Hiring a Tax Lawyer – What You Need to Consider
Oftentimes, people don’t really consider hiring a tax lawyer. But when you unexpectedly receive a letter from the IRS saying that you owe the government some money, what are you going to do?
Well, you have two options: ignore it or pay the amount specified in the letter. The first option will just lead to more problems so it seems that your best option is to pay. But are you just going to pay it without even looking closely into the problem?
Almost all businesses, big or small, have encountered such a situation. But being in business, most of these people and organizations know exactly what to do. They are not just going to give up without a fight, so they hire tax attorneys to help them sort out what needs to be paid and what tax bills ought to be disregarded. If you have a good lawyer, he will be able to help you walk the tightrope and not fall into the abyss, so to speak.
First Things First
Before you hire a tax lawyer, you need to ask yourself if you really need one. Obviously, only you can answer this question since you know your actual situation. If you are required to pay only a small amount of money, then you can forego the attorney services. It would, however, be good to seek the advice of an attorney in regards to how you can avoid this situation from happening again in the future. He may not even charge you for this small consultation.
However, if the tax problem is complicated and too technical for you to handle, this is the time that hiring a tax lawyer would be appropriate. There are other scenarios where hiring a tax lawyer will be important such as if you are being investigated by the IRS or if you want to sue them for making a mistake on your tax bill.
How to Find the Right Tax Attorney
In selecting the right attorney to represent you, you should choose one that you are comfortable dealing with. You should be able to relate to him professionally and in a friendly way, too.
The things that you need to be definite about your attorney are his credentials and his experience. He should be able to provide you proof for the following:
• His law degree, preferably an advanced degree in taxation
• His license to practice his profession in whichever state he is allowed to practice
• His tax specialties
• His professional fees
It would also be good if the attorney is also a CPA, though it’s not really a requirement. His background in CPA will be of great help if your tax problems involve accounting matters, but be prepared to pay higher fees for this type of attorney.
A good thing to always remember when hiring someone is to not be easily impressed with credentials. Focus on his work achievements because that will show if he has used his credentials effectively in his profession.
It would also be good if you could ask around for recommendations. Your friends and relatives might know of a good attorney who has helped them out of their tax issues with the IRS. Hiring a tax lawyer this way will enable you to find one who can really help you with your tax problems.