by Fresh Start Tax | Feb 12, 2014 | Tax Help
Sales Tax Audit Help, Affordable Representation
If you are going through or experiencing a sales tax audit contact us today for a free initial tax consultation.
You will be represented by either a tax attorney, former IRS agent, or Frank Lamantia, a Former Sales Tax Agent with the State of Florida.
Frank has an extensive background and can help you through any issues you have.
Pre-Audit Risk Assessment
Sales tax audits are intrusive, stressful, and can be very expensive if mishandled.
Unpaid tax, interest and penalties will be imposed on your business if it fails to comply with sales tax rules.
Being prepared for an eventual audit can make the difference between success and failure. Let us help your business prepare for an upcoming sales tax audit.
We examine the high risk transactions areas such as invoice preparation, exempt sales, sales tax exemption certificates capital asset additions.
Voluntary Disclosure Negotiations
Despite your best efforts to avoid sales tax mistakes, your business may still have underpaid the taxes due. If these mistakes are detected in an audit, the auditor may go back many years and issue your business a tax assessment for the unpaid taxes, interest and penalties.
Businesses can often resolve these problems proactively when properly handled through the process called Voluntary Disclosure Agreements.
This process can shorten the tax look back period, reduce interest cost, and avoid penalties. Our voluntary disclosure negotiations have saved clients untold amounts of tax, interest, and penalties. Let us negotiate these tax savings for you.
Business being audited for Florida sales and Use Tax.
Has the Florida Department of Revenue contacted your company about a Florida sales and use tax audit or have you already received the Florida form DR 840 – Notice of Intent to
Audit Books and Records
Audit Management
The shortage of Florida State revenue is causing Florida auditors to become very aggressive on Florida sales tax audits as a way to increase revenue.
Auditors are pushing the envelope with their interpretations of the sales tax law and in their sampling methods. Our audit management services can help you from the opening audit interview to the closing interview and beyond.
If you are not experienced in handling sales tax audits, now is not the time to learn.
Beware:
The Florida Department of revenue will use every effort to intimidate you in order to collect tax, penalty and interest from your business. Do not be bullied by a Florida tax agent.
We are a full-service tax firm that specializes in everything from IRS bills and notices and state warrants to tax records.
We are comprised of tax attorneys, tax lawyers, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, former IRS agents, and former state of Florida auditor, managers and tax instructor’s.
Businesses and individuals that the DOR suspects have avoided for tax payment are targeted, but any business with significant business activity can expect to be audited eventually.
Lately we’ve seen the DOR target entire industries such as convenience stores, restaurants and bars, hotels, and manufacturers.
But let it be known that audits are also randomly selected or could have been turned in by a former employee or customer for the tax issue.
The auditor will ask for all kinds of records that they are not necessarily entitled to have such as electronic copy of your whole accounting records.
The auditor will also ask you to sign certain documents that could wave your rights as a taxpayer, such as agreeing to the states sample method.
Most of the time the auditor is chasing a lead that may not prove to generate any revenue for the state but in the chase they usually find other tax issues.
Companies that have done everything they can to comply with the Florida tax laws can still end up with serious complications on a Florida sales and use tax audit just because the auditor’s job is to find deficiencies.
Firm Overview
We are a full-service tax firm that specializes in federal tax representation and are one of Florida’s most experienced for sales tax audit defense.
Our staff consists of tax attorneys, certified public accountants, former IRS agents and a former sales tax auditor with over 16 years of direct work experience with the Florida Department of revenue.
Feel free to contact us for initial tax consulting for Florida sales tax audit defense.
We will completely review your case and give you a full assessment of your audit status so you can make an informed and confident decision of how to fully resolve your sales tax audit case.
Sales Tax Audit Help, Representation – Affordable Experts – Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg – Florida Sales Tax
by Fresh Start Tax | Feb 11, 2014 | Tax Help
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Eight Tax Savers for Parents
Your children may help you qualify for valuable tax benefits.
Here are eight tax benefits parents should look out for when filing your federal income tax returns this year.
1. Dependents.
In most cases, you can claim your child as a dependent.
This applies even if your child was born anytime in 2013.
2. Child Tax Credit.
You may be able to claim the Child Tax Credit for each of your qualifying children under the age of 17 at the end of 2013.
The maximum tax credit is $1,000 per child.
If you get less than the full amount of the credit, you may be eligible for the Additional Child Tax Credit.
3. Child and Dependent Care Credit.
You may be able to claim this credit if you paid someone to care for one or more qualifying persons.
Your dependent child or children under age 13 are among those who are qualified. You must have paid for care so you could work or look for work.
4. Earned Income Tax Credit.
If you worked but earned less than $51,567 last year, you may qualify for EITC.
If you have three qualifying children, you may get up to $6,044 as EITC when you file and claim it on your tax return.
5. Adoption Credit.
You may be able to claim a tax credit for certain expenses you paid to adopt a child.
6. Higher education credits.
If you paid for higher education for yourself or an immediate family member, you may qualify for either of two education tax credits.
Both the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit may reduce the amount of tax you owe.
If the American Opportunity Credit is more than the tax you owe, you could be eligible for a refund of up to $1,000.
7. Student loan interest.
You may be able to deduct interest you paid on a qualified student loan, even if you don’t itemize deductions on your tax return.
8. Self-employed health insurance deduction.
If you were self-employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to deduct premiums you paid to cover your child under the Affordable Care Act.
It applies to children under age 27 at the end of the year, even if not your dependent.
IRS Top Tax Tips for Parents – Former IRS Agents, Tax Preparation Experts – Save
by Fresh Start Tax | Feb 3, 2014 | Tax Help
EITC – Earned Income Tax Credit – Former IRS Agents Tax Preparation
What is EITC, Earned Income Tax Credit?
EITC, Earned Income Tax Credit, is a benefit for working people who have low to moderate income.
A tax credit means more money in your pocket. It reduces the amount of tax you owe and may also give you a refund.
EITC is also called EIC or Earned Income Credit.
Who can claim the credit and if I qualify, how do I get it?
- To claim EITC on your tax return, you must meet all the following rules:
- You, your spouse (if you file a joint return), and all others listed on Schedule EIC, must have a Social Security number that is valid for employment
- You must have earned income from working for someone else or running or operating a farm or business
- Your filing status cannot be married filing separately
- You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year, or a nonresident alien married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien and filing a joint return
- You cannot be a qualifying child of another person
- You cannot file Form 2555 or Form 2555 EZ (related to foreign earned income)
- You must meet the earned income, AGI and investment income limits (income limits change each year), see EITC Income Limits for the tax year amounts
You also must be:
- Have a qualifying child (see who is a qualifying child below)
- If you do not have a qualifying child, you must:
- be age 25 but under 65 at the end of the year,
- live in the United States for more than half the year, and
- not qualify as a dependent of another person.Although an estimated four out of five eligible workers and families get this key work incentive, one in five miss out on EITC.
That’s because either they don’t claim it when filing or they don’t file a tax return at all because their income is below the filing threshold.
One-third of the population eligible for EITC shifts each year as their personal circumstances, such as work status or family situation, change and can affect eligibility.
EITC – Earned Income Tax Credit – Former IRS Agents Tax Preparation – Affordable
by Fresh Start Tax | Feb 3, 2014 | Tax Help
The Internal Revenue Service today opened the 2014 filing season by highlighting a growing array of online services and encouraging taxpayers to check out a variety of tax benefits, such as the often-overlooked Earned Income Tax Credit.
Taxpayers have until Tuesday, April 15, 2014 to file their 2013 tax returns and pay any tax due.
Facts and Figures of Tax Returns
- The IRS expects to receive more than 148 million individual tax returns this year, and more than four out of five returns are now filed electronically.
- About three out of four filers typically get refunds, and the IRS issues more than nine in ten of these refunds in less than 21 days.
- Last year, taxpayers received an average refund of $2,744. E-file, when combined with direct deposit, is the fastest way to get a refund.
- More than three out of four refund recipients now choose direct deposit.
The IRS began accepting and processing individual tax returns today after updating tax forms and completing programming and testing of its systems. The IRS also has updated and strengthened its systems to help protect against refund fraud and identity theft. his annual updating process saw delays in October following the 16-day federal government closure.
EITC Awareness Day Highlighted
Although an estimated four out of five eligible workers and families get this key work incentive, one in five miss out on EITC.
That’s because either they don’t claim it when filing or they don’t file a tax return at all because their income is below the filing threshold.
One-third of the population eligible for EITC shifts each year as their personal circumstances, such as work status or family situation, change and can affect eligibility. “The IRS is working hard to educate people about EITC while also putting in place processes that identify and prevent improper payments.”
Aimed at individuals and families who made $51,567 or less last year, the EITC varies by income, family size and filing status.wing array of online and automated IRS services that can help taxpayers get the information they need to file their returns and get their refunds quickly.
Tele-Tax, for example, help taxpayers see if they qualify for various tax benefits, such as the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit for eligible families, the American Opportunity Tax Credit for parents and college students, the saver’s credit for low-and moderate-income workers saving for retirement and energy credits for homeowners making qualifying energy-saving home improvements.
Office in the Home
The automated IRS services can also help home-based businesses check out the new simplified option for claiming the home office deduction, a straightforward computation that allows eligible taxpayers to claim $5 per square foot, up to a maximum of $1,500, instead of filling out a 43-line form (Form 8829) with often complex calculations.
For taxpayers whose concern isn’t a refund, but rather, a tax bill they can’t pay, the Online Payment Agreement tool can help them determine whether they qualify for an installment agreement with the IRS.
And those whose tax obligation is even more serious, the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier can help them determine if they qualify for an offer in compromise, an agreement with the IRS that settles their tax liability for less than the full amount owed.
Another useful year-round tool, the IRS Withholding Calculator, helps employees make sure the amount of income tax taken out of their pay is neither too high nor too low.
This tool can be particularly useful to taxpayers who, after filling out their tax returns, find that the refund or balance due was higher than expected.
IRS Filing Season 2014 – Tax Preparation By Former IRS Agent Managers
by Fresh Start Tax | Feb 3, 2014 | Tax Help
IRS, Sales Tax Audit , Affordable Experts – Back Tax Problems
We are a professional tax firm that specializes in IRS and sales tax audits in the state of Florida.
We’ve been practicing since 1982 and we are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.
We are comprised of tax attorneys, certified public accountants, and former IRS and state tax agents.
We match your needs up with the person that has the most expertise in our office.
We are available for free initial tax consultation and we will be able to give you no-cost evaluation and let you know ahead of time what issues or problems you may be facing during an IRS or sales tax audit.
Our staff has over 78 years of direct working experience with the Internal Revenue Service or the state of Florida, Department of revenue.
Some Facts about IRS Audits
The Internal Revenue Service audits 1% of all tax returns.
The more money you make the higher chance of an IRS tax audit.
The IRS conducts over 359,000 field and office audits every year.
The IRS sends out over $1.1 million worth of mail correspondence audits each year.
Sales Tax Audits
Why Are Taxpayers Audited?
The State of Florida audits taxpayers to:
1. Enforce Florida tax laws uniformly.
2. Deter tax evasion.
3. Promote voluntary compliance.
4. Educate taxpayers.
While the State accepts most tax returns as filed, we audit some returns to verify accuracy and evaluate compliance.
Audits do not always result in the taxpayer owing additional tax, penalty or interest.
The auditor may adjust a credit carryover or correct distribution without assessing additional tax. The auditor may even determine that a refund is due.
How Are Taxpayers Selected for a Sales tax Audit?
The methods for selecting a business or individual to audit vary from tax to tax. Here are some examples of sources we use to identify a potential audit candidate:
- Internal Revenue Service information.
- Information sharing programs with other states and state agencies.
- Computer-based random selection.
- Analysis of Florida tax return information.
- Business publications, periodicals, journals, and directories.
IRS Information re: IRS Tax Audits – Minimum Requirements For Examination of Income
All examiners will consider gross income during the examination of all income tax returns.
Minimum income probes will be completed regardless of the type of return filed by the taxpayer.
The minimum income probes are designed as a set of analytical tests intended to determine whether the taxpayer accurately reported income.
If the taxpayer is under reporting income, the probes should result in the identification of at least a portion of the understatement.
The minimum income probes vary depending upon the type of return (non business or business) and the method of the examination (office audit or field examination).
Internet use and e-commerce activities will be audited as part of the minimum income probes for all business returns.
All minimum income probes will be completed regardless of whether or not the taxpayer maintains a double-entry set of books.
Monticello, Madison, Perry, Live Oak – IRS, Sales Tax Audit , Affordable Experts – Back Tax Problems
by Fresh Start Tax | Feb 3, 2014 | Tax Help
We have over 65 years working in the local South Florida IRS offices. We are your best tax help for IRS tax on defense.
We are a local AFFORDABLE South Florida tax firm that specializes in IRS and state tax audits, help and representation.
It only makes sense to let former IRS or state tax agents represent you during an IRS or state tax audit because we understand all the protocols and settlement theories.
While at IRS we taught Tax Law.
We’ve been practicing in South Florida since 1982 and we are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.
Our tax firm is comprised of tax attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, and former IRS agents, managers and tax instructors who worked on the local, district, and regional tax offices of the Internal Revenue Service.
We have a tax specialty firm that deals almost exclusively with IRS and state tax representation.
Our firm is built and designed around federal and state tax work.
Call us today for no-cost consultation or assessment.
If you’re will wind up owing money as a result of an IRS or Florida State tax audit we will be able to work out a settlement with either of the government agencies.
Areas of Professional Tax Representation
- On staff, Board Certified Tax Attorney’s, IRS Tax Lawyers, Certified Public Accountants, Enrolled Agents,
- Full Service Accounting Tax Firm,
- We taught Tax Law in the IRS Regional Training Center
- Former IRS Agents, Managers and Instructors with over 60 years experience in the local, district and regional IRS offices.
- Highest Rating by the Better Business Bureau “A” Plus
- Fast, affordable, and economical
- Licensed and certified to practice in all 50 States
- Nationally Recognized Veteran /Published Former IRS Agent
- Nationally Recognized Published EZINE Tax Expert
- As heard on GRACE Net Radio.com – Monthly Radio Show-Business Weekly
Areas of Professional Tax Practice:
- Same Day IRS Tax Representation
- Offers in Compromise or IRS Tax Debt Settlements
- Immediate Release of IRS Bank Levies or IRS Wage Garnishments
- Tax Relief from a IRS Bill, Letter or Notice of “Intent to Levy”
- IRS Tax Audits
- IRS Hardships Cases or Unable to Pay
- Payment Plans, Installment Agreements, Structured agreements
- Abatement of Penalties and Interest
- State Sales Tax Cases
- Payroll / Trust Fund Penalty Cases / 6672
- Filing Late, Back, Unfiled Tax Returns
- Tax Return Reconstruction
- Release of IRS Bank Levies or IRS Wage Garnishments
- Tax Relief from a IRS Bill, Letter or Notice of “Intent to Levy”
- IRS Tax Audits
- IRS Hardships Cases or Unable to Pay
- Payment Plans, Installment Agreements, Structured agreements
- Abatement of Penalties and Interest
- State Sales Tax Cases
- Payroll / Trust Fund Penalty Cases / 6672
- Filing Late, Back, Unfiled Tax Returns
IRS, State Tax Audits, Help, Representation – Affordable Tax Experts – North Miami, Hialeah, Key Biscayne – Miami, Dade
