WHEN DO YOU NEED TO CONSULT A TAX LAWYER?
Q: I got a letter from IRS that says I owe additional taxes. Can I handle this myself, or do I need to hire a professional?
A: The two main reasons for hiring a tax lawyer are confidentiality and expertise.
If IRS's position is easy to understand and you agree with IRS (for example, when you filed your tax return you forgot to include $30 of interest paid to you by your bank) there's probably no reason to hire a professional.
In almost any case involving a significant amount of money where you disagree with what the IRS letter says or don't understand it, you are better off hiring a tax professional than you would be trying to handle the matter yourself. A tax professional will know the fine points of the law and stand up for your rights.
You may specifically need a lawyer rather than a CPA or enrolled agent when:
1. You want to be sure to keep your information confidential. Conversations with your attorney and papers that are considered work products of your attorney are generally confidential. Unlike other professionals, your attorney generally cannot be compelled to testify against you in court.
or
2. You have tax issues involving complex areas of the law, where a tax lawyer would be likely have greater expertise than other professionals.
We offer a free 15 minute initial consultation, during which we can review your case and let you know how we can help. For more complex cases that require a more detailed evaluation, we will let you know in advance how much your cost will be.
