A tax audit generally produces anxiety and significant work. As a tax attorney in Minnesota, Aaron Hall is experienced in helping business and individual clients through the audit process, negotiating with the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue, and helping clients ensure compliance with tax statutes and regulations.

Small Business Tax Audit

Small businesses are often the target of an IRS or Department of Revenue audit. The IRS actually has a team of attorneys in Minnesota who focus on small business tax deficiencies. The Minnesota Department of Revenue recently increased its audit staff to more closely scrutinize small businesses.

Common reasons that small businesses are audited include

  • accounting errors (negligence)
  • accidentally taking tax deductions that are not lawful (negligence)
  • intentionally taking tax deductions that are not lawful (tax fraud)
  • accidentally failing to report all income (negligence)
  • intentionally failing to report all income (tax fraud)
  • money laundering or other illegal activity

Consequences of Tax Evasion

The consequences of tax evasion can be severe. One important factor is whether the IRS determines whether your failure to pay taxes was intentional or unintentional.

One recent example with a roofing company owner demonstrates the serious penalties and consequences associated with tax evasion:

On October 27, 2008, a business owner was sentenced to twelve months and a day in prison and ordered to pay $134,614 in restitution for federal income tax evasion. He pleaded guilty in August 2008 to one count of tax evasion. He deposited third party checks from his business’s customers into a bank account and received cash back, ranging from $1,000 to $9,500 per deposit. He acknowledged the he knowingly and willfully failed to report some of that cash as taxable income on his personal federal tax returns.

To read more examples, visit this IRS website on Examples of General Tax Fraud Investigations.

Tax Attorney Audit Services

As a tax attorney, Aaron Hall can analyze your business financial records, personal financial records, and tax return to determine where tax violations may have occurred. As your attorney, he would communicate with the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue agents doing the audit to understand their concerns. Finally, he would present an explanation to the IRS or Minnesota Department of Revenue and seek to negotiate a settlement. If no settlement can be reached, he will explain the appeal process in Minnesota and manage your appeal.

How Could a Minnesota Tax Lawyer Help You?

If you or your business have been audited, learn more about the process by making a free call to Aaron Hall. During this initial phone consultation, you can discuss your situation and learn about the audit process and your legal options.

Aaron Hall is a tax attorney representing clients in the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area and throughout Minnesota. Aaron is experienced in representing business and individual clients before the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue.