Washington Department of Revenue Issues
Explains the consequences of a Washington Department of Revenue audit finding unremitted sales tax, including potential penalties and criminal referral.
Washington Tax Planning Lawyer
Running afoul of the Washington State Department of Revenue can have serious repercussions for businesses. For example, if an audit reveals that a business has not collected and remitted sales tax as it should have, that business may be subject to a 50 percent tax evasion penalty, not to mention a potential referral to the attorney general's office for criminal prosecution because collected and unremitted sales tax is considered a "trust fund." Repercussions such as these are best avoided.
The Bellevue, Washington, law firm of Lana Kurilova Rich PLLC provides representation to individuals and businesses in the Greater Seattle area, statewide and nationwide. Whether you want to take proactive steps to ensure compliance with state tax laws or you have received notice of an audit, call us at (425) 289-0629 for an initial phone consultation with our Washington tax planning attorney.
Seattle Attorney, Advising on Sales Tax Issues
One of the most common state tax liability issues is sales tax. We can assist in determining whether your business is subject to sales tax at all, and if so, we can provide tax planning guidance on how sales tax should be collected and remitted.
Any business selling to Washington state residents must collect and remit state sales tax, even if that business is located in another state. As a national law firm, we are able to assist Internet businesses and other businesses from out of state that are selling in Washington.
Other Washington State Tax Issues
In addition to sales tax, other tax issues handled by the Washington Department of Revenue include business and occupation tax and contractors' tax liabilities.
Department of Revenue issues are surprisingly complex, particularly those involving contractors' tax liabilities; destination-based sales tax; and relatively new state digital goods legislations imposing retail sales tax on some digital product transfers.
In construction, builders must collect and remit sales tax to the state for custom homes, but not for homes built on spec. Speculative homes are not subject to sales tax. We provide tax planning guidance to contractors to ensure that sales tax is being paid appropriately when necessary. We also represent contractors during audits.
To Minimize State Tax Liability, Call (425) 289-0629 for an Initial Phone Consultation With Our Bellevue Lawyer
We invite you to contact us today by phone or by e-mail to discuss your case with our experienced Seattle sales tax lawyer. Find out how we can help.
About Attorney Lana Kurilova Rich
- Washington tax attorney since 2003: Lana Kurilova Rich has been admitted to the Washington State Bar since 2003 and has focused her practice on tax law since opening Lana Kurilova Rich, PLLC the same year.
- Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.): Lana earned her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law in 2007 in addition to her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2003.
- Former Court of Appeals law clerk: Lana served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Elaine Houghton of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II.
- Bilingual: English and Russian: Born and raised in Russia, Lana is fluent in Russian and licensed to practice law in the Russian Federation in addition to Washington State.
- Federal, state, and international scope: Lana represents clients before the IRS, Washington State agencies (DOR, ESD, and L&I), and on cross-border tax matters including FBAR and Form 8938 compliance.
- Direct attorney communication: Clients work directly with Lana Kurilova Rich, not a routing desk. Calls and emails are returned promptly throughout the engagement.
- Pro bono Low Income Taxpayer Clinic: Lana has volunteered with the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic since 2006, helping qualifying taxpayers resolve IRS disputes at no cost.
- Integrated tax preparation and bookkeeping: The firm provides federal and state tax preparation alongside legal representation, reducing handoffs and accelerating resolution.
We invite you to contact our Bellevue, Washington, law office today by phone or by e-mail to discuss your case with our experienced tax lawyer. We are here to help.