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How Do I Deal With Tax Issues in California?

Dealing with tax issues can be confusing and frustrating. Your taxes may seem to go up every year and end up getting less in your tax refund. To make it more complicated, tax laws keep changing and you are expected to make sure you comply with all the updates and pay your taxes by the deadline. While you do not want to overpay on your taxes, it is also important to make sure you pay the full amount of your tax payments you may end up in tax debt. If you owe money to the IRS, they will try and collect through tax liens, levies, or even garnishment of your wages. Unpaid taxes can also get hit with tax penalties and interest on the debt that continues to make your tax debt grow. No matter what your tax issue may be, speaking with a Muscoy tax attorney will help you understand the current tax laws.

Federal Tax Issues

Income taxes at the federal level are administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS reviews individual and business tax records and tax filings. If there are inconsistencies between a taxpayer’s return and what is reported to the IRS, the IRS may contact the taxpayer to review the tax issue or send a tax bill. If a business or individual has to go to tax court to deal with tax disputes, a tax litigation attorney can represent the taxpayer. If the taxpayer does not file their taxes or does not pay their taxes on time, the IRS may send a notice to the taxpayer and include failure to pay penalties, underpayment penalties, failure to file penalties. If the IRS suspects fraud, there are additional tax fraud penalties and the individual could even be charged with criminal tax fraud. Businesses may also have to deal with federal tax issues. Most small businesses, partnerships, and corporations have to pay federal taxes, which can be even more complicated than personal income taxes. Tax planning can help a company reduce its tax burden but the IRS may dispute the company’s taxes, including accounting methods, depreciation, deductions, and claimed tax credits.

California Tax Issues

In addition to federal taxes, there are also state tax issues. In some cases, the city or county may have additional local tax requirements. Even in states without income tax, there may be issues involving real estate tax, estate planning taxes, and corporate taxes. Other state tax issues may include driver’s license holds, residency disputes, or use tax issues. For state tax problems, you can get a consultation with a tax law lawyer in your area for legal advice.

How Do I File for a Tax Extension?

If you need to file an extension because you can’t file your taxes by April 15, you can file a form requesting an extension through your tax professional, CPA, online tax services, or on the IRS website. An extension gives you more time to file your tax return but it does not extend your time to pay. When filing an extension, you have to estimate your tax liability and pay the tax estimate or else you may face late payment penalties and interest.

What Taxes Do I Owe?

Determining what taxes you owe depends on your situation. If you make over a certain amount of money, taxpayers owe state and federal income tax. Income tax includes income from any source, which includes wages, interest income, and even gambling winnings. Taxpayers also owe a portion of their payroll taxes, including Social Security and Medicare. Payroll taxes are generally taken out of the worker’s paycheck.

Do I Have To Pay Taxes if I’m Self-Employed?

If you are self-employed as an independent contractor or because you own your own business, you will likely need to make quarterly filings of your estimated taxes. This will account for your income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Self-employed taxpayers will be responsible for paying payroll taxes that are normally split between the worker and the company. As a self-employed taxpayer, you can also take advantage of certain deductions that are part of your business expenses. A tax lawyer can give you more legal advice on filing taxes for the self-employed.

What Can I Do if I Can’t Pay My Tax Bill?

If you can’t pay your tax bill, it is better to get help instead of just ignoring it. If you ignore your tax bill, your tax debt will continue to increase with interest and penalties. If the IRS wants to collect the tax debt, they can levy your accounts and put a tax lien on your property. You may be able to negotiate a tax settlement with the IRS, including a payment plan or offer in compromise. An offer in compromise allows taxpayers to lower their tax liability if they are qualified and the IRS agrees to the settlement. An installment plan agreement does not lower tax liability but sets up a payment plan to avoid a tax lien.

What Happens If You Get an IRS Tax Audit?

A tax audit is an examination of the taxpayer’s accounts and financial records. An IRS audit involves reviewing the taxpayer’s information to make sure the taxes are reported correctly. Tax audits can be based on suspicious returns flagged by a computer program or they can be random. If you get notice of a tax audit in the mail and you suspect there may be a problem, you can contact a tax law firm for an initial consultation about your rights and options.

When to Hire a Lawyer

It is in your best interest to get legal help early on in addressing your situation. There are times when hiring a lawyer quickly is critical to your case, such as if you are charged with a crime. It may also be in your best interest to have a lawyer review the fine print before signing legal documents. A lawyer can also help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve suffered a serious injury. For issues where money or property is at stake, having a lawyer guide you through the complexities of the legal system can save you time, hassle, and possibly a lot of grief in the long run.

How to Prepare for Your Initial Consultation

Prepare for your consultation by writing down notes of your understanding of the case, jot down questions and concerns for the attorney, and gather your documents. Remember that you are trying to get a sense of whether the attorney has your trust and can help you address your legal issues. Questions should include how the attorney intends to resolve your issue, how many years he/she has been practicing law and specifically practicing in your area, as well as how many cases similar to yours the attorney has handled. It can also be helpful to broach the subject of fees so that you understand the likely cost and structure of your representation by a specific attorney and/or legal team.

Tips on Hiring an Experienced Lawyer with Tax Cases

The more experienced a lawyer is in legal practice, the more likely he/she will be able to bring about a successful resolution to your issue. Since experience matters, lawyers who’ve been practicing law for many years (with a successful track record) tend to be in high demand. You should look for information about a lawyer’s experience and ask questions during the initial meeting. It’s a very good idea to ask the lawyer how many years he/she has been practicing law and the expected outcome of your case.

Common legal terms explained

Affidavit – A sworn written statement made under oath. An affidavit is meant to be a supporting document to the court assisting in the verification of certain facts. An affidavit may or may not require notarization.