Owe Back Florida Sales Tax ? You can be Arrested
We are a Florida Tax firm that specializes in Florida Sales Tax Audits on all types of businesses, corporations and individuals.
Do not get caught owing back monies to Florida Sales Tax, Department of Revenue.
If you owe back Florida sales tax you should be aware that you may be arrested.
Please understand we are not telling you this to scare you, however, the department of revenue, state of Florida actively pursues individuals, companies, and businesses who flatly fail to pay back sales tax.
They use these taxpayers as examples for others to be compliant with Florida sales tax laws. Do not let this happen to you. Make sure you are represented and work out a payment plan or arrangement so you can live in peace and without stress from tax agents.
We are comprised of Tax Attorneys, CPA’s, and former IRS and State of Florida agents
We have over 78 years of governmental experience and 300 years professional tax experience.
Frank Lamantia of Fresh Start Tax LLC is one of our own seasoned tax professionals that can represent your best interest if you are about to be or are undergoing a Florida sales tax audit.
This expertise in Florida sales tax will help your company avoid a costly audit assessment.
Insider Tips from Former Sales Tax Agent
On September 10, 2013 (name omitted) the owner of American Security Enterprises, Inc. was arrested by the Leon County Sheriff’s Department on charges that he stole more than $15,000 in sales tax collected from customers, but failed to send in to the state, the Florida Department of Revenue.
Arrest in Florida Sales
The owner, who lives in Tallahassee, was arrested by the Leon County Sheriff’s Department on September 10, 2013 on felony charges relating to theft of state funds and failure to file sales and use tax returns. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and up to $5000 in fines, as well as possible repayment of stolen tax, interest, penalty and investigative costs.
According to Revenue Department investigators, the owner collected sales tax from the clients of his business.
However, during various periods beginning in July 2011 through May 2013, he failed to file tax returns and send in to the state all of the sales taxes that he collected from his customers.
Under state law, sales tax is the property of the state at the moment of collection.
Florida law requires business owners to act as an agent of the state and they must remit all sales tax collected to the state of Florida.
Sales tax is the most significant source of revenue for the state of Florida and many investigative resources have been developed to track sales tax being collected and not remitted.
Florida sales tax is required to be separately stated on the customers invoice and Florida law mandates that the taxes collected be the property of the state from the moment is collected from the customer.
The business may put these amounts in their checking account, however business owners must segregate sales tax collected and remitted to the state in a timely fashion.
Sales tax collected but not remitted is a crime under Florida law and must be taken very seriously.
Florida business owners are not aware of the fact that the Florida Department of revenue is more likely to arrest a business owner for tax fraud than the Internal Revenue Service. While both the IRS and the Florida Department of revenue will put tax liens on the business property, the Florida Department of revenue will also put the business owner in jail if the taxes and all associated penalties, interest, fines and costs are not remitted.
Voluntary Disclosure
If you have been under reporting or not reporting and you have not received a notice of audit, it is highly recommended that you contact our firm and we will assist your business on the details of going through a voluntary disclosure program to come clean now with the Florida Department of revenue, and have most of the penalties waived and prevent it from becoming criminal.
Florida Sales Tax Defense
We are a full-service tax firm that specializes in federal and state 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 that you can make an informed and confident decision of how to fully resolve your sales tax audit case.
