Business owners may not be sure where to start if IRS audits their company. However, an IRS audit doesn’t have to feel stressful or disorganized. In this article, we’ll discuss a set of steps business owners can take if they find out they are being audited by IRS. Familiarize Yourself… [Read more]
California EDD Audits and Independent Contractor Classification
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) conducts audits to determine if businesses are: Correctly classifying their contractors and employees, and Paying the full taxes due under California law It’s important to note that EDD is actively targeting independent contractor misclassification, which could result in a six-figure penalty per employee for… [Read more]
CSLB Site Sweeps and EDD Audits
CSLB site sweeps and EDD audits can cost business owners delays, fines, stop-work orders and even potential jail time. In 2019 and 2020, CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) responded to 855 leads, conducted 52 sting operations and 216 sweep days. These efforts led to the issuance of 260 Notices… [Read more]
Assembly Bill 5 (AB-5): Your Ultimate Guide
California Assembly Bill 5 (AB-5) took effect on January 1, 2020, and is the new standard by which employers must classify employees. Small business owners (SBOs) should familiarize themselves with AB-5 and the ABC test to avoid employee misclassification and potential penalties from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). What is… [Read more]
Tax Season is Over, EDD Audit Season Begins
Now that the April filing deadline has passed, small business owners may be asking: what’s next? Insert EDD audit season. As tempting as it may be to put off thinking of taxes until next year, some small business owners may be required to respond to an audit from the California… [Read more]
Workers’ Compensation Audits
We partnered with benchmark commercial insurance to discuss how audits relate to workers’ compensation. Benchmark offers a boutique approach to serving their clients through providing and maintaining commercial and personal insurance policies. Their goal is to establish comprehensive risk management and accident-avoidance programs to help prevent claims from arising. Get… [Read more]
California CPA’s: Questions to ask your Clients to Reduce EDD Audit Risk
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) have the most insight into their business owner clients’ daily transactional history. You may find that your clients who have 1099 contractors are now in the grey area of worker classification since it was redefined by AB-5 in January 2020. Under the new bill, all workers… [Read more]
What Will 2021 EDD Audits Look Like?
Watch our video below to learn how the last 12 quarters affect your EDD audit criteria. Have You Received an EDD Audit Letter? The California Employment Development Department (EDD) sends audit letters through the mail. If you receive an audit letter, you have 30 days to reply. Typically, the agency… [Read more]
What to expect in an EDD Audit?
If your business is experiencing an EDD audit, it’s important to know what to expect. Founder and managing attorney at Milikowsky Tax Law, John Milikowsky, breaks down the EDD audit process and the frequently asked questions that come with an EDD audit. “What you can expect from us, whether you… [Read more]
Right of Control: Who has it and How Does EDD Determine 1099 Status?
When determining whether your workers should be classified as employees or independent contractors, it’s critical to ensure that you are closely following the Employment Development Department’s (EDD) strict guidelines. On the simplest level, proper classification is determined by whether or not the principal, or employer, holds the “right of control.”… [Read more]