Tax Audit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Tax Audit Lawyers in Pittsburgh

An "audit" is an administrative proceeding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania whereby the IRS, or a local tax-collection agency looks at a person's (or business's) tax filings in more detail than they do in ordinary cases. This is normally done when the tax return has a suspicious discrepancy on it, or if the taxpayer was simply picked at random. It's not uncommon for tax authorities to conduct random audits, providing people with an incentive to be honest on their taxes, knowing that they could be audited at random.

The procedure of being audited in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is normally pretty simple. If and when the tax authorities decide to audit you, they'll send you a letter in the mail detailing what's about to happen. If you receive such a letter, it's extremely important that you make sure it's authentic. Sometimes, scam artists will send fake audit notices to people, claiming that they owe the government money. They will then collect their "taxes" and disappear. You should do an internet search for the name of the tax authority that the letter claims to represent, and call them to verify that you are being audited.

After confirming that the audit you're facing is really legitimate, there are a few things you can do to prepare. Initially, you should assemble all of the appropriate 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 number of questions, which you should answer honestly and to the best of your knowledge.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A tax audit in Pennsylvania can be done for almost any reason at all

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.

On the other hand, some taxpayers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 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 frequent reason for a tax audit. For example, if you claim on your tax return that you make ,000 per year, and, in the same year, buy 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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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 likely just be made to pay the balance due, plus a minimal bit of interest, without incurring any additional penalties.

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

Talk to a Tax Law Attorney now!

Life in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is known as "The Steel City" for the extensive steel trade that fed the city's economy through the 1970s. Some folks know Pittsburgh as "The City of Bridges" because it's positioned at the confluence of the Allegheny River and Monogahela River. The Allegeheny and Monogahela Rivers combine to create the Ohio River. The three waterways create the triangular shape of downtown Pittsburgh. There are more than 450 bridges within Pittsburgh city limits. Today, Pittsburgh is home to a number of high tech companies that specialize in everything from robotics and biotechnology to internet startups. Pittsburgh is home to a number of corporate headquarters who are responsible for many downtown skyscrapers. Tied for the 8th most Fortune 500 companies, Pittsburgh is home to PNC Financial, U.S. Steel, H.J. Heinz Company, WESCO Internations, Mylan Labs, CONSOL Energy, PPG Industries who supply paint and optical coatings, as well as Dick's Sorting Goods who operate over 408 national retail locations. Pittsburgh is a major manufacturing city but that doesn't mean they don't have world class entertainment and culture available. The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the ArtGardens are just a few options that locals have. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra calls Heinz Hall home. Heinz Hall also hosts a number of other concerts like Bruce Springsteen and other natural disaster aid concerts. The rap song "Black and Yellow" by Pittsburgh's Wiz Khalifa is one example of great local musicians. George Benson, Perry Como and Christina Aguilera all hail from Pittsburgh or Pitts suburbs. No wonder Pittsburgh is ranked consistently as "one of the most livable places in the United States."

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