Multi-State Tax Law Blog
Part 3: Audit Ends, What Do I Do?
A daunting reality sets in for many Florida taxpayers when the audit report is issued. To say the majority of Florida taxpayers under a Florida sales tax audit have a meltdown is an understatement. Many taxpayers and other Florida tax professionals believe that this is the end of the road for their journey to a sizeable tax bill. However, this is when our job as Florida tax attorneys really begins.
Upon the completion of a Florida tax audit, the Department of Revenue issues a notice of proposed assessment (a “NOPA”). The NOPA is an important document for two reasons. First, it signals that the Florida sales tax auditor is done with the file at the local office and has sent it to Tallahassee. More importantly, if the Taxpayer or the Florida state tax professional does not know what to do, the NOPA means the company better act fast.
Pursuant to Florida law and the NOPA itself, the assessment becomes final in 60 days if it is not contested. This means that the Taxpayer or its CPA or attorney has 2 months to file a protest with Tallahassee. For those of you more familiar with IRS controversy work, this is the equivalent to filing an appeal with the IRS. For the first time, the Taxpayer and its power of attorney is dealing with a different group of theoretically unbiased conferees that evaluate the case with judgment, rather than in black and white, like the auditors are trained to see the world. A well drafted protest can be an impressive presentation by the Taxpayer if done correctly, and it should contain factual and legal assertions to refute the audit assessment. We generally also elect to have a conference with the Department, at which point we very simply lay out the posture of the case and point them to what we believe to be important.
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