Tax Audit in Gulfport, Mississippi

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Gulfport, MS

Tax Audit Lawyers in Gulfport

A "tax audit" is a procedure in Gulfport, Mississippi where the tax authorities investigate a taxpayer's (whether the taxpayer is a person or corporation) filings when it looks like there's some kind of discrepancy. However, many state and federal tax audits are the result of random selection, when the authorities don't necessarily think that a taxpayer has deliberately evaded their taxes.

In Gulfport, Mississippi the procedure of being audited is relatively simple. If you are chosen to be audited, you will receive a letter in the mail telling you as much. It's important to verify the authenticity of this letter, because sometimes con-artists will pose as tax authorities, and conduct fake audits of unsuspecting taxpayers, then claim that they owe the government more money. If the victim pays, the scammer takes the money and runs. To verify that a letter is authentic, you should contact the nearest branch of the relevant tax authority. Do not simply call the number provided to you in the letter, since it will probably lead to the scammer. Use a phonebook or the Internet to find the actual number you should call.

Once you have made sure that your audit is indeed real, you can do a few things to get prepared for it. Most notably, you should collect all of the documents that the auditor has asked for, as well as any further documents and evidence that you think might help clear up any confusion about your tax return. You should bring these to the meeting with the auditor, and truthfully (to the best of your knowledge) answer all of the questions that the auditor asks.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Gulfport, Mississippi

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

As mentioned earlier, you might get audited just because you were chosen at random. If this is the case, and you know that your tax return was totally truthful, and have the documentation to back it up, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Nonetheless if the IRS or other tax agency suspects actual wrongdoing by a Gulfport, Mississippi taxpayer, that's a different matter. There are numerous different reasons why a government might determine to audit a taxpayer. The most frequent one is suspicion that they have underreported their income. If a taxpayer buys a massive 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 massive number of deductions that your tax liability is unusually low, you may well be subject to an audit in Gulfport, Mississippi. A deduction is an allowable reduction in your taxable income, requiring you to pay taxes on a smaller portion of your income. Particular business expenses and charitable donations are frequent 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 relevant documentation to back them up.

How Can A Gulfport, Mississippi Tax Lawyer Help?

If you experience an audit in Gulfport, Mississippi, 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 normally 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 obtain the advice of a Gulfport, Mississippi tax attorney immediately.

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Life in Gulfport

Gulfport is located in the state of Mississippi. With a population of over 71,000, it is the co-county seat of Harrison County, alongside the city of Biloxi. The city was incorporated in 1898 and had its beginnings as a port and lumber city. It contains over 6 miles of man made white-sand beaches by the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulfport is a residential city that also boasts a strong economic center of industry. The Gulfport Main Street Association oversees the development of the downtown area. The city is home to several companies as well as the U.S. Navy Seabees. Notable residents have included NFL quarterback Brett Favre and linebacker Rod Davis.

The city's Leisure Services offer a variety of community-centered activities at its many parks and recreation centers. Other popular places to visit are the Gulf Islands Water Park and the Gulfport Sportsplex, which attracts many sports tourists. Every year the city hosts what is known as the "World's Largest Fishing Rodeo".

Gulfport has survived a great deal of damage from hurricanes, including Hurricane Camille in 1969 and more recently Hurricane Katrina. The state of Mississippi has issued a Hurricane Katrina Disaster Training Manual for those who have been affected, including Gulfport lawyers. Lawyers in Gulfport, Mississippi have contributed greatly to the rebuilding of the city.

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