Spencer Beglarian got much more than he bargained for when he was audited by the Internal Revenue Service several years ago. A Los Angeles-based actor who moonlights as a telemarketer and schoolteacher, Beglarian showed up for his I.R.S. audit organized and armed with the many receipts he had saved from the year prior. He had already paid taxes for much of his income and made zero deductions on his W-2s. He thought he was in great shape. Four hours later, and after a number of "Gestapo tactics" from the I.R.S. auditor, Beglarian was informed that he owed more than $6,000 to the federal government. He was shocked.
"I said to [the auditor], 'I made $30,000. How is that possible?'" recalled Beglarian, who, at the wise advice of his accountant, refused to sign any papers agreeing to pay this debt. He walked out of the I.R.S. office that day and sought the counsel of an attorney.
"I hired a tax attorney for $300," said the actor. "I ended up getting $3,000 back—a difference of $9,000. It showed me that in that situation you have to spend the money and have an expert. I also realized that I was being way too conservative with my deductions. In the long run, I've learned that by confronting the unknown, I actually came out better and wiser for it."
His experience also provided Beglarian with the idea for a comedic short film, which he wrote and called Audit. Loosely based on his own unfriendly encounter with the I.R.S., the black comedy will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Apr. 21 at 11 a.m. Featuring performances by Alexis Arquette, Sally Kirkland, Judy Greer, and Michael Kelly, the film is directed by Brian To.
Since penning the script for Audit, Beglarian has written two feature-length screenplays, one of which has been optioned. As an actor, Beglarian recently appeared in Circle X Theatre Co.'s stage production of Edward II and will co-star in the company's upcoming premiere of Carlos A. Murillo's play Schadenfreude.
Among his other stage and screen credits, the Yale Drama School graduate has performed in a series of "dog" roles, including an L.A. theatre production of Robert Chesley's Stray Dogs, a guest-starring role as "Sparky, the dog-man," on WB's sitcom Sabrina, and, most recently, Ellie Lee's award-winning film Dog Days.
Some of those "doggy-related" expenses for his work in Stray Dogs were actually perceived as red flags by Beglarian's I.R.S. auditor, who, according to Beglarian, acted as if he had absolutely no concept of the expenses actors incur and can rightfully deduct at tax time.
"You would think that the I.R.S. would, especially in L.A., have dealt with these kinds of expenses before—like voice lessons or fax paper (for receiving sides for audition readings)—but it was as if I were an alien from another planet," said Beglarian, adding that if you are ever hounded like he was by the I.R.S., make sure you are organized.
"Save all your receipts," advised the actor, "and if you are audited, don't sign anything if it's not in your favor."