Fresno Business Tax Lawyer
Business tax problems escalate faster than individual tax problems. Payroll tax deposits missed by a single quarter can trigger Trust Fund Recovery Penalty assessments against owners personally. Sales tax non-compliance puts seller's permits at risk. Valley Tax Law represents Fresno-area businesses in federal and California tax disputes.
Small business owners often try to handle tax issues themselves until the problem reaches the Revenue Officer stage, at which point Trust Fund Recovery Penalty interviews begin and personal liability attaches. The earlier a tax attorney is involved, the more options remain on the table.
Payroll Tax Problems and Trust Fund Recovery
Federal employment taxes are held in trust for the government. When a business fails to deposit withheld income tax and the employee portion of FICA, the IRS will assess a Trust Fund Recovery Penalty under IRC Section 6672 against any responsible person who willfully failed to pay over the taxes.
Owners, officers, bookkeepers, and signatories on company bank accounts can all face TFRP liability. The penalty equals 100 percent of the trust fund portion, and unlike most business debts, it survives the dissolution of the corporation or LLC.
California Sales and Use Tax Issues
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers sales tax and audits cash-intensive businesses aggressively. Restaurants, auto dealers, retail stores, and online sellers all see regular examination activity.
Sales tax problems can include unreported sales, sourcing disputes, exemption certificate failures, and use tax on out-of-state purchases. CDTFA assessments can be appealed to the Office of Tax Appeals, and we represent businesses through that process.
Entity Tax Disputes and Pass-Through Issues
Partnerships and S corporations face increasingly sophisticated audits, particularly under the centralized partnership audit regime that replaced TEFRA. Partnership representative selection, push-out elections, and amended return procedures all carry strategic implications.
California franchise tax and the new pass-through entity elective tax also create planning and dispute opportunities for owners of pass-through businesses operating in or doing business with California.
Serving California Communities
Valley Tax Law represents clients throughout the Central Valley and Central Coast. Schedule a consultation at any of our offices, or by phone.
Why people call us first
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