Tax Audit in Castro Valley, California

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Castro Valley, CA

Tax Audit Lawyers in Castro Valley

A "tax audit" in California is the process by which the proper 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, typically 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 process of a Castro Valley, California tax audit is typically pretty straightforward. If and when you are faced with a tax audit, you'll receive a letter from the IRS, or its state equivalent, telling you that you're being audited. Nonetheless, you should not assume that this letter is authentic, because con artists will sometimes send fake audit letters to squeeze money out of innocent taxpayers. You should pursue independent confirmation of the letter's authenticity by searching the Internet for the name of the government agency in question, and contact them for more information.

Once you have confirmed that your audit is authentic, you will be obligated to meet the auditor at an agreed-upon time and place. The auditor will typically inform you about what documents and other proof you need to take to the meeting. At the meeting, they will ask you a long series of questions about your taxes, to clear up the thing they're uncertain about.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Castro Valley, California

There are numerous reasons why the federal government, or the government of California may want to audit a taxpayer.

As considered earlier, tax audits can be conducted at random. Apparently, the government doesn't have the resources to audit every taxpayer under their jurisdiction. But, by conducting a substantial number of random audits each year, taxpayers are, in theory, discouraged from cheating on their taxes, because they know that they might be audited randomly. If you are chosen for a random audit, and have done everything right, you almost definately have nothing to worry about.

Nonetheless if the IRS or other tax agency suspects actual wrongdoing by a Castro Valley, California taxpayer, that's a different matter. There are numerous different reasons why a government might determine to audit a taxpayer. The most typical one is suspicion that they have underreported their income. If a taxpayer buys a considerable 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.

Claiming an unusually-high number of deductions is another prevalent reason for tax audits in Castro Valley, California. A tax deduction is some expenditure that you can subtract from your taxable income, thereby reducing your tax liability. If you claim such a large number of deductions that your tax liability has been reduced to almost nothing, the IRS will probably want to make sure that all of these deductions are legitimate.

How Can A Castro Valley, California Tax Lawyer Help?

If you experience an audit in Castro Valley, California, 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 typically light. It will probably be little more than a requirement that you pay back taxes and interest.

But, there are some tax audits that are far more complicated and serious than a tax return having a few more deductions than usual. If this is the situation you're in, you should contact a Castro Valley, California tax attorney as soon as possible, to help make sure that your tax audit goes smoothly.

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Life in Castro Valley

Castro Valley, California is situated in Alameda County in the Bay Area. With its population of over 61,000, it is one of the largest unincorporated areas in the entire state. The economy of Castro Valley had its early foundations in chicken ranching, with several industry innovators in the city. Today Castro Valley is favored as a commuter town due to its proximity to metropolitan areas like San Francisco and San Jose.

Castro Valley Boulevard is the hub of economic and social activity in the city. The area contains many old-style boutique shops and diners, as well as modern establishments. Castro Valley is also well known for its florist shops, where patrons can purchase unique floral arrangements. Much of the city is comprised of hilly areas like Palomares Hills Park, which offers a breathtaking view of the city.

Popular attractions in Castro Valley, California include bowling at Castro Valley Bowl, miniature golfing at Golden Tee, and activities at the Castro Valley Community Center. Castro Valley hosts city events like the Fall Festival, the Classic Car Show, and a Rodeo Parade which has featured dancing horses. The Adobe Art Center also offers instructional courses and showcases art exhibits from local talent.

Lawyers in Castro Valley, California represent clients in many types of legal matters and issues. Many Castro Valley cases are filed at the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda located near the city. Many Castro Valley attorneys actively contribute to the community through local groups and civic organizations.

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