Tax Audit in Columbia, South Carolina

Find the right Tax Audit attorney in Columbia, SC

Tax Audit Lawyers in Columbia

An "audit" is an administrative proceeding in Columbia, South Carolina 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 typically 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 Columbia, South Carolina is typically 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 letter informing you of your audit is authentic, there are various things you can do to prepare for your meeting with the auditor. The first thing you need to do is call them and arrange to meet at a time that's mutually convenient. You should bring any documents and records that the auditor requests, as well as any evidence that you think might be helpful in answering the auditor's questions. The auditor will ask you any questions that he or she believes will clear up whatever concerns they have with your return. You should answer all of these questions truthfully, as it is illegal to lie to a tax auditor.

Reasons For a Tax Audit in Columbia, South Carolina

A tax audit in South Carolina can be performed for almost any reason at all

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

However if the IRS or other tax agency suspects actual wrongdoing by a Columbia, South Carolina taxpayer, that's a different matter. There are several different reasons why a government might decide to audit a taxpayer. The most typical one is suspicion that they have underreported their income. If a taxpayer buys a considerable number of expensive luxury items, but reports little or no income on their tax returns, the government will definitely want to know where the money to buy all those things came from, and why it hasn't been declared as taxable income.

Claiming an unusually-high number of deductions is another prevalent reason for tax audits in Columbia, South Carolina. A tax deduction is some expenditure that you can subtract from your taxable income, thereby reducing your tax liability. If you claim such a massive number of deductions that your tax liability has been reduced to almost nothing, the IRS will probably want to make sure that all of these deductions are valid.

How Can A Columbia, South Carolina Tax Lawyer Help?

If you are audited in Columbia, South Carolina, and believe that you have done everything right in collecting and filing your tax return, you probably don't have much to worry about. If there is anything wrong with your tax return, it was probably the result of an honest mistake, which will result in light penalties - typicallyy just an order to pay any back taxes you owe, plus interest.

But, there are some tax audits that are far more difficult 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 Columbia, South Carolina tax attorney as soon as possible, to help make sure that your tax audit goes smoothly.

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Life in Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina is the state capital, and the largest city in the state. It has a population of about 130,000 people. Columbia has a rich history, and has figured prominently in important historical events dating back to before the Civil War. While being occupied by Union troops during the Civil War, much of Columbia was destroyed in a fire. During Reconstruction, as in many Southern states, numerous African Americans were elected to public office in South Carolina, which was a novelty to most Americans at the time. As a result, Columbia experienced a brief tourism boom, as visitors wanted to observe the state legislature in session. Modernly, Columbia, South Carolina is quite diverse in both demographics, and economy. Columbia is a major center for several industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, and many others.

Columbia, South Carolina is also home to Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army's largest training facility, which has a major economic impact on the area. Each year, the federal government spends over million for salaries, utilities, and other services (with a significant amount going to local contractors). Furthermore, each year, over 100,000 people visit the area to attend basic training graduation, and patronize the local hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets.

Columbia, South Carolina lawyers need to be competent to handle many different types of cases. If you contact a Columbia, South Carolina lawyer with any type of case, chances are they cantake it, or refer it to another local attorney who can.

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