Tax Audit in Hagerstown, Maryland

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Hagerstown, MD

Tax Audit Lawyers in Hagerstown

In Hagerstown, Maryland, a "tax audit" is a procedure in which the IRS or local tax authorities conduct an investigation of a taxpayer's tax filings, looking at them in more detail than they ordinarily do. Typically, they do this because there is something suspicious in the tax return. State and federal tax authorities also do a some number of random audits each year, without necessarily suspecting that an individual auditee has done anything wrong.

The actual process involved in a tax audit in Hagerstown, Maryland is typically fairly straightforward. If you hare chosen for an audit, you will receive a letter in the mail telling you as much. Before responding, it's essential for you to make sure that the letter is authentic, because there are scammers who send fake audit letters to innocent victims, in an attempt to extort money out of them. You should search the Internet for the name of the organization that the letter claims to represent, and call them using the contact information on their website, and confirm that you are truly being audited.

After confirming that the audit you're facing is truly legitimate, there are a few things you can do to prepare. Initially, you should assemble all of the proper documents you have in your possession. This should include your tax return, W-2 forms, and records of any expenses that you claim as deductions. You should bring these documents, and any others that the auditor requests, to the meeting. At the meeting, the auditor will ask you a list of questions, which you should answer honestly and to the best of your knowledge.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Hagerstown, Maryland

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

A taxpayer can be chosen for an audit at random, even if the tax authorities don't suspect any wrongdoing. The idea behind these random audits is to keep taxpayers on their toes. So, if you are audited for this reason, and know that you've done everything thoroughly in filing your taxes, you will likely be fine.

But, some Hagerstown, Maryland tax audits happen for a particular reason. This is typically because the IRS or your local tax authority suspects that you have not reported all of your income on your tax return. For instance, suppose that, last year, you bought an expensive new luxury car. But say you only claimed ,000 in total income that year. As you might imagine, the IRS is going to be quite interested in finding out where the money for that car came from, and, if you have enough money to buy it, why you aren't paying taxes on that money.

Another typical reason for tax audits in Hagerstown, Maryland is when a taxpayer claims a large number of deductions. A deduction is just a legally-permitted subtraction from a person's taxable income. For example, charitable donations can be deducted from one's income in the full amount of the donation. Nonetheless, if a person claims a very large number of deductions, to the point that they claim little or no tax liability, the tax authorities are going to take a closer look.

How Can A Hagerstown, Maryland Tax Lawyer Help?

If you experience an audit in Hagerstown, Maryland, 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 confusing 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 Hagerstown, Maryland tax attorney as soon as possible, to help make sure that your tax audit goes smoothly.

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Life in Hagerstown

Hagerstown is the county seat of Washington County, located in the state of Maryland. It was founded in 1762 and has a population of about 40,000. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the largest city in the area known as Western Maryland. It is considered to be the industrial and commercial center of the greater Tri-State area, and is therefore locally known as "The Hub City".

Hagerstown received its reputation as a commercial nexus due to its heritage in the transportation industry, namely the railroad and airport industries. As a result today the city has several museums commemorating its rich beginnings, including the Train Museum. The city continues to promote development with the Neighborhoods 1st Program. The program encourages community improvement through participation in local government and planning.

Many unique events draw visitors and tourists throughout the year. For example, the city hosts fairs like Market in the Square, Colonial Family Fun Day, and Augustoberfest. Downtown Hagerstown is an ideal place for shopping, retail and recreation. It is also an excellent site to start a career, as many companies have made their home in the city.

Lawyers in Hagerstown typically practice in a wide range of legal fields and some specialize in particular areas of law. Hagerstown, Maryland lawyers usually file their claims at the Washington County District Court located in Hagerstown.

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