Tax Lawyer
When hiring a professional to assist you with IRS problems, you have three choices of professionals. The Tax Lawyer, Certified Public Accountant, or Enrolled Agent. Although the Tax Lawyer will tell you you must have a lawyer, that is false. Any of the above professions can represent you before the Internal Revenue Service. One thing is certain however, a Tax Lawyer will cost you big bucks with never ending fees, constant upselling for services you either thought were included or that you do not want or need.
The Tax Lawyer will often employ Certified Public Accountants and or Enrolled Agents to do the actual negotiating with the Internal Revenue Service while the tax lawyer sits back and charges huge fees for doing little or nothing. I know several tax lawyers who have completely misled their clients in IRS matters. The tax lawyer was trusted simply because he or she is a lawyer. That is a huge mistake. Be very careful who you hire to help you because you do not want to have to pay twice to get the problem resolved. It is bad enough to owe the IRS. Paying fees to a tax lawyer who doesn’t help you is adding insult to injury.
Don’t bother looking at the credentials (tax lawyer, CPA, or EA). Look at the level of experience of the individual who will represent you. Always ask the question---
Who will be talking to the IRS on my behalf? What is their name? Insist on seeing the Power of Attorney form prior to giving a tax lawyer any money at all. Do not sign up to be charged on an hourly basis. Insist on a letter of understanding (Client Authorization Letter or Engagement Letter) which lays out the amount you will pay and what you will be getting for your money. This document should state the exact services you will receive. Once you have engaged someone, let them do their job. Do not constantly call for updates. That only drives up the cost. Do not be tricked into thinking it will take months or longer to get your case going.
A tax lawyer, like all lawyers is brilliant at a few things. Those are obfuscation, delaying action, and billing. Hire a tax lawyer if you like that treatment. If you want your case solved, call me. Call days, evenings, weekends, holidays. We answer the phone. Everytime. Try that with a tax lawyer.
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