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:

Can I File Another Tax Extension After October 15? Answers For Orange County Taxpayers on Extension

 Quick Answer: No, you cannot request additional filing time beyond October 15 because federal tax rules strictly cap your individual extension period to six months. Beyond limited legal carve-outs for expats, deployed military personnel, or disaster victims, the...

What Order to Withdraw Retirement Funds For Orange County Retirees

 Quick Answer: The baseline withdrawal order moves from taxable brokerage accounts to pre-tax IRAs/401(k)s, finishing with tax-free Roth accounts. However, an optimal strategy dynamically coordinates all income sources (wages ending, Social Security, Medicare...

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App Payments For Your Orange County Side Hustle?

 Quick Answer: You have to pay income tax on any net profit earned through PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, regardless of whether the platform issues you an official Form 1099-K. However, the IRS only taxes true financial gain, meaning personal bill splits, gift...

What’s the Best Time for Orange County Retirees To Execute Retirement Planning Tax Strategies?

 Quick Answer: Retirees should execute retirement planning tax strategies during their gap years, which are the temporary low-income window after you stop full-time work but before Social Security benefits and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin....

What Is the Tax Extension Date For Orange County Extended Filers?

 Quick Answer: For individual taxpayers, the federal deadline to file your extended tax return (Form 1040) is October 15. Or September 15, if you're waiting on a business Schedule K-1. Just remember that an extension grants extra time to file your paperwork,...

What Are the IRS Rules on Claiming Dependents After Divorce For Orange County Parents?

 Quick Answer:  The IRS automatically gives the dependent tax claim to the parent the child slept under the same roof with for at least 183 nights. A noncustodial parent can only claim the child if the custodial parent officially signs IRS Form 8332 to pass...

How Does the SALT Deduction Work For Orange County High Earners?

 Quick Answer: In 2026, the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction allows you to write off up to $40,400 on Schedule A, but a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) over $505,000 triggers a 30% phaseout that reduces the cap down to a $10,000 floor. To legally...

How 529 Plans Are Taxed for Orange County Families

 Quick Answer: Contributions to a 529 plan are made with post-tax dollars, allowing your investment to compound shielded from federal and state capital gains taxes during the growth phase. Withdrawals are 100% tax-free when used for qualified education...

How Does the Lifetime Learning Credit Work for Orange County Students, Parents, and Professionals?

 Quick Answer: The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) is a non-refundable federal tax credit worth up to $2,000 per tax return. It’s calculated as 20% of the first $10,000 in qualifying higher education tuition and fees, with no limit on the number of tax years...

Should Orange County Homeowners Add A Name To A Deed?

 Quick Answer: While it’s mechanically simple to add a name to a deed, doing so during your lifetime is a financial mistake that triggers unexpected IRS gift tax reporting and destroys your child's future stepped-up basis tax shield. To safely bypass probate...

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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!