Straight Dealings with the IRS is Your Best Opportunity to Audit Success

Working with the IRS in an honest open and straightforward basis is your best bet to ensure that your audit experience, to the extent that it can be, is an success. Frequently I see clients who are audited because they have a business and attempt to prepare their returns on their own. Tax law should never be attempted to be understood or appropriately applied by anyone other than a CPA who is well experienced and seasoned in such matters. Just as Believers we have an Intercessor to talk to God on our behalf so should clients retain a CPA to work to ensure that they pay only their lowest legal possible tax.

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

PO Box 47-421

Doraville GA 30341

Enclosures: Power of Attorney, IRS Letter/Notice of Audit and Requested Information

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing you in a good faith attempt to come to terms over the above taxpayers’ present predicament and to address their tax issues.  I am willing/eager to supply you with any information that you might need in order to process the audit. I have enclosed the information that the client has forwarded for you to process the audit.

Since I have assumed the role as their financial adviser, I have consulted with them, and in good faith have pulled together all of the information that you have requested.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to close their file.

Sincerely,

John C. Dillard, CPA, PC

Partner in Charge

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

 Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder and Woodstock

Tax Tips to Have a Successful IRS Audit Experience

These basis tax tips will do much to ensure that you keep adequate books and records to support your business deductions as well as to ensure that you will have much of the documentation that an IRS agent will want to see during the performance of an audit. Being prepared is your best bet and it starts each and every day by keeping good books and records so that if the tax man cometh that you are prepared and ready to support the business expenses you have claimed. Having served as a CPA to Tucker and Lilburn area for decades I have learned that starting with the basics and fundamentals of sound recordkeeping is always a prudent and wise choice.

Tax Tips to Ensure Adequate Business Receipt Documentation:

• For meals and entertainment please be sure to keep receipts from restaurants (credit card receipt not sufficient) and document in detail and the nature of the business discussion.
• For all travel overnight, please be sure to keep all contacts and supporting information so that you can prove nature of trips, who you met with and have documentation and supporting papers verifying the nature of all of your business trips.
•  For all cell phones, deduct only the  portion that is business use.
• I suggest not claiming home office deduction in the future.  If however you opt to, I suggest you take pictures and keep proof including layout/plans of house detailing how much of the home is used exclusively for business use.  Any portion of home also used for personal use cannot be claimed/deducted for the home office deduction.
• Pay all expenses by check as items are incurred (and not at year-end) being sure to have an adequate and detailed receipt clearly indicating the business nature of any and all expenditures. Also keeping all of the canceled checks and bank statements are critical to having substantive corroborating information.
• Get reimbursed/made whole/promissory note for all cash paid expenses paid that the IRS is not allowing.
• Evaluating incorporating your business if you plan to continue to grow it, for both legal personal protection and potential tax savings when business becomes profitable.
• Being sure to keep a by day log to support  and detail all business miles.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

 Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder and Woodstock

Sample IRS Audit Letter in Anticipation of Impending Audit Meeting

-Proudly Serving Lawrenceville and Snellville as a CPA for Over 27 Years

When getting ready for an audit the first best call is to a well experienced CPA to ensure that both your rights but more importantly that you return is correct and prepared to best ensure your lowest legal possible tax. As a Body of Believers, though we are to submit to Authority, we are not required either by tax law or by our faith to pay more than our fair share and therefore just and legally liable tax obligation/bill.

All correspondence with the IRS should be an ends to an mean and help to encourage the client, the IRS and their agent to close their file as quickly as possible, while ensuring that you pay only your legally liable tax. To that end I have provided the below sample audit letter detailing what we did, the terms and even enclosing the check to pay the taxes and interest in full while asking for penalty abatement. For the easier a CPA can make it on the agent to adequately and efficiently close their file is a win for both the IRS and the client.

Internal Revenue Service

401 W. Peachtree Street

Atlanta GA

Enclosures: Power of Attorney

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing you in a good faith attempt to come to terms over the above taxpayers’ present predicament and to address their tax issues.  I am willing/eager to supply you with any information that you might need in order to process the audit. I have worked with the client to get their tax filings correct for the _____ tax year and payments current ASAP. To that end I have prepared for you a Form 1040X for the _____ tax year.

Enclosed please find a check for $____ to be applied as follows:

Tax                        $ _____

Interest                  $_____

With the payment of the tax and interest in full I am asking that any potential penalty assessed be abated. It is my goal to help in their efforts to return to compliance. Since I have assumed the role as their financial advisor (they had none previously),  I have consulted with them, and in good faith and within 30 days pulled all of the information together that you had requested.

I believe the penalty abatement is a just request as I believe the IRS is a fair institution designed to help taxpayers pay their just taxes.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to close their file.

Sincerely,

John C. Dillard, CPA, PC

Partner in Charge

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

 Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder and Woodstock

Marietta area CPA Teaches Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Using IRS Installment Plans

Installment plans are great options for taxpayers who are not able to either qualify to submit an Offer in Compromise or to pay the tax in full, while asking the IRS for penalty abatement. Though these are often much better financial options, as they frequently result in a lower cash outlay. These options are only for those who either meet the rules, guidelines and procedure for submitting an Offer or who have the financial ability to pay the tax and interest in full at the time of requesting a penalty abatement.

If you are in the midst of addressing IRS tax issues and  trying to evaluate between an Offer of Compromise or an Installment plan, frequently the options look bleak, as often they are. However there is good news for those who are desirous to look “outside the box” in looking to solve your IRS tax problems. Knowing the ins and outs of varying programs will do much to help you know what is in your best interest.

IRS Installment plans are essentially long range, but are frequently the most convenient way to solve an IRS tax bill short term. However this option is frequently the worst option as interest and penalties continue to be assessed thus ensuring that you continue to owe even more additional monies rather than less. Form 9465 is used by taxpayers with the IRS to make an Installment Agreement Request to set up a monthly payment plan. If at all possible it is recommended that before you set up an installment plan, you look to other options available such as a loan from a bank.

Also great care should be taken to be a forward thinker when doing your cash flow and to plan long term to ensure that you will be able to fulfill the financial commitment you make in a Formal IRS Installment Plan. For example, if you owe taxes for the 2007 tax year and have not yet filed your 2008 returns and have not yet done adequate tax planning for 2009, setting up an Installment Plan with the IRS might be one of the worst things you can do. Care should be exercised to both, get all of your 2008 returns filed first and then to evaluate your 2009 taxable income to ensure that you will have the taxes and monies to pay all of the tax years in question. Failing to do so can be especially problematic as one of the rules of being on an Installment Plan is that you have to stay current on all of your filings and payments for the duration of the payment period, or the IRS will void the Installment Agreement and reinstate collection efforts. Considering all of these options allows you to have a much less problematic agreement  and avoid unnecessary headaches, professional fees, and additional fines, penalties and interest.

For those who owe the Internal Revenue Service less than $10,000 there is an option called a Guaranteed Installment Agreement. In general terms to qualify for this you have to have timely filed and paid all income tax returns for the last five years and have not used an installment agreement during this period.

For amounts owed the IRS of more than $10,000 then the plan is still available but the IRS may request additional information to determine and validate that you are not able to pay the present amount owed in full. As part of the Installment rules for all levels of IRS debt, the IRS expects you to file and pay all future tax filings on a timely basis. Failure to do so will immediately invalidate your Installment Agreement allowing the IRS to use liens, levies, and garnishments to effect and force collection. Typically to protect its financial interest in an Installment agreement the IRS will file a general lien necessitating taxpayers to get permission from the IRS in advance to either refinance or sale assets. Also, please note that the IRS will apply all monies as they see fit allowing dollars to be first applied to penalties and interest leaving the principal balance potentially unchanged.

Installment agreements are problematic because frequently there may be better options such as:

-Paying the tax and interest in full. Frequently if you can do this and have valid reasons or explanations as to why the monies are in arrears, the IRS will abate assessed penalties.

-Reviewing old returns. Often I have worked with taxpayers to determine that original returns were either not filed, filed incorrectly or that valid deductions were originally left off the filed returns.

-An Offer in Compromise. If you qualify the IRS will reduce your tax bill to a combination of your net worth and your “excess cash flows” over the next five years.

Representing yourself before the IRS is a recipe for disaster. Sitting down with a CPA who is well versed in tax representation issues is your best first step to getting back tax issues, payments and returns filed and paid. Finding the right solution to your tax problem helps resolve tax problems better and faster. Though an Installment Agreement is often the most convenient it often results in both prolonging the problem and the largest financial outlay.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

-Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder and Woodstock 

Atlanta CPA Saves Metro Atlanta Client $120,000 in Payroll Tax Penalties

One of the tax cases we personally handled involved an Atlanta Based client who had not paid almost three years of payroll tax returns, specifically IRS Forms 940 and Form 941.During this time the company collected but did not remit to the IRS the Federal Withholding Taxes, FICA, and Medicaid taxes. Also the company did not pay the matching taxes due as well as the Federal Unemployment taxes due and payable. For payroll taxes due and payable at the corporate level the IRS and Georgia both take a very dim view of business owners who will take and withhold taxes from their employees and then not remit these monies over to the taxing authorities.

Failure to pay to the Internal Revenue Service or to Georgia withheld payroll taxes is essentially the violation of the trust and responsibility to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility. To these end both the IRS and Georgia can assess a 100% Liability to all responsible business officers, owners and check signors who were responsible for and failed to remit to taxing authorities monies withheld from an employee’s paycheck. This is commonly referred to as the 100% Penalty. Having been an Atlanta CPA for decades, this is one area where I have personally witnessed several companies fall into “a financial abyss.”

However there is hope. There are three primary options when you get behind in your taxes to work with the IRS to resolve them including getting on an Installment Plan, Submitting an Offer in Compromise or paying the tax and interest in full while asking for abatement of the penalties. In the above referred to case the IRS had assessed approximately $210,000 of taxes, $12,000 of interest and $120,000  of penalties. By working closely with our client they were able to source funds from other sources to pay the taxes and interest in full, while asking that the IRS abate the $120,000 of assessed penalties. Though the case took several more months of work and negotiation than anticipated and we had to involve the Atlanta Taxpayer Advocate Office/Service, we were ultimately successful in saving the client $120,000 of penalties. To read more about the IRS and how best to deal with “taxing issues” take a look at these articles:

Surviving an IRS Audit

How Audits are Selected
Learning about how audits are selected is the first step to discovering how to overcome the emotional and financial distress that normally occurs as part of the audit process. Lifting this veil will help keep you on an even keel in learning how to deal with the IRS audit.  http://www.hiscpa.com/irs-selection.html

When the IRS Notice Arrives
Rather than beginning the process in fear, discover how you can better prepare yourself so that you are not surprised at the audit process and its ultimate results. By seeing through to the other side you can best ready yourself to close your audit with no adjustments and no additional monies due.  http://www.hiscpa.com/irs-audit.html

Working with the IRS

Solving IRS Tax Issues
Don’t fight the IRS but work with them to resolve your tax problems. Discover a myriad of legal ways the IRS is eager and willing to work with you to resolve any unpaid debts, penalties, and interest.  http://www.hiscpa.com/working-with-the-irs.html

Paying Your Taxes – Withholding and Extensions
Paying your taxes made easy. This section will enable you to quickly grasp the general guidelines of tax law requiring that you pay taxes as you earn money. As well, extensions and their uses and limitations are disclosed and discovered.  http://www.hiscpa.com/paying-taxes.html

How to Avoid an IRS Audit
Discover simple steps that you can do to help prevent an IRS audit. Though the tax code is at times very difficult to understand and comply, these basic simple steps will help you avoid an IRS audit.   http://www.hiscpa.com/avoiding-audits.html

Solving IRS Tax Problems: Submitting an Offer in Compromise
When all else fails and if you qualify, the IRS and Georgia both have a program which will enable you to work to solve the severest tax problems.  http://www.hiscpa.com/offer-in-compromise.html

John Dillard is a Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (An Atlanta CPA firm) and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and to learn about his ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ To contact John Dillard CPA (Atlanta Christian Author/Speaker) today call 770. 814.9304 proudly serving Duluth, GA, Gwinnett County and Beyond.

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!” What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 Why are these verses here? Learn how His CPA became a Christian Accounting firm visit http://www.hiscpa.com/christian-CPA.html

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond

Helping Clients with Corporate & Personal Income Taxes, Incorporation Advice, Tax Planning, Virtual CFO, Financing, Business Plans, Back Taxes, Offer in Compromise, Tax Advocacy, Business Acquisitions & Sales, Business Plans, and IRS Representation.

Award Winning CPA on Helping Clients With Offer  in Compromise & IRS Tax Representation Issues

Proudly Serving Norcross, Sandy Springs and Marietta for Over 25 Years

In light of the recent and dramatic downturn in the economy I have had to help many business owners and entreprenuers file their final corporate/business and income tax returns to record the dissolution of their business. Whether you be a Partnership, Proprietorship, S Corporation, C Corporation, LLC or LLP there are certain steps and procedures that must be carried out in the closing of your business.

All business’s, per IRS rules and regulations, should file the last corporate income tax return for the business being sure to mark it as final. This would be a Form 1120 is a C Corporation, a Form 1120S if an S Corporation, a Form 1065 if a Partnership or multi-owner/member LLC, or a Schedule C as part of your personal return if either a Proprietorship or single member LLC. You would also want to be sure to notify the Secretary of State in all states where you business is either domiciled or legally registered.

Also you will want to be sure that you have filed all of the required payroll, sales tax reports, and business licenses. To gain a feel for these I suggest visiting:

Becoming a new Employer in Georgia Checklist
An easy to review source of many of the forms, applications, and procedures you will need to be apprised of to ensure compliance with a variety of taxing authorities. http://www.hiscpa.com/employee-checklist.htm

Payroll Tax Withholding
Employers are required to withhold portions of each employee’s salary and pay additional taxes to local, state and federal governments. This article discusses the types of taxes that must be withheld or paid.   http://www.hiscpa.com/payroll-tax.html

Managing Payroll Forms
Easily the most administrative burden of owning your own business, payroll is the bane of many who try to go it alone.  http://www.hiscpa.com/payroll.html

Frequently when working with the IRS or state to resolve past and current tax issues, it is necessary to retain a CPA to help and assist in both the filing and payment of these monies. To that end, I have supplied below a sample letter filing a power of attorney to address all of their tax issues and final disposition of their business.

IRS

401 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta GA 30308

I am writing you in a good faith attempt to come to terms over the above taxpayers’ present predicament and to consider submitting an Offer in Compromise on their behalf.  I am willing/eager to supply you with any information that you might need in order to process the Offer. I am working with the client to get their tax filings and payments current ASAP.

Please note that I have advised the taxpayers that after the acceptance of their Offer that they must stay in compliance by keeping all of their filings and payments current for five years.  They have further been advised that in the event they do no maintain the above that the previously accepted offer would be voided and the previously abated monies would be reinstated.

Please suspend your file for forty-five days while I work to get from the client all of the information you have requested.

Please cease all collection efforts while this Offer is being considered for submission and  I work with the client to get all of their filings and payments current.

Sincerely,

John C. Dillard, CPA, PC

Partner in Charge

To read more about John Dillard CPA and his CPA practice, business consulting and IRS representation visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (All Rights Reserved)

To read about his books A Voice of One, Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s and Charleston Dawn and his speaking ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/

Helping Clients with Corporate & Personal Income Taxes, Incorporation Advice, Tax Planning, Virtual CFO, Financing, Business Plans, Back Taxes, Offer in Compromise, Tax Advocacy, Business Acquisitions & Sales, Business Plans, and IRS Representation.

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond

Atlanta, Georgia CPA on What Not to Do When Addressing IRS Representation Tax Issues

Top Five (5) Things To Avoid When the IRS Audit Notice Arrives

If you have just received a tax notice these tax tips will do much to ensure that you stay out of trouble with the IRS as well as mitigate it, once it occurs and will be one you will want to refer to again and again. These are the most common mistakes business owners and taxpayers make resulting in much extra stress and additional penalties and interest that can be legally avoided.

1. Not Use a CPA to prepare your original business return. Doing your return on your own, with only a box to ask for answers to your most strategic tax questions is a recipe for financial calamity. Not knowing when to be an S Corporation, LLC, LLP, C Corporation or will do much to increase your tax bill from the offset. Furthermore not knowing what a qualified plan is, much less which one is best for you and your business will do much to impair your ability to limit both your current tax bill and to plan for your long-term retirement.

2. Not retain a CPA to represent you before the IRS. If you have already done your personal or business return and now have received an IRS notice and are thinking you can represent yourself, you are about to make a bad situation worse. Not only did you do your own return and potentially file the return with many errors in tow, now you are thinking about representing yourself before the IRS and an IRS agent who is well-trained and versed in an area you are not; tax law. If doing your own return is akin to not taking care of yourself, resulting in your getting sick. Then handling your own surgery would be similar to performing your own surgery to help you get well.

3. Believe that a Tax Preparation or Bookkeeping Service has the same credentials. To become a CPA today in most states you need a five year BBA in Accounting. To pass a four part exam and to have two years of experience of working under the tutelage of a CPA as their direct supervisor. To remain a  CPA most states also require both Peer Review and ongoing continuing education or CPA. As a CPA of over three decades of experience, I have worked in the industry for thirty years, 10,950 days, or 262,800 hours. On the other hand to be a tax preparer requires only a business license only, and they might have only just started.

4. Go to the IRS Audit Meeting. It is best when you are quiet. You are not a CPA, you do not know tax law, your opinion, like mine, does not matter. Only Tax Law Matters and Your CPA Knows Tax Law. Work only with a CPA who has a proven and documentable track record of success in handling tax representation issues, penalty abatement and Offers in Compromise. Just as Jesus is our Intercessor before God so will should we want a CPA as an intercessor with the Internal Revenue Service.

5. CPA: Never Underestimate the Value. A CPA is an Tax Advocate who can help you:

-Legally Avoid Taxes by Paying Your Lowest Legal Possible Tax

-Make Timely Tax Elections

-Make Proper Tax Choices

-File Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns on a Timely Basis

-Keep you Abreast of Tax Law

-Stay out of Trouble

-Plan for Retirement

-Serve as a Part-Time Virtual CFO/Controller

To read more about John Dillard CPA and his CPA practice, business consulting and IRS representation visit http://www.hiscpa.com/

To read about his books A Voice of One, Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s and Charleston Dawn and his speaking ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond

Atlanta CPA Provides Sample Cover Letter When Getting Ready to Prepare for an IRS Audit

When getting ready for an IRS audit it is good to start off the relationship with both the client and the IRS to build trust, confidence, availability and goal setting. As none of us in life will be able to do it all by ourselves, finding a CPA who has a proven track record of success in IRS Representation issues whether you are facing a lien, levy, IRS assessment, garnishment or readying to submit an Offer in Compromise is essential To that end and to assist I have provided a sample letter to the IRS that we use to begin an audit for a client with the end in mind.

Internal Revenue Service

401 W. Peachtree Street

Atlanta GA

Enclosures: Power of Attorney

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing you in a good faith attempt to come to terms over the above taxpayers’ present predicament and to address their tax issues.  I am willing/eager to supply you with any information that you might need in order to process the audit. I am working with the client to get their tax filings correct and payments current ASAP.

It is my goal to help in their efforts to return to compliance. Since I

have assumed the role as their financial advisor (they had no advisor previously). I have consulted with them, and in good faith will need approximately thirty days to pull all of the information together that you have requested. Please ASAP confirm the years under audit as the notices I received indicated different years than what the client has understood, so that we might be pulling together the correct information requested.

Please cease all collection while  I work with the client to get all of their tax filings amended and payments current.

Sincerely,

John C. Dillard, CPA, PC

Partner in Charge

To read more about John Dillard CPA and his CPA practice, business consulting and IRS representation visit http://www.hiscpa.com/

To read about his books A Voice of One, Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s and Charleston Dawn and his speaking ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond

Atlanta CPA Saves Tax Client Tens of Thousands of Dollars and Still Working…

His CPA Saves Atlanta Client Much More Than His Fee: A Good CPA Should Ultimately Save You Money

We have recently received commitments from the IRS to save one of our clients tens of thousands of dollars. Though many would see this as successful, and I would certainly agree, but we are  not done yet. At His CPA PC we march to the tune of a higher drummer and therefore we do not stop to “smell the roses” or “count our successes” but rather seek to serve God by serving our clients. This is the actual note to a client that we have recently prepared but we are not done yet. Though we have gotten the IRS to reduce substantial fees and penalties we continue to believe we can do more still. We work by the Golden Rule…where we “Serve God…By Serving You…One Tax Return at a Time.”

 This will confirm that so far:
-We have got your S Corporation made effective 1-1-07 saving $3,700.
-The IRS willing to accept an Offer in Compromise that would save approximately $17,000.
-The IRS willing to amend the Offer in Compromise resulting in a savings of approximately $23,000.

We are continuing to work hard to earn your trust and to keep your tax bill as low as legally possible. If you know anyone seeking a CPA, please send them my way.

John Dillard is a Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (An Atlanta CPA firm) and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and to learn about his ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ To contact John Dillard CPA (Atlanta Christian Author/Speaker) today call 770. 814.9304 proudly serving Duluth, GA, Gwinnett County and Beyond.

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!” What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 Why are these verses here? Learn how His CPA became a Christian Accounting firm visit http://www.hiscpa.com/christian-CPA.html

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond

Atlanta CPA on Sample IRS Representation Letter to File Power of Attorney & Offer in Compromise  

Ensuring Successful Dealings with the Internal Revenue Service

When transmitting data to the IRS on behalf of a client I never use it as a means to a end but rather as part of a well-thought out process. Letters should be polite regardless of the situation, informative, insightful and direct. In all letters that I send when doing IRS Representation work, whether it be for an Offer in Compromise, tax lien, levy, garnishment or other collection issues and statutory assessments I strive to help all parties involved understand our intent and direction. 

Though I have been asked many times, I have  not ever, sent a letter to the IRS just to delay collection efforts. All dealings with the IRS should be just and fair with no sleight of hand by the client. Integrity, dealing only in the truth are watchwords, while using tax law procedures and processes to do what can legally be done to successfully process and Offer in Compromise, file back taxes, stop garnishments and liens, and to get taxpayers back into the system as a compliant and timely taxpayer. To this end I have below a Sample IRS Representation Letter to File Power of Attorney & Offer in Compromise:

Internal Revenue Service

Atlanta GA 39901

Enclosures: Power of Attorney 

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing you in a good faith attempt to come to terms over the above taxpayers’ present predicament and to consider submitting an Offer in Compromise on their behalf.  I am willing/eager to supply you with any information that you might need in order to process the Offer. I am working with the client to get their tax filings and payments current ASAP.

Please note that I have advised the taxpayers that after the acceptance of their Offer that they must stay in compliance by keeping all of their filings and payments current for five years.  They have further been advised that in the event they do no maintain the above that the previously accepted offer would be voided and the previously abated monies would be reinstated.

Please cease all collection efforts while this Offer is being considered for submission and  I work with the client to get all of your filings and payments current.

Sincerely,

John C. Dillard, CPA, PC

Partner in Charge

John Dillard is a Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (An Atlanta  CPA firm) and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and to learn about his ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ 

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!” What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31