Penalities on the Rise

We are noticing a recent upsurge in States implimenting penalties. The reasoning behind these fines is the fact that penalties increase taxpayer compliance, and penalities provide the State with additional revenue. Keep in mind that states do not always use penalties reasonably, and you have the right to attempt to abate such fines. A Sales & Use Tax specialist can help assess and abate penalties and interest.

Pre-Audit Game Plan

Dealing with a Sales Tax audit can be intimidating and full of costly pitfalls. However, with proper representation, you can walk away from an audit with a favorable outcome. To prepare for the scheduled audit, you will need to gather and organize various records that will be requested by the auditor. Auditors often request more than they actually need to see so it is best to have the information request reviewed by a qualified Sales & Use Tax specialist. Giving auditors too much or too little information is a quick way get the audit off to a bad start. Too much information can potentially uncover liabilities that might otherwise have gone undetected and can also unnecessarily take up a lot of your time; too little information might cause the auditor to be suspicious and increase the scope of the audit. O&A can review the auditor's information request and help you narrow it down to what is absolutely essential.