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Sales Tax Mistakes to Be Aware of and How to Avoid Them

August 12, 2024May 3, 2017 by Brotman Law

As a retailer or other seller of products, you have a lot of details to attend to but one of the most important, often most complex, is your sales and use tax obligations. Sometimes determining sales tax is like peeling an onion; just when you think you have found all the nuances, there is another layer to contend with.

Non-payment of sales and use tax comes with stiff fines, potential jail time, and repayment requirements. Avoiding all that is essential to both your business and your well-being.

What to Do If You Miss the Tax Filing Deadline

August 12, 2024April 26, 2017 by Brotman Law

Uh oh. It is now after April 18^th, and you did not file your taxes. What do you do?

If you are expecting a refund, you don’t sweat it because you do not get penalized for not filing in this case. You won’t get your refund until you do file, but otherwise, the IRS is not going to come after you for your paperwork. (If you wait until after April 18, 2020, though, the IRS keeps your refund, so you better get on it.)

What Sales Are Subject to Sales Tax?

August 12, 2024April 19, 2017 by Brotman Law

Nearly all states in the U.S. charge sales tax on items sold, California is no different in that regard. Sales taxes go into the general fund to help pay for education, health care, public pensions, and other programs. Sales taxes can also be collected for special programs or specific areas of the state.

Common Tax Filing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

August 12, 2024April 13, 2017 by Brotman Law

It is time once again for that annual rite of passage for every taxpayer: getting the tax return and payment to the IRS on time.

If you have already filed and paid your taxes, you are to be congratulated. Hopefully, you have not made mistakes or, if you have, then your early filing may give you a cushion for correcting them before the tax deadline.

How a Tax Attorney Can Help With Your Income Taxes

August 12, 2024April 6, 2017 by Brotman Law

Most of the time, taxpayers can handle personal income taxes without too much trouble but there are times when a tax attorney can be either a handy resource or a required partner. Both the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) can get quite aggressive when the rules are not followed, even when taxpayers are doing their best.

What’s the Difference Between Federal and State Business Taxes?

August 12, 2024March 29, 2017 by Brotman Law

Every business pays a variety of taxes to the federal government and the state of California. The type of tax, the structure of the business, and the amount of money received or earned dictates the amount of the tax.

The following post outlines the various taxes collected by the state and federal governments, the tax rates, and how often the taxes must be paid. The information is provided by business structure since that is the main dividing point for finding tax information.

Your Rights as a Taxpayer with the Board of Equalization

August 12, 2024March 29, 2017 by Brotman Law

The Board of Equalization (BOE) administers the tax program for both business and property taxes for the State of California. Business taxes include:

Sales and use tax
Fuel tax
Cigarette tax
Alcoholic beverage tax

Business taxpayers may take up their concerns directly with the main office of the BOE while property tax concerns are addressed by the local county office.

When you deal with the tax agencies of California, you may feel like you do not have any rights. These agencies can be aggressive and overwhelming to most individuals unused to dealing with them.

Do I Qualify for Innocent Spouse Relief?

August 12, 2024March 15, 2017 by Brotman Law

When you sign a joint tax return with your spouse, you are signing a legal document that holds both signatories in “joint and several liability” for the information on the return. In other words, each of you can be held liable for the entire tax amount, including penalties and interest if you underpay or do not pay at all.

But what if your spouse underpaid your joint taxes without your knowledge? What if, when your spouse prepared the tax return, he or she did not report one or more items, used the wrong tax basis, or did something else that caused your joint taxes to be underpaid?

Can a Currently Non-Collectible Status Stop the FTB?

August 12, 2024March 9, 2017 by Brotman Law

Sometimes your financial fortunes take a turn for the worse, and you find yourself owing back taxes to the Franchise Tax Board. You don’t even have two coins to rub together, much less make installment payments, yet you are looking for an alternative to filing for bankruptcy. An Offer in Compromise is also off the table; you just don’t have the money.

You Have Options for Paying Your Tax Debts

August 12, 2024February 15, 2017 by Brotman Law

If you have a tax liability, you have several options for paying it. The IRS provides relatively straightforward instructions on the various types of payment methods and other ways to discharge the liability.

In California, you can also deal with the Franchise Tax Board, the Board of Equalization, and the Employment Development Division.

Payment options:

Straight payment or payment in full
Payment or installment plan
Offer in Compromise
Extensions

Let’s take a look at each.