Audits

Tax Audit Advice

Imagine for a moment what is must be like to be an IRS auditor. Every day frightened taxpayers would come into your office with their shoeboxes full of receipts (or maybe no receipts at all) and sometimes bizarre stories. After a short while you would gain an almost intuitive sense of when you were hearing the truth and when you were being presented with something else. The whole process is improved when the taxpayer is organized and prepared.

When a taxpayer follows the tax law, operates a legitimate business with a profit motive and keeps proper records of his expenses any encounter with the IRS will be just business as usual. “MAKING TAX A GAME”does this by first explaining the IRS Audit Process, which begins with how the IRS determines which returns should be chosen and ends when there is a disagreement with the examiner and he gives the taxpayer his rights of appeal.

“MAKING TAX A GAME” provides additional guidance on items such as:

An explanation of why it is in the best interest of the taxpayer to be represented by an unemotional professional who knows the law and is experienced in the the audit Process
Explains why the success of your audit will largely be a function of the quality and completeness of your documentation and tax return preparation in addition to the quality of your representation at the audit.
“MAKING TAX A GAME” also provides the guidance and the filing system that can make a difference in your “quality and completeness”.

Let Us Help:

The Orange County Taxpayer’s Guide: How Do I Calculate My Federal Tax Withholding?

 Key TakeawaysA large refund is an interest-free loan to the government, while a big bill suggests you are at risk for IRS underpayment penalties. Updating your Form W-4 by late April allows you to spread adjustments across the majority of the year,...

How Does Self-Employment Tax Work For Orange County Taxpayers Leaving Their 9-to-5?

 Key TakeawaysAs a W-2 employee, you pay half of Social Security and Medicare tax through withholding. As a self-employed taxpayer, you pay both halves through self-employment tax. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your adjusted net earnings, and you also pay...

Your Tax Pro’s Guide To Spring Cleaning Your Tax Reduction Strategy

  Key Takeaways Use your 2025 return as a diagnostic tool to calculate your real tax percentage and identify specific areas for AGI reduction. Use the post-tax season window to calibrate your withholding or estimated payments. IRS limits have increased for...

Mistakes Orange County Taxpayers Should Avoid When Filing For a Federal Tax Extension

 Key TakeawaysA federal extension provides six extra months to file, but all taxes owed must still be paid by the April 15th deadline to avoid penalties and interest. For 2026, the IRS assesses a 0.5% monthly failure-to-pay penalty plus 7% annual interest...

s the Self-Employment Tax Credit Real? And Other Tax Scams Orange County Taxpayers Should Watch For

 Key TakeawaysToday’s tax scams look professional, sound convincing, and are built to get your Social Security number, filing credentials, or signature on a bad return. A big refund promise is one of the clearest warning signs of a scam. You are...

Will the IRS Ever Call You On the Phone? 6 Tax Scams for Orange County Taxpayers to Avoid

 Key TakeawaysThe IRS does not initiate first contact by phone, text, email, or social media. Initial contact is generally made by mail. A message demanding immediate payment, threatening arrest, or asking for gift cards, crypto, or banking information is a...

IRS Penalties That Will Affect Your Orange County, California Bank Account

Start booking your Florida beachside condo: So far this current tax season, the average refund amount is up by 18.6 percent since last year (jumping from 1.7K to 2K). I kid about the beachside condo – this isn’t the bonus you might think it is. A high refund...

Tax Deadlines in Natural Disasters: Bass’s Basic Guide

2025 has been a hard year already, and it’s only mid-February. There’s one portion of that I want to address today. But first, did you catch any of SNL’s 50-year anniversary special? Laughter is a medicine we all need a spoonful of right now. Enjoy any...

What Is A 1099-K: Clearing Up Confusion For Orange County, California Filers

Remember the days when you checked the contents of your mailbox and found a birthday card from your grandma or a handwritten letter from a friend? Those are the kind of surprise pieces of mail you are happy to find.   Still, not all surprise pieces of mail...

Work From Your Costa Mesa home? What You Need To Know

I truly hope your weekend wasn’t spent anticipating a weather report from a certain notorious rodent. Because Punxsutawney Phil hasn’t had the most reliable track record in the past – 70 percent of his predictions have been wrong in recent years. You know...

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Our schedule is very full, but if you call us at (866) 282-3127 or email us we'll give you two options to meet with us right away—in-office or virtually. We will NOT make dealing with a tax professional as painful as it's been in the past!