Orlando Sales Tax Protest & Appeals Attorney
If you are a Florida business owner, you have a duty to collect sales tax wherever applicable and then report them to the state. If you do not complete this legal obligation, you could be facing severe repercussions. If you do not agree with the amount of tax you owe or collect taxes but did not remit timely, you need an Orlando sales tax protest & appeals attorney.
At the law office of Ronald Cutler, P.A., we have years of experience helping clients negotiate a settlement or challenge an assessment. We can help you avoid civil and even criminal sanctions you might be otherwise facing.
What is the Procedure for Challenging Florida Sales Tax Assessments?
There are numerous steps involved in sales tax assessments. These include:
- Audit,
- Notice of intent to make audit changes,
- NOPA or notice of proposed assessment, and
- The assessment.
When you retain our firm to represent you, we will be there to help every step of the way. We can work with the auditor during the audit and assessment phase. We can also file a protest once the notice of proposed assessment is released. Here, we can assert factual challenges or make legal arguments on the assessment or audit. Depending on your case’s circumstances, it may be advantageous to file a formal protest with the DOAH, which is the Division of Administrative Hearings, or formally challenge the assessment in court. In cases where the necessary grounds exist, we can file an appeal to the Florida District Court of Appeals for a DOAH ruling or other court decision.
Be Cautious of Charges for Theft of State Funds
If you are a business owner who has collected sales tax but not remitted them to the state, you are at risk of being charged with Theft of State Funds. If the amount is $300 or more, you are looking at a felony charge. A conviction could result in a hefty prison sentence, plus civil penalties and fines. You could have your business shut down as well.
Florida aggressively pursues business owners who willfully fail to remit their sales tax and has no problem prosecuting those who knowingly use, obtain, or divert their sales tax receipts for any other purpose. It doesn’t matter if you need the money to keep your business afloat and submit it later.
If you are facing a possible criminal charge for theft of state funds, let us help you. At the law office of Ronald Cutler, we can help you prepare and file your sales taxes you haven’t remitted yet. We can also help you set up a meeting with a local agent in hopes of avoiding a formal investigation and criminal prosecution.
Contact a Florida Sales Tax Protest and Appeals Attorney
If you own a business and are behind paying the sales tax you owe, it’s imperative you contact an Orlando sales tax protest and appeals attorney right away. Failure to resolve this quickly could result in criminal prosecution. Contact the law office of Ronald Cutler, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.
