When facing a Texas sales tax audit, understanding why can be important for building an informed defense strategy. While businesses should take a proactive approach to defending against state sales tax audits in all scenarios, if an audit is targeted—meaning that it is based on suspicion of noncompliance—this can present […]
For businesses targeted in Texas sales tax audits, allegations of noncompliance can lead to liability for more than just the business’ unpaid sales tax liability. Businesses that have not fully satisfied their sales tax obligations can also face liability for interest and penalties. This additional liability can be substantial. Along […]
When conducting sales tax audits, the Texas Comptroller’s Office has the ability to use sampling rather than conducting a comprehensive review of an audit target’s sales tax payment history. While this might initially seem like a good thing—as it helps streamline the audit process—the reality is that sampling can present […]
Successfully defending against a Texas sales tax audit can be a substantial undertaking. The time, effort, and resources involved can become even more substantial if the Texas Comptroller’s Office expands the scope of the audit after it starts. This is a very real possibility, and it can happen for multiple […]
Auditors have broad authority to request access to businesses’ financial records during Texas sales tax audits. But does this extend to a business’s entire general ledger? After all, a general ledger is an extensive document that contains enormous amounts of sensitive information—including information that is in no way related to […]
Facing a Texas sales tax audit is a high-risk scenario that requires informed decision-making and a strategic defense. Making informed decisions and building a defense strategy starts with understanding what auditors are looking for. So, what are Texas sales tax auditors really looking for during the audit process? Technically, the […]
When facing sales tax audits in Texas, businesses have a legal obligation to preserve all records that are potentially relevant to the inquiry. Businesses can face liability for underpayments for all years covered by the audit, and avoiding unnecessary liability requires clear documentation of compliance. This raises a critical question: […]
If your business is facing a Texas sales tax audit, avoiding unnecessary liability will require an informed, strategic, and proactive defense. The Texas Comptroller’s Office aggressively targets sales tax underpayments, and, when in doubt, the state’s auditors err on the side of assuming noncompliance. Building an informed, strategic, and proactive […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has published proposed changes to its Voluntary Disclosure Practice (VDP) for 2026. The proposed changes, announced on December 22, 2025, are currently subject to a 90-day public comment period that closes on March 22, 2026. Learn more from Texas criminal tax lawyer Lawrence Brown: Proposed […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published two press releases touting the success of its enforcement efforts in 2025. While these press releases highlight the IRS’ enforcement initiatives over the past year, they also provide insight into the IRS’ ongoing enforcement priorities heading into 2026. Here are some key insights […]