Guide to Finding Tax Attorneys

What does a Tax Attorney do?

Whenever a taxpayer faces a problem with his/her tax return, the state department of revenue, or with the Internal Revenue Service, he/she may find it beneficial to hire a tax attorney. These legal professionals are adept in handling all matters concerning the United States’ tax law. Not only can a tax attorney file and double-check your tax return, but these professionals will inform you as to the ever-changing tax laws that affect your return. 

Tax attorneys specialize in working with taxpayers to solve their problems with the Internal Revenue Service or the State Revenue Department. Tax attorneys primarily focus on tax issues and relief. Tax professionals will help you, the taxpayer, with having your fines reduced, making it through audits and in general, navigating through the minefield of self-employment tax issues and small business matters. 

Tax attorneys are crucial in facilitating an individual’s tax returns because of the complex and nebulous tax laws in the United States. Thus, efficient tax attorneys will keep up with the changes in tax law to advice their clients accordingly. Moreover, tax attorneys may also prove helpful in establishing trust funds, stock portfolios and retirement accounts. 

Frequently, a tax attorney will handle one of two things associated with your tax return: they will either assist you in dealing with a state administration regarding back taxes owed or they will help your company pay taxes. Tax attorneys provide aid through their experience and knowledge; tax attorneys are well-versed with the countless tax codes and regulations found at the federal and state levels. 

If you are facing severe tax problems—if the IRS is after you unpaid taxes—or are simply confused regarding your tax payments, you should at least consult with a tax attorney. These professionals expedite the tax filing process through their explicit understanding of tax law. Tax attorneys also assess your liability to limit exposure to additional or expanded IRS actions.  
Searching for a Tax Attorney:

If you are facing complications with your tax return, you should never call the first tax attorney listed in the phone book or on Google. You must look around and analyze as much information as possible to secure the most effective tax attorney in your area. As a prospective client, you, the taxpayer, should look for tax attorneys who have extensive experience in dealing with debt management cases and the IRS. You also make sure that your tax attorney is a current member of the American bar Association and your state bar’s association. If your prospective tax attorney does not hold membership in these organizations, he/she is not legally permitted to practice law in your state. You must also make sure that you understand your tax attorney’s fee schedule; make arrangements prior to hiring the individual and ask for information regarding the professional’s consultation process. 

Once you compile a list of a few suitable tax attorneys, you should conduct research on them to get a better glimpse of their practice and effectiveness. To secure effective legal representation, please follow these steps:

1. After securing a list of tax attorneys in your area, you should conduct Internet searches on the attorney’s names or firms. You may find client testimonials, past cases they have handled or articles/blogs written by them. Remember, when researching potential aid, any piece of information will help to illuminate their course of action and personality. Internet searches will reveal biographical and personal information that can illuminate the tax attorney’s reputation and experience. 

2. After gathering information for each prospective tax attorney, you should contact each one via email or phone to ask them general questions concerning your tax issue. In addition to asking the tax attorney questions about your predicament, you can also hold an informal interview with them to see if their experience and specialty matches your needs. During this correspondence, the tax attorney would be happy to answer questions regarding his career and experience in tax-related issues. 

3. Next, you should check with your state’s bar association to see if the prospective tax attorney is licensed and legal to practice law in the state. If you discover a problem with the individual’s licensing status you should eliminate him/her from contention. 

4. Once you analyze this information you must consider the costs associated with representation. Depending on your tax matter, a tax attorney may charge an hourly fee or a flat fee for services rendered. While researching the tax attorneys on your list, be sure to look for information concerning their fee schedules. 

5. After your research is complete, narrow your list of prospective tax attorneys to three or four.  Contact each tax attorney to set up preliminary meetings or consultations to discuss your tax problem. 

Do I need a Tax Attorney?

If you are facing an unresolved tax issue, you should consult with tax attorneys in your area. Consulting with a tax attorney can mitigate future problems associated with back taxes. If you ignore collection notes issued by the government, the state department or IRS can place liens on your wages or bank accounts. 

Tax attorneys will help you with a number of situations, including: preparing installment agreements, injured spouse relief, penalty abatement or offer in Compromise—the aid offered by a tax attorney obviously depends on your circumstances. If necessary, a tax attorney may also represent you before the Appeals Division of the Internal Revenue Service. Any matter undertaken by a tax attorney in this fashion will be heard by a United States Tax Court. In a more traditional sense, tax attorneys will help you avoid tax problems by providing timely advice on a number of issues including those connected to your investments, employment and real estate. 

The federal tax code is literally thousands of pages long. It is filled with jargon, rules and exceptions to those rules. The IRS will impose penalties for violating any of its rules.