Why You Should Hire an IRS Tax Attorney if You Owe Taxes

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Owing taxes to the IRS can be intimidating and lead to legal and financial challenges. You’ll want a professional in your corner to resolve your tax problems. An IRS tax attorney can communicate with the IRS on your behalf and help find tax payment solutions that work best for you.

How Can Tax Lawyers Really Help?

If you need IRS tax help, you should find a qualified IRS tax attorney. A dedicated tax attorney will have extensive knowledge of cases like yours, including what regulations and penalties apply and how to contend for a favorable outcome. They can help you understand your situation and help you resolve it.

A tax attorney knows the tax laws, and, if you need to go to tax court, they can represent you, arguing and negotiating for you. They will explain the IRS tax relief solutions you qualify for and what each could mean for your situation.

A tax lawyer will also advocate and negotiate on your behalf with the IRS. They can argue for tax deductions and help you stay out of future tax trouble by ensuring you file your taxes correctly and pay on time. If you need help filing your tax return, find a good tax preparer. If you aren’t sure how to file or what tax credits you will qualify for, both a tax attorney and a tax preparer can help you find the right ones.

When Should I Hire a Tax Attorney?

As a taxpayer, you may find yourself in a stressful situation that could be resolved with the help of a tax attorney. Alternatively, maybe you want to be proactive and hire a tax attorney to help you with your taxes and prevent conflicts with the IRS. You can benefit from hiring a tax attorney in many situations, including:

  • You want to remove a tax lien or levy.
  • You have received notice of a tax audit.
  • You have significant assets or high tax liability.
  • You want to pursue an Offer in Compromise to settle with the IRS.
  • You’ve neglected to file returns in the past and need help achieving compliance.
  • You’re self-employed and need help navigating self-employment taxes.
  • You’re growing your business and need advice to minimize your tax burden and ensure compliance.
  • You’ve attempted to correct a tax-related mistake, but the IRS is ignoring your efforts.
  • You want to dispute tax assessments or negotiate tax relief.
  • You need a professional to communicate with the IRS on your behalf.

Tackling these situations alone can be overwhelming and may not lead to your desired results. A tax attorney has the experience and knowledge to help you navigate whatever tax issue you’re facing and reach the most favorable resolution possible. 

What Should I Look for in a Tax Attorney?

It’s important to know what to look for when finding a reliable tax attorney. You should consider their licensure, experience, background, services and communication.

Licensure

First, you want to know whether a potential tax attorney is licensed to practice in your area. Regulations and requirements vary between various state courts and the United States tax court, so ask your prospective attorney where they are licensed to practice. If you have both IRS and state tax issues to resolve, look for an attorney qualified to advise and represent you at both levels. This allows you to build a relationship with a single tax law firm you can trust. 

Experience

Second, make sure your potential lawyer is really a tax attorney. Yes, any type of attorney can represent you, but a qualified tax attorney will have the experience and knowledge you need to resolve your tax issue efficiently. Proficiency in tax law requires specific expertise that no other field of law covers. You may get the best results by choosing a firm fully dedicated to tax law because tax is so complex and rapidly evolving that firms practicing in other areas may struggle to keep up.

Choose an attorney with experience dealing with tax law, the IRS and the U.S. tax court. When speaking to a potential attorney, find out:

  • How long they’ve practiced tax law.
  • How often they’ve been to tax court.
  • How well they keep up to date with tax laws.
  • Whether they have handled a case like yours before.

Accounting Background

One thing to ask any potential tax attorney is if they were also previously an accountant or have accounting qualifications.

Several tax attorneys have experience as accountants. This gives them a better understanding of how your financials work, and they will use that to their advantage when negotiating with the IRS. They can also spot any areas where accounting mistakes caused tax issues and advise you on preventing future errors.

Extent of Services

Another thing to ask a potential tax attorney is how far they will take your case. Some IRS lawyers will file the proper paperwork for your IRS resolution but will not negotiate with the IRS on your behalf or won’t go through the appeals process with you if your tax resolution is denied. This is important, as the IRS will almost always ask for substantiation of certain items when trying to get a resolution.

The IRS may also deny part of the resolution or want to increase the amount you pay. If your tax attorney will not go to these lengths for you, then you will probably not get an affordable resolution. Some tax lawyers won’t help with releasing bank levies or wage garnishments, so ask about those if you have one or fear you may receive one.

Ask your potential tax attorney about each step they will take and what will happen if you are denied or need to appeal. Make sure you get it in writing if they are promising that they will work on your case until they reach an agreement for you. Most tax attorneys will have you sign an engagement letter or agreement outlining what they will do for you.

Some attorneys may charge additional fees for the appeals process or for addressing additional years that you owe taxes on. This is normal, but make sure these costs are written out in your letter and that you understand them.

Open Communication and Customer Service

Most importantly, find a trustworthy and communicative IRS tax attorney. With so many moving parts, it is easy to get lost or confused when trying to resolve your tax problem. Make sure you and your attorney have set reliable expectations and that you always communicate with each other. 

You want an attorney who is transparent with you. They should explain your situation and their service terms in a way you can understand. Similarly, they should make you feel comfortable being transparent with them. Good tax attorneys have high ethical standards for confidentiality with client information. So you can share everything about your financial situation while trusting it will stay between you. The more information you share, the better the job your attorney can do defending you.

Hire an IRS Tax Attorney From Polston Tax

Looking for an IRS tax attorney near you? Polston Tax can help. Our team of tax attorneys, accountants, preparers and tax consultants have worked with clients across the country to resolve IRS issues for over two decades. Our services include:

  • Outstanding tax resolutions
  • Preparing tax returns
  • Tax accounting
  • Removing tax liens
  • Releasing bank levies
  • Resolving wage garnishments
  • Help securing Offers in Compromise with the IRS

Our team can’t wait to help you end your tax problem today! Contact us at Polston Tax to schedule a free consultation with a tax lawyer near you.

ank levies, help with wage garnishments, removing liens or helping a client qualify for an Offer in Compromise. Our team can’t wait to help you end your tax problem today! Call us at 844-841-9857 or contact us at Polston Tax to schedule a free consultation.

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