Tampa Sales Tax Protest & Appeals Attorney
When you own a business in the Tampa Bay area, you must collect sales tax from the goods you sell. Once you collect sales tax, you are required to provide it to the state of Florida. Sometimes businesses make errors when paying state sales taxes, and sometimes businesses intentionally withhold tax. And in other situations still, the Florida Department of Revenue can make a mistake and take action to collect unpaid sales tax when your business properly paid its taxes. In any of these scenarios, you will need to seek advice and counsel from a Tampa sales tax protest & appeals attorney if you are audited by the Florida Department of Revenue and are informed that you owe tax. At Ronald Cutler, P.A., we can help you to deal with the Florida Department of Revenue when it comes to contesting a sales tax assessment or negotiating a settlement with the state.
What is a Sales Tax Protest in Tampa, Florida?
A sales tax protest refers to an action to contest a sales tax assessment from the Florida Department of Revenue. If your Tampa business received a sales and use tax audit notice, if you were assessed unpaid taxes but know you paid, if you have questions or concerns about the audit, or if you need help negotiating a settlement in order to avoid significant fines and criminal penalties, it is time to get in touch with a sales tax protest lawyer in Tampa.
A sales and use tax audit will typically begin with an auditor being assigned to your case and requesting general information from your business. Depending upon the nature of your business, a typical audit will last anywhere from a few days to more than a year, according to the Florida Bar. During the audit process, tax assessments can occur, and disputes can arise between the auditor and the business. If the Florida Department of Revenue issues a tax assessment, you may be able to contest it.
How to Take a Protest Action in Tampa
There are multiple options to protest (or contest) a sales tax assessment from the Florida Department of Revenue. Those options typically include one of the following:
- Informal appeal to the Florida Department of Revenue (also known as an administrative appeal);
- Protest under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which can be either informal or formal; or
- Circuit Court claim.
In most cases, a business must protest the tax assessment either within 60 days or 120 days depending on whether the business will be moving forward with a formal or informal protest. If the outcome of the protest is unfavorable, it may be possible to appeal.
Contact a Tax Protest & Appeals Lawyer in Tampa
If your business is being audited or you need assistance contesting a tax assessment, one of the Tampa tax protest and appeals attorneys at our firm can speak with you today. Contact Ronald Cutler, P.A. to speak with an experienced tax lawyer about your situation.