An audit can be particularly stressful for both employer and employees alike. While the business owner worries about potentially being fined, paying exorbitant fees or worse, going to jail, dependent workers wonder if they could lose their primary source of income should the business go under.
With so much at stake, corporation undergoing a tax audit will need to ensure they have everything on hand to make the process go as smooth as possible.
Gather all pertinent file, records and documents –this is the most important aspect of preparedness that cannot be stressed enough. The inability to a locate or present documents can provide IRS agents with enough fodder to fine you or claim criminal intent on your part. Indeed, companies that are able to provide relevant records and books are least likely to face serious consequence after an exhaustive audit.
Do Your Home work – A little research can go a long way in not only helping you feel more secure, but in educating you on what you will need throughout the IRS auditing process. One thing that may surprise you is that the IRS aren't the big evil boogeymen they are made out to be, in fact, they will and often do consider the fact that employees are prone to human error. At the end of the day, only a small handful of audits result in serious citations, fines or arrests. With that in mind, remember that they will and often will pursue anything they think to be grossly out to of proportion with the facts presented.
Take a Deep Breathe and – Relax! – The last thing you want to do is raise suspicions that you have something to hide by acting overly worried. That is not to say pretend everything is A-Okay—just don't get super worked up. Stressing over the matter won't help things anyway, as the best way to ensure you are going to “beat the system” is to do everything in your power to legally increase the odds of a positive outcome. Seeking the advice of a well respected accounting firm like GBC Tax Services of Atlanta is one way to do this. By outsourcing, you can go over what needs to be done prior to the IRS agency visit. You will also be better equipped to ferret out potential problem and solutions before the big day arrives. In any case, it is always wise to go with proven experts in the field of accounting so you know you you'll be ready when the Tax man comes a-calling.
Once you’ve decided on an expert CPA, you can have them represent you or be a part of the process alongside you. In either case, it makes more sense to have a proven and trusted CPA at your side who will help you protect everything you're carefully built. They can also help you if you don't like the IRS determination, by taking your case to tax court on appeal.
But no matter the outcome, it literally pays to do your homework. Avoid common business pitfalls that lead to a negative result after Internal Revenue evaluation by being proactive on your own behalf. It is the only way to win at life as well as beat tax audits.
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