Tax Disputes

“There are few things more daunting than an ATO notice that informs you that you will be subject to an audit. At Economos, we take stress out of the equation to help you settle your tax disputes and get you back to doing the work you love.”

If you’ve been the subject of an audit, you may have cause to dispute the ATO or OSR’s findings. A tax controversy demands a tax expert to sort through all the conflicting figures to uncover errors on either side. At Economos, we’ll meet with ATO or OSR officers to discuss what we’ve uncovered to eliminate controversies, narrow down the issues, or discuss payment arrangements, settlements, or a penalty safe harbour. If needed, we can call in our team of experienced tax solicitors for assistance in resolving complicated issues and to stand by your side during reviews and appeals.

Tax Dispute Services by Economos Chartered Accountants

As a business owner or investor, you face an uphill battle as the nation’s tax environment changes almost daily. If you do business in other countries, you will likely face an even more confusing tangle of tax laws. At Economos, we have a team of tax experts both here in Australia, as well as our partners all around the world, all who can help you with any tax disputes you have with the ATO, the OSR or tax authorities in whatever country you do business in. When you engage Economos to assist you with filing and lodging your tax returns, you engage a company who will provide you with strategic, forward-thinking tax planning that will provide ways to reduce your tax burden backed with our expertise to defend your lodged returns.

• Tax Disputes
• Tax Controversy

When you need a tax dispute resolved, you don’t want an accountant that speaks in technical jargon. You need an accountant that speaks to you in language you can understand—one who understands your business and gets to the core of the dispute. With experienced staff that includes both solicitors and accountants, we can untangle all the intricacies of tax law as it applies to your tax controversy. We’ll go with you all the way from your initial audit to a solution that satisfies both you and the tax authority.

As a regular Economos client, though, you will have the benefit of advice that helps you avoid disputes in the first place. We take the time to get acquainted with your business, create a custom tax strategy that can reduce your tax obligation legally—one that will stand up to even the most stringent ATO audits. We identify and solve compliance risks before you lodge your taxes, giving you the best chance to avoid an audit or dispute. However, we do realise that tax disputes do occur. When they do, we will manage the dispute, standing by your side during ATO reviews, serving as your voice as we communicate your side of the dispute to the ATO officers. We’ll suggest alternative courses of action and negotiate a settlement or payment plan that will settle the dispute. Australian tax laws are among some of the most complicated in the world. Without expertise in taxation law, it’s tough to resolve an ATO matter on your own. Don’t face a tax dispute without a chartered tax advisor from Economos by your side.

What Are Tax Disputes?
What Are the Benefits of Tax Dispute Advisory Services?
Why Use Economos Advisors to Solve Tax Disputes?

Tax disputes arise when an ATO or OSR officer uncovers something on your tax return that doesn’t look right. After some initial investigation, they may determine that an audit is in order. If the audit confirms at least part of the officer’s findings, the ATO may levy a penalty against you. The thought of an ATO penalty will most likely send most peoples’ stress levels soaring. Not just from a probable financial penalty but the fear of the enormous amount of time required to collaborate with all parties to resolve the dispute, keeping you away and distracted from managing and growing your business. To resolve the ATO’s disputed figures, you’ll likely need the help of an experienced tax accountant, since the ATO has the benefit of its authority on its side. In a tax dispute, you can argue your case to the ATO, providing your papers are in order and you can prove your case. Otherwise, your best bet is to work with an expert tax accountant to look over your figures and act as your advocate throughout the process.

An expert tax advisory service can stand in your corner should you be audited and found to be in error. Whether or not you had the tax advisory service prepare your tax returns, there is no reason why you must face the ATO or OSR alone. With the complexity of tax laws, it takes someone who has up-to-date knowledge of the statutes to examine your returns, determine if you have made an error, and advocate for you to reduce or avoid penalties. Working with the advisory firm’s legal associates, your tax advisor will help you decide whether voluntary disclosures are in order, if a review or appeal is in your best interest, or whether a negotiated settlement or payment arrangement is your best bet.

With more than 35 years’ experience solving even the thorniest tax issues for our clients, Economos’ expert team of tax advisors can help you sort out your tax dispute. With extensive, up-to-the-minute knowledge of the latest tax statutes, we can find any discrepancies in your returns or in the ATO’s records. In addition, our tax accountants are experienced in negotiating with the ATO and OSR and can help you come to a mutually agreed-on settlement or defend your position, should your records be right and the ATO is in error.