Essex Hr & Associates

Information may not be reliable

Due to our ever expanding client base, we have moved! Essex & Associates, Inc., Essex HR LLC and Essex Grant Writing is now located in Washington Township. We are now occupying the Republic building with the name Essex HR on the side of the buiding. It is located at 7501 Paragon Road. You can see our building from I-675.

Americans will spend more this year on taxes than food, housing and clothing combined. While they may clip coupons or negotiate their mortgage, most don't pay attention to their largest bill -- their taxes. This could be especially troublesome for people who prepare their taxes themselves or don't check their tax professional's credentials. This is not the time for taxpayers to guess on their own or see a tax professional who isn't a tax expert. More than ever, taxpayers need advice that translates into the biggest refund they're allowed by law.

It's the ultimate nightmare scenario for many tax payers: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service informing them they're being audited.

It's highly unlikely you'll be subjected to a tax audit this year. But if you are, it doesn't have to be a traumatic experience if you have the right preparation and expectations. Here's what you need to know:

1. DON'T flip out: Make sure your being audited. The IRS' document-matching computer system searches for discrepancies in tax returns and generates letters to taxpayers whose documentation is inconsistent. Receiving one of those written requests for clarification does not mean you're being audited. Provide what the IRS asks for, and you'll probably never even talk to an agent.

2. DO provide what the IRS asks for -- and no more: Before your scheduled appointment with the IRS agent, you'll get a written request for certain documents.

3. DON'T assume you've done anything wrong: The IRS occasionally does compliance audits for particular industries, looking for patterns of misrepresentation. Such audits can be time-consuming and drag on for several months. But companies in those industries are mostly chosen at random. Being picked doesn't mean the IRS has concerns about your business in particular.

4. DO make sure you're properly represented: Why do the vast majority of criminal defendants choose not to represent themselves in court? Because they know their interests will be better served by a lawyer who understands the language and rituals of the justice system. The same goes for an IRS audit. You have the right to request that you accountant be present during the audit, and your can authorize him or her to speak for you.

5. DO get organized: Many problems with tax returns come down to simple disorganization. Maybe you forgot to submit the correct backup documents, or kept only haphazard records of your expenses.
Showing up prepared and organized for an audit gives you an advantage from the minute the agent walks in. The better your documentation and the easier it is to sort, the sooner the agent will be able to finish your audit and move on.

You may even emerge from with the ultimate prize: a letter stating that no change is necessary to your tax payment. That's a piece of IRS mail any tax payer would be happy to get.