It is likely that you have not considered hiring a tax attorney in the past. In fact, most people don’t consider hiring a tax attorney until they are faced with a notice from the Internal Revenue Service, are being audited, or have incurred more tax debt than they can handle. The United States tax code is very complex, and while the IRS may offer documentation on how to file taxes, understanding the tax code is a very difficult process for the average person. The question is should you hire a tax attorney and when.
Tax attorneys can not only help with back taxes, audits, tax returns and are delinquent or not properly filed a reputable tax attorney can prevent all these occurrences from happening. Once you have decided you were going to hire a tax attorney, the issue then becomes where to find a good tax attorney. Choosing a tax attorney to represent you with the Internal Revenue Service is a very important decision, that you should not take lightly. Many people choose a tax attorney or a certified tax resolution specialist and sometimes a certified public accountant. No matter which you choose it is important to choose your tax representative wisely. Here are a few tips to help you with the process.
Understand Your Specific Tax Problem
Tax issues come in a variety of different forms. Do you need help with personal income tax? Are your tax problems business related, such as unpaid payroll taxes or sales taxes? Is your issue with federal taxes or state taxes? Does the IRS have knowledge of the issue or is it something that you just discovered? Do you keep good financial records? Has the IRS contacted you in your home or your business? Are you being audited? Have you avoided your tax issue hoping that it would go away?
Answering these questions honestly will help determine where you are with your tax issue and help you and help your tax attorney formulate a plan to get you where you need to go, that is a tax resolution. Once you have evaluated where you are, you will want to find a tax attorney that best suit your needs. Tax attorneys often specialize in specific niches. While some may specialize in business related matters others may be more involved with personal income tax. Here are a few questions you can ask your potential tax attorney that will help you make your decision more easily.
How long has your tax attorney been in business?
No matter what type of professional you are seeking to hire, experience is foundational to making the right choice. You want a tax attorney that has a track record and one that can document their success.
What is the success rate of your tax attorney?
This may seem obvious; however, do you really want a tax attorney that is only successful 20% of the time? Again, this question goes hand-in-hand with how long your tax attorney has been in business. Don’t be afraid to ask your prospective tax attorney this question.
Does your tax attorney offer a guarantee on results?
If you find an attorney who will guarantee results on tax related issues, that should be assigned to you that you need to find a new attorney. No one can guarantee results in legal matters especially in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service.
Check out your prospective tax attorney with the Better Business Bureau
Remember, this is your financial life. You simply must exhaust all resources and the Better Business Bureau is a good place to start when it comes to choosing a tax attorney.
Will your tax attorney provide references?
This is where the rubber meets the road when choosing a tax attorney. A successful tax attorney will have no issues whatsoever in providing you with a list of references. Friends and relatives may also help in this area and be able to provide you with attorneys that they may have used in the past.
How much do tax attorneys charge?
This is probably one of the most important questions to be answered for most consumers. Generally speaking, people that are in tax debt or are having tax debt related issues are not flush with money. However, not hiring a tax attorney because of how much it cost is not a good idea. The resources of the IRS are well documented. The average person simply cannot compete with the Internal Revenue Service when it comes to settling tax debt related issues. It is likely you have heard or you know from first-hand experience that the IRS is relentless in its pursuit of unpaid taxes. You owe it to yourself to at least investigate the possibility of hiring a tax attorney to represent you and your interests.
