Audits and Reviews by the ATO and State and Territory Revenue agencies

In the course of your taxpaying life, revenue agencies like the ATO may conduct a review or an audit of your tax or super affairs.

While you may have an accountant or tax agent handling your routine affairs, tax laws are complex and reviews or audits also involve a lot of administrative law.

This is where having the advice of a specialised tax lawyer to help plan your tax affairs in advance and to explain you affairs during a review, audit or investigation can be vital in managing what can be a stressful, time-consuming and risky process for you.

In their initial letter, the revenue agency will usually explain what they intend to cover and how long it should take; the information and records the tax officer will need to see and your rights and obligations. A specialist tax lawyers can be there to help you to understand, and to address the revenue agency concerns in the best way possible for you.

As these revenue agencies have great power to access information or documents from you and from third parties such as banks, employers, customers, suppliers etc., which they can collect by phone, via mail or in person, you can really benefit from having the right tax lawyers in your corner from the start to help you to engage with the revenue agency effectively and get a better outcome.

Generally, the revenue agency prefers to work with you in a cooperative manner about the issues and for you to disclose any errors if you find them.

If you get things wrong along the way, the revenue agency needs to decide whether you made honest mistakes or were trying to conceal facts or provide them with incorrect information. Involving a tax specialist can help you to avoid being assessed with larger amounts of tax and bigger penalties.

In more serious matter, revenue agency actions can even involved unannounced visits, 'covert' audits without your knowledge or investigations where they think there may be possible criminal conduct. If any of these things happen to you, then you should seek specialist legal advice and support straight away.

Never ignore a revenue agency review or audit letter. It is really important to take control of the process straight away that you can. Put the tax specialists in your corner as soon as you can and let us help you to get the best outcome for you.

How can Tax Controversy Partners help you?

At Tax Controversy Partners, our experienced lawyers can assist you in understanding the taxation and superannuation regulatory implications of your situation and advise you in making the right choices.

In you are subject to a review or audit by a revenue agency (like the ATO) or have already been assessed by one, then we can help you to manage the process with that agency or in challenging their decision/s.

Please contact us using our online contact form, via email at admin@taxcontroversypartners.com.au or by phone at 02 8513 3813.