Tax Audit in Peabody, Massachusetts

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Peabody, MA

Tax Audit Lawyers in Peabody

In Peabody, Massachusetts, 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. Normally, they do this because there is something suspicious in the tax return. State and federal tax authorities also do a certain number of random audits each year, without necessarily suspecting that an individual auditee has done anything wrong.

The actual procedure involved in a tax audit in Peabody, Massachusetts is normally 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 crucial 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 really being audited.

Once you receive the letter, and confirm its authenticity, you will have to meet with an auditor at the time and place mentioned in the letter, and subsequent communications with the auditor. The auditor will tell you what documents and records you need to bring to the meeting. They will then ask you some questions to clear up whatever discrepancy they found in your tax return.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Peabody, Massachusetts

There are several different reasons why the federal government, or the tax authorities of Massachusetts 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 Peabody, Massachusetts are audited for a certain reason, rather than being drawn at random. If the tax authorities believe that you have underreported your income, that is a very recognized 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.

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 Peabody, Massachusetts. 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 Peabody, Massachusetts 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 Peabody, Massachusetts. 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 minimal bit of interest, without incurring any additional penalties.

However, there are some tax audits where the underlying facts are much more difficult than a simple misunderstanding. In these cases, a good tax attorney in Peabody, Massachusetts may be necessary to ensure that the process is as painless as it can possibly be.

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Life in Peabody

Peabody is an Essex County city that is home to 55,000 residents of Boston's highly desirable North Shore suburban area. Peabody began as a farming community but has since shifted focus to more tourist friendly avenues like the massive Northshore Mall and Shopping Center, on of the areas largest, the historic Brooksby Farm, and the infamous host of the U.S. Senior and U.S. Women's Golf Opens, Salem Country Club. In 2009, Forbes Magazine dubbed Peabody the 14th most livable city in the United States. There are also a number of manufacturing, medical, and technology companies located in Centennial Industrial Park which is located a stone's throw from the Corwin Manufacturing Company. With such a thriving city there are bound to be some problems but you will be relieved to know there are a number of Peabody lawyers who can help sort those out. Peabody lawyers are familiar with local courts and their procedures; they can also lay out your legal options and help you weigh one against another. Peabody is known locally for its strong school system and sports programs. Ice hockey, soccer, and track are their strongest but the baseball program has been making outstanding progress too. Olympic swimmer Samantha Arsenault, professional wrestler Matt Bloom, pitcher John Tudor, and hockey player Bobby Hanson are just a few of the local notables.

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