Tax Audit in Clearwater, Florida

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Clearwater, FL

Tax Audit Lawyers in Clearwater

A "tax audit" in Florida 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 random audits, where they audit taxpayers at random, without necessarily suspecting them of any wrongdoing.

The actual procedure involved in a tax audit in Clearwater, Florida 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 important 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.

Once you have confirmed that your audit is authentic, you will be required to meet the auditor at an agreed-upon time and place. The auditor will typically inform you about what documents and other evidence 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 Clearwater, Florida

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

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 properly in filing your taxes, you will probably be fine.

On the other hand, some taxpayers in Clearwater, Florida are audited for a particular reason, rather than being drawn at random. If the tax authorities believe that you have underreported your income, that is a very common reason for a tax audit. For instance, if you claim on your tax return that you make ,000 per year, and, in the same year, purchase an expensive luxury item, the tax authorities will wonder where you got that extra money, and why you're not paying taxes on it.

Another typical reason for tax audits in Clearwater, Florida is when a taxpayer claims a large number of deductions. A deduction is simply a legally-permitted subtraction from a person's taxable income. For instance, charitable donations can be deducted from one's income in the full amount of the donation. However, 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 Clearwater, Florida Tax Lawyer Help?

If you end up being tax audited, and you believe that you have not engaged in any wrongdoing, it's likely that you've been chosen randomly for an audit in Clearwater, Florida. If this is the case, you shouldn't be worried. If you are found to have made a mistake on a past tax return, and paid less than you owed, you'll probably just be made to pay the balance due, plus a slight bit of interest, without incurring any additional penalties.

But, in more complicated cases, chances are you would be well-served by a tax lawyer in Clearwater, Florida, to ensure that your tax audit goes smoothly.

Talk to a Tax Law Attorney now!

Life in Clearwater

Clearwater, Florida is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, of which it is the county seat. It is west of Tampa and north of St. Petersburg. It has a population of about 108,000 people.

Clearwater can trace its modern history back to 1835, when the Army established a military outpost there to fight the Seminole Wars.

Presently, Clearwater, Florida is a largely residential community. It is also known for being home to the spiritual headquarters of the Church of Scientology. While the group is controversial, its presence in Clearwater, Florida injects about 150 million dollars into the local economy each year. Because of the many legal disputes they get into, they also probably contribute to the business of several Clearwater, Florida attorneys.

If you live in Clearwater, Florida, and need an attorney, chances are good that a Clearwater, Florida lawyer can help you with whatever your legal issue might be.

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