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It is a well-known secret that the IRS places lots of focus on businesses, given that they are the primary channels of money circulation in the economy. As such, the decision to establish a business must consequently be followed by the readiness to face the tax man whenever a call for audit is received.
An aspect of having in mind is that business audits are always more intensive and involving than personal income audits. Since the element of taxation is unavoidable when running a business, calls for audits have to be handled with the seriousness they deserve.
Unfortunately, in The United States, IRS tax audits are dreaded, and most businesses would rather do anything else instead of facing auditors. The truth is that while tax audits are demanding, with the right preparation, there is never anything to fear.
Most business audits that end adversely are often due to lack of adequate preparation, extreme levels of non-compliance, and complications from collateral issues. Nevertheless, these aspects can be professionally managed by taking the right steps as a business to avoid unwanted consequences.
It is equally critical to know that primarily calls for business audits arise either from automatic DIF scoring or as a result of raised IRS red flags. The bulk of these audits are from the automatic DIF scoring a primary reason why most cases do not end adversely. To stay on the safe, it is critical that as a business you take into account the following factors;
1. Have the right mindset and approach to the audit
Even though most IRS reviews are as a result of the automatic DIF scoring, it is vital to approach each call for audit as if there were raised red flags. This goes a long way in helping to avoid any loopholes during your preparation for the audit by ensuring that all-important aspects are covered. In doing this, the goal should be in proving your adherence to the taxation regulations and not be done from a defensive perspective.
Most businesses often make the mistake of viewing an audit as a battle to prove they are not guilty by getting too aggressive and draining their energy on what should be a hassle-free process. Maintaining your composure is critical in making the entire process kick on the right note and be to your advantage.
2. Get your business accountant to work
Regardless of whether you have just launched a startup or have a well-established business, the importance of having an accountant can never be undermined. These professionals will not only ensure you get to keep excellent records but will ever be at hand to address crucial aspects regarding your finances.
As such, the minute you get a call for an audit, one of the first things to do is get your accountant to have your financial records in order. Generally, if you have a full-time accountant or professional team that handles your accounts, it becomes easier to manage your taxations.
3. Accept that you need help
It is never enough to have a professional accountant go over your financial documents and reconstruct the business records when you are facing an audit. This is because business audits involve lots of legal aspects, and the only way to avoid becoming a victim is by seeking IRS audit help.
It takes a seasoned tax attorney to give you the much-needed assistance and representation during the audit. Instead of taking risks by solely relying on the work done by your accountants, a legal team comes to the rescue. These professionals will carefully go over the audit queries and your financial records before providing a tailored plan for facing the IRS.
One of the most significant benefits of having an attorney by your side is they enjoy a special attorney-client privilege, unlike your accountant. As such, they cannot be arm-twisted when a push comes to a shove over any compliance issues.
This means that with a tax attorney, you have a partner that you can trust with details that cannot be provided to any other party. Whether you have been fudging around with the numbers or taking tax deductions in areas that your business should not, an attorney will offer reliable solutions.
Using their deep understanding of the audit process, they will easily mitigate any civil and criminal consequences that you are likely to face as a business owner.