So, your company or client got audited by the Kentucky Department of Revenue (DOR), and it will not be a no-change audit. Instead, the DOR has informed the taxpayer that they will receive an assessment. What do you do?
Changes to the nation’s tax system are on the horizon, and one of the biggest impacts will likely be a reinvigorated, well-funded IRS. And a well-funded IRS certainly means an increase in IRS audits. Businesses and high-income individuals would be well-advised to get their houses in order ahead of a potential wave of aggressive IRS reviews of tax returns and the consequent audits.
Deciding on the best audit approach isn’t a cookie-cutter process. While a long-standing relationship with a client or in-depth industry knowledge can give auditors a leg up, defining an effective audit approach requires careful consideration and planning for every engagement.
As Abraham Lincoln once said, “It is . . . the duty of Government to render prompt justice against itself in favor of citizens. . . .” Calvert Invs., Inc. v. Louisville & Jefferson County Metro. Sewer Dist., 805 S.W.2d 133, 138 (Ky. 1991) (quoting Abraham Lincoln). Equally, in a tax audit, the tax auditor’s job is to determine the right amount of tax, regardless of whether the audit determines that the taxpayer paid that amount, too little or too much.
NOTE: This checklist does not contain the complete specifics of the applicable KRS. Readers should consult the statute for the exact technical requirements.
