What can a tax attorney do for your IRS tax problems
Finally ready to hire someone to help you with your tax problems? You’ve received several IRS notices, and now the notices are getting more serious with threats to levy your property and wages. Of course you can always represent yourself, but for most taxpayers, dealing with the IRS is frankly frightening and intimidating, not to mention completely frustrating and time-consuming. If you feel this way, it is time to hire an IRS tax attorney to make contact and negotiate with the IRS on your behalf.
CPA versus a Tax attorney – who can help with IRS?
Three types of representative are allowed to practice before the IRS, (1 ) a certified public accountant (“CPA”), (2) an enrolled agent (“EA”), or (3) an attorney. CPA’s and EA’s are not legally trained and cannot litigate. CPA’s primarily prepare tax returns and audit financial statements. They are not trained to negotiate, analyze the law and argue the law on a client’s behalf. EA’s are even less knowledgeable to resolve your tax problems. They only have to pass a test given by the IRS on tax practice and procedure without any significant schooling.
Resolution of tax problems can be extremely complex. It is always best to go with a tax attorney armed with the necessary legal training and knowledge to increase your chances of resolving your back taxes and helping you qualify for some collection alternative. They can help taxpayers with various resolution options including:
- IRS settlement with an offer in compromise,
- IRS payment plans,
- currently not collectible status (financial hardship),
- penalty abatement,
- innocent spouse relief,
- wage garnishment release,
- payroll tax relief,
- lien or levy release; and
- tax audit defense
Benefits of hiring a tax lawyer for IRS tax debt relief
It is crucial to hire an experienced tax attorney to solve your tax problems. Some of the compelling reasons include:
- valuable protection with the attorney-client privilege. Only attorneys can afford you this protection. This means that when an attorney represents you, all information between you and the attorney is confidential and is also inadmissible in court. An attorney cannot be compelled to reveal client confidences. If they do, they will be subject to the law, the code of professional responsibility and may face disbarment. You will not have these protections if you hire a CPA or EA.
- attorneys have to adhere to the highest ethical standards as they are licensed by a state board and may have their license taken away if they engage in unethical activities.
- personal attention to their clients whether or not they charge more or less. Attorneys value their time with their clients and take the time to learn about a potential client’s personal situation.
- detailed understanding of complicated tax law and regulations and each client’s unique situation.
- ability to devise a strategy particular to that individual’s financial situation to solve tax problems and to protect assets.
- protection from aggressive IRS representatives. Attorneys are skilled negotiators that work aggressively, yet respectfully in handling IRS representatives who may be rude and/or incompetent.
Beware tax resolution firms
Tax resolution firms are not bound by an attorney’s code of professional responsibility. They claim they have tax attorneys, but they generally do not. Some have lies upon lies about their abilities to help a taxpayer only making the situation worse…not to mention draining your pocketbook. Also, the Federal Trade Commission warns of many tax relief company scams and to stay away from them.
By not hiring a tax attorney you will generally lose more money due to the time and inexperience of these non reputable tax relief companies. It may put you in a worse position then when you started. Without the knowledge of a tax attorney, the result will most likely be unsolved tax problems that continue to drain you financially and emotionally. Think twice before hiring a tax resolution company!
The San Diego Tax Attorneys at Delia Law have many years of tax resolution experience and will competently represent you before the IRS. Please call for a no-cost tax attorney consultation at (619) 639-3336. We look forward to helping you.
This blog post is not intended as legal advice and should be considered general information only.
