Financial Status Audit Techniques: Part One – Audits of Cash Intensive Businesses by Cory Stigile
Posted by Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C. 
Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2018
This is the first of a six part series devoted to sensitive issue examinations of cash intensive businesses. In these situations, examiners frequently utilize various indirect methods of determining the income of a taxpayer.
Financial Status Audit Techniques (FSAT). FAST’s include various audit and investigative techniques available to corroborate or refute a taxpayer’s claim about their business operations or nature of doing business. Audit or investigative techniques for a cash intensive business might include an examiner determining that a large understatement of income could exist based on return information and other sources of information. The use of indirect methods of proving income, also referred to as the FSAT, is not prohibited by Code Section 7602(e). Indirect methods include a fully developed Cash T, percentage mark-up, net worth analysis, source and application of funds or bank deposit and cash expenditures analysis. However, examiners must first establish a reasonable indication that there is a likelihood of underreported or unreported income. Examiners must then request an explanation of the discrepancy from the taxpayer. If the taxpayer cannot explain, refuses to explain, or cannot fully explain the discrepancy, a FSAT may be necessary.
Cash Intensive Businesses. A cash intensive business is one that receives a significant amount of receipts in cash. Audit or investigative techniques for a cash intensive business might include an examiner determining that a large understatement of income could exist based on return information and other sources of information. This can be a business such as a restaurant, grocery or convenience store that handles a high volume of small dollar transactions. It can also be an industry that practices cash payments for services, such as construction or trucking, where independent contract workers are generally paid in cash.
The IRS has long been interested in business operations that receive most of their income in cash. Since certain businesses do not always deposit all of their cash receipts, there are various methods by which an examiner may be able to reconstruct total gross receipts and expenditures. Cash transactions are believed by some to be anonymous, leaving no trail to connect the purchaser to the seller, which may lead some individuals to believe that cash receipts can be unreported and escape detection. If cash is misappropriated a business by being skimmed from receipts and pocketed before it is recorded, the skim will likely not be discovered by auditing the books.
A significant indicator that income has been underreported is a consistent pattern of losses or low profit percentages that seem insufficient to sustain the business or its owners. Other indicators of unreported income include a life style or cost of living not fully supported by the reported income; a business that continues to operate despite losses year after year, with no apparent solution to correct the situation; a Cash T shows a deficit of funds; bank balances, debit card balances and liquid investments increase annually despite reporting of low net profits or losses; accumulated assets increase even though the reported net profits are low or a loss; debt balances decrease, remain relatively low or don’t increase, but low profits or losses are reported; a significant difference between the taxpayer’s gross profit margin and that of their industry; and unusually low annual sales for the type of business.
If the IRS examiner believes the business may not be reporting all of its income, the examiner may issue a summons to suppliers and other third-parties for records of sales or deliveries to the business, including original purchase invoices, during the period under examination. The examiner may then mark-up the purchases by a reasonable amount based upon industry standards to determine what are known as the audited sales for the business. Absent a reasonable explanation for a discrepancy between audited sales and reported sales, the IRS will determine income tax adjustments (and maybe penalties) based upon the discrepancy.
The IRS examiner will formulate taxpayer interview questions based on the preliminary Cash-T information, and, at the initial interview, inquire regarding possible loans or gifts received or whether a cash hoard maintained. When questioned, some taxpayers wrongfully respond that unexplained deposits or cash represents loans and gifts from relatives who may live outside the United States although there are no records to support the claim that the amounts are loans or gifts, except a copy of a letter from a relative stating that the relative gave the amounts at issue.
If the examiner believes the unexplained amounts represent unreported income, the examiner may ask the taxpayer for the specific dates and amounts of the currency received from friends or family – a vague and self serving letter from a friend or relative is not likely a sufficient response. The examiner will inquire about exactly how much currency was received on each specific date. Was it U.S. currency or foreign currency? Can the loan be verified by any other source? Can the lender show it was withdrawn from their bank on that date? Were FinCEN forms filed if currency was brought into the country? What day did the taxpayer get the money? How much did the taxpayer receive on that day? What did the taxpayer do with the money that day?
The examiner may ask for the name, address, telephone number of each person providing cash loans and inform the taxpayer that the examiner will be contacting these individuals for proof, including requesting copies of their tax returns or other documents. How the foreign currency was converted to U.S. currency? Where did the lender convert the currency? The examiner will ask for a copy of the exchange receipt issued by the bank or whomever exchanged the foreign currency for U.S. currency. If the lender converted the currency and brought it into the U.S., the examiner will request a copy of their passport showing entry to the U.S. on that day. If the taxpayer converted the currency, the examiner will request a copy of the exchange receipt.
When foreign currency is given by gift or loan, exchange rates can be found for the transfer dates. If they were not favorable, it is unlikely a friend or relative would have exchanged the currency at that time unless it was absolutely necessary. And, if it was absolutely necessary, the money would go into the bank or into the business immediately. If the amounts in issue are asserted to be a loan, the examiner will inquire about repayment and how interest is calculated. The loan will have occurred in the examination year, and by time of the later examination, the taxpayer should have paid some of it back. If the taxpayer is repaying by taking currency to the foreign country, the examiner will ask for the same type of specific information (exchange receipts and copies of their passport, etc.). Does the business show enough profit to be able to pay back loans on those dates If only one payment is made during the year, it would likely be a larger than normal loan payment. Can withdrawals be found in the amount claimed to be paid back? Examiners will analyze the cash receipts and disbursements for the week of the repayment.
Examiners often request to interview the lenders and review their tax returns. They will inquire about the specific dates and amounts provided to the taxpayer? Was it foreign or U.S. currency? Who converted the currency to U.S.? When? Where? What records do you have to prove this? What records do you have to guarantee the money will be repaid? Have any repayments been made? When? Where? How much? If not, why not? They will ask to see copies of their passports to show they traveled into the country when they say they did and copies of their bank withdrawals if money was withdrawn to lend to the taxpayer. It is possible that, when face to face with the examiner, the lender will make statements inconsistent with the taxpayer’s statements or give some evidence that they did not really have the ability to make these suggested loans.
Typical Interview Questions Addressing Accumulated Funds. Taxpayers often assert that unexplained amounts represent accumulations of wealth over a period of time. Common interview questions include whether the taxpayer keeps more than $1,000 on their person, at home, at their business, or in any other location? What do the accumulated funds consist of? (For example, paper money, coin, money orders, cashier checks, etc.). In what denominations were the funds accumulated? Where are the accumulated funds maintained? How long have the accumulated funds been kept in the foregoing location? What kind of container were the accumulated funds kept in?
Further questions could include how much accumulated funds did the taxpayer have on hand at the beginning and end of the year under audit? How much in accumulated funds does the taxpayer have on hand presently? Over what period of time were the funds accumulated? Do the accumulated funds solely belong to the taxpayer or does it belong to more than one person? Identify each person having ownership of these accumulated funds. Do any of the other owners have access to these accumulated funds? Identify the increase or decrease in accumulated funds for each access. Identify the type of records kept to identify the name(s), date(s) and effect on the accumulated funds each time there was an access.
Why were the funds accumulated and not deposited in a financial account? What is the original source of the money included in the accumulated funds? How often are the accumulated funds accessed? What is the effect of each access? Are there additions or withdrawals from the accumulated funds? Was the taxpayer accompanied by another individual when the accumulated funds were accessed? If yes, provide the name and address of the persons involved. Does the taxpayer count the accumulated funds every time they are accessed? If not, provide the dates and purpose for when the funds were counted. Does anyone else know about the accumulated funds? If yes, provide the name, relationship, address, and phone number for the person. Also determine whether these persons have access to the accumulated funds and if so, the manner and circumstances under which their access was made (i.e., debit cards, etc.).
Summary. Every examination of a cash intensive business must be handled with extreme care. The practitioner should verify each response before it is provided to the IRS examiner during the examination. In certain circumstances, an accountant should be appropriately engaged by counsel in a Kovel arrangement (see previous article regarding retention of a Kovel accountant). IRS Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs) can be helpful in identifying potential areas where the examiner might be particularly interested for various types of businesses or tax issues (many ATGs are available for review at IRS.gov). Preparation and diligence in representation should help streamline the examination process.
CORY STIGILE – For more information please contact Cory Stigile – stigile@taxlitigator.com Mr. Stigile is a principal at Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez, P.C., a CPA licensed in California, the past-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of CalCPA and a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law by The State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Stigile specializes in tax controversies as well as tax, business, and international tax. His representation includes Federal and state controversy matters and tax litigation, including sensitive tax-related examinations and investigations for individuals, business enterprises, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. His practice also includes complex civil tax examinations. Additional information is available at https://www.taxlitigator.com
