What are the odds of being audited.
- March 5th, 2019
- David Greene
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I get similar questions to this quite frequently. Here are some statistics from 2017. Out of 150 million tax filers in 2017, here are some stats based on gross income and other factors: Returns audited (a) for international taxpayers – 1…
Should one retain a professional to represent her in an audit?
- January 16th, 2019
- David Greene
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The answer is definitely “Yes.” The primary thing that needs to be addressed in an audit is to supply the revenue officer with a complete set of documents and information that he requests, but not extraneous information. The professional representative…
How can I plan throughout the year for filing my taxes?
- August 22nd, 2018
- David Greene
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Though April 15, 2019 seems far away, there are things you can be doing today to help ensure your tax return is prepared quickly and correctly. Here are three things taxpayers should know about the tax returns they will file…
What is the proper way to substantiate unreimbursed business mileage expenses?
- July 18th, 2018
- David Greene
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If you drive your vehicle for work, but your employer does not reimburse you for this expense, you may deduct this as an unreimbursed business expense. You will report this deduction on Schedule A. However, for the IRS to accept…
What is the best way to prepare for a cash business audit?
- July 12th, 2018
- David Greene
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When a tax examiner audits a cash intensive business, she looks at several factors to see if all income is being reported. According to the IRS, the primary indicators of unreported income are: (1) a lifestyle that cannot be supported…
Here are the Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2018 according to the IRS.
- May 9th, 2018
- David Greene
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The Dirty Dozen: (1) Telephone scams threatening to have you arrested if you don’t pay immediately. The IRS will never call you asking for money. (2) Phony emails asking you to go to a website and give personal information. The…
What kind of activities increase the chances of being audited?
- April 24th, 2018
- David Greene
- Comments Off on What kind of activities increase the chances of being audited?
Some tax returns are more likely to be audited than others. Why is this? I can think of eleven practices that lead to a greater risk of audit. First is using a “sketchy” tax preparer. This is one who…
Learn how to protest the assessment of additional payroll taxes.
- February 23rd, 2018
- David Greene
- Comments Off on Learn how to protest the assessment of additional payroll taxes.
We have discussed appeals in the past and one certainly might be able to appeal this notice of additional tax. We need to know the answer to some questions first, such as: Has the tax actually been assessed or has…
Are automatic gratuities charged by restaurants tips or income?
- January 23rd, 2018
- David Greene
- Comments Off on Are automatic gratuities charged by restaurants tips or income?
In a recent Fact Sheet (No. 2017-08) the IRS reiterated that mandatory service charges such as automatic gratuities charged for large dining parties and banquet event fees charged by the restaurant are income to the restaurant and not tips. The…
How many different ways can the IRS try to collect taxes I owe?
- December 12th, 2017
- David Greene
- Comments Off on How many different ways can the IRS try to collect taxes I owe?
This is a good question, but one that cannot be answered in a short space. I will just discuss the primary methods. When one does not pay her taxes, she will first receive a friendly letter stating that she has…