Legal support of a tax audit
Legal support of a tax audit is a set of services provided by legal specialists or lawyers to ensure the legality and legality of a tax audit, as well as to protect the interests of the taxpayer. The main purpose of such support is to minimize tax risks, protect the rights and interests of the company, as well as ensure compliance with current legislation.
The main stages and aspects of legal support for a tax audit:
- Preparation for inspection: Analysis of the current state of the company's tax and accounting records. Conducting a preliminary internal audit to identify possible risks and errors. Consultations on the procedure for conducting a tax audit and the rights of the taxpayer.
- Support during the inspection: The presence of a lawyer or a lawyer during the tax audit. Verification of the legality of the actions of tax inspectors and compliance of their requirements with current legislation. Ensuring proper documentation of all actions and requirements of tax authorities. Provision of necessary information and documents at the request of tax authorities within the limits of the law.
- Disputing the results of the inspection: Analysis of tax audit results and conclusions of tax authorities. Preparation of objections and complaints on the results of the inspection in case of detection of violations or illegal actions on the part of tax authorities. Representation of the company's interests in tax authorities, courts and other state institutions.
- Post-verification period: Consultations on the implementation of decisions of tax authorities, if they are legal and justified. Assistance in the development and implementation of measures to eliminate violations and deficiencies identified during the inspection. Providing recommendations on improving the tax and accounting system to minimize risks in the future.
Legal support of a tax audit allows the company to effectively protect its rights, reduce the risk of fines and ensure compliance with the requirements of the law.
Who provides legal support for a tax audit?
Legal support of the tax audit is carried out by qualified experts in the field of law and tax accounting. These specialists include:
- Law firms - are specialized companies that provide a full range of legal services, including legal support for tax audits. Law firms have a team of experienced attorneys and lawyers who specialize in tax law and can effectively protect the client's interests.
- Bar associations are organizations that unite lawyers to provide legal assistance. Lawyers have special powers and can represent the client's interests in court and before tax authorities. They have deep knowledge in the field of tax legislation and practical experience in working with tax audits.
- Internal legal departments of companies - large companies often have their own legal departments, where full-time lawyers work, who can provide legal support for tax audits. These specialists are well acquainted with the specifics of the company's activities and can effectively interact with tax authorities.
- Consulting companies - consulting companies that specialize in tax and accounting consulting can also provide services for legal support of tax audits. They have tax law and accounting experts who can help prepare for the audit and protect the client's interests.
- Independent lawyers and tax consultants are individual specialists working as independent consultants. They can provide personalized services and have a flexible approach to each client. Independent consultants may be experienced lawyers or specialists in tax law with significant practical experience.
When choosing a specialist or a company for legal support of a tax audit, it is important to pay attention to their experience, reputation, specialization in tax law and reviews of other clients.
What does the cost of tax audit legal support depend on?
The cost of tax audit legal support depends on several main factors. Here is a detailed list of these factors:
- Business size and complexity: A large company with numerous branches and a complex structure of financial operations requires more time and resources to support than a small enterprise.
- Scope and duration of the inspection: The more documents and processes that need to be checked, the higher the cost of the services. The length of the tax audit also affects the total cost, as lawyers or solicitors may need more time to accompany.
- Qualification and experience of specialists - the cost of the services of experienced lawyers and lawyers specializing in tax law will be higher than that of less experienced specialists.
- Complexity of services - if, in addition to legal support, additional services are required, such as tax planning, preparation of documents, accounting consultations, etc., this will increase the total cost.
- The need for urgent support - if the company needs urgent help or legal support in a short period of time, this may require additional resources and increase the cost of services.
- Location - the cost of services may vary depending on the region. In large cities, the services of law firms are usually more expensive than in smaller settlements.
- Reputation and level of service of the law firm - law firms with a high reputation that provide a high level of service can charge higher rates for their services.
- Form of payment - some law firms may offer hourly payment, others - a fixed price for the entire scope of work. Hourly fees can be beneficial for short-term projects, while a fixed fee is usually suitable for longer and more complex inspections.
To get an accurate estimate of the cost of legal support for a tax audit, the company can contact several law firms or independent consultants to obtain a commercial offer and compare the terms of cooperation.
