Tax Audit in Flagstaff, Arizona

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Flagstaff, AZ

Tax Audit Lawyers in Flagstaff

A "tax audit" in Arizona is the process by which the relevant tax authorities (either the IRS, at the federal level, or its state equivalent) investigate a tax filing in more detail than they do for ordinary filings, usually because there appears to be a discrepancy, or some other suspicious item, in somebody's tax returns. However, the IRS (and state tax authorities) sometimes do rounds of unexpected audits, where they audit taxpayers at random, without necessarily suspecting them of any wrongdoing.

The procedure of being audited in Flagstaff, Arizona is usually pretty simple. If and when the tax authorities decide to audit you, they'll send you a letter in the mail detailing what's about to happen. If you receive such a letter, it's extremely important that you make sure it's authentic. Sometimes, scam artists will send fake audit notices to people, claiming that they owe the government money. They will then collect their "taxes" and disappear. You should do an internet search for the name of the tax authority that the letter claims to represent, and call them to verify that you are being audited.

After confirming that the letter informing you of your audit is authentic, there are several things you can do to prepare for your meeting with the auditor. The initial thing you need to do is call them and arrange to meet at a time that's mutually convenient. You should bring any documents and records that the auditor requests, as well as any proof that you think might be helpful in answering the auditor's questions. The auditor will ask you any questions that he or she believes will clear up whatever issues they have with your return. You should answer all of these questions truthfully, as it is illegal to lie to a tax auditor.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Flagstaff, Arizona

There are numerous different reasons why the federal government, or the tax authorities of Arizona might decide that a tax audit is warranted in your case.

As considered earlier, an audit might happen due to a taxpayer being randomly selected. If this happens to you, and you have been honest on your tax returns, it's unlikely that you'll have much to worry about.

Nonetheless if the IRS or other tax agency suspects actual wrongdoing by a Flagstaff, Arizona taxpayer, that's a different matter. There are numerous different reasons why a government might determine to audit a taxpayer. The most common one is suspicion that they have underreported their income. If a taxpayer buys a large number of expensive luxury items, but reports little or no income on their tax returns, the government will definitely want to discover where the money to buy all those things came from, and why it hasn't been declared as taxable income.

If you claim such a large number of deductions that your tax liability is unusually low, you may well be subject to an audit in Flagstaff, Arizona. A deduction is an allowable reduction in your taxable income, requiring you to pay taxes on a smaller portion of your income. Certain business expenses and charitable donations are common sources of tax deductions. However, some people add invalid deductions to their tax returns to reduce their tax burden. If the IRS is suspicious about your deductions, you should make sure you have proper documentation to back them up.

How Can A Flagstaff, Arizona Tax Lawyer Help?

If you experience an audit in Flagstaff, Arizona, and believe that you have properly reported all of your income on your tax filings, it will probably go fine. And if there is anything wrong with your filings, it was likely the result of an honest mistake, and auditors are generally sensitive to this fact. In such cases, the penalty is usually light. It will probably be little more than a requirement that you pay back taxes and interest.

However, there are times when an audit is conducted to investigate far more significant issues. If you find yourself facing allegations from the IRS of serious wrongdoing, and believe yourself to be innocent, you should seek the advice of a Flagstaff, Arizona tax attorney immediately.

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Life in Flagstaff

With a different name, Flagstaff was named after a Ponderosa Pine flagpole made by a scouting party from Boston. This name was given on July 4, 1876 while celebrating the United States Centennial. Flagstaff, Arizona is home to approximately 65,870 people, and is located in northern Arizona.

Popular attractions include the Grand Canyon National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Barringer Crater, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell. Obviously, Flagstaff is a nature-lover's heaven.

The economy is primarily based on lumber, railroad, and ranching. Many large corporations have locations in Flagstaff. Such corporations include Lowell Observatory, Nestle Purina PetCare, Walgreens, and W.L. Gore Associates. With so many corporations and industries, Flagstaff is home to many small law firms with excellent attorneys devoted to excellent legal service. If need be for a large law firm, Phoenix firms are available, with attorneys always willing to make the short trip to Flagstaff. Therefore, Flagstaff is a community that is well-served by the legal industry.

As a side note, Flagstaff is known to many because running scenes from the hit film Forrest Gump were shot there! Overall, Flagstaff is a wonderful area rich in culture and industry.

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