How to Get an IRS Tax Lawyer

Issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) range from simple to complex. There are some occasions when hiring a lawyer to help resolve an IRS tax matter is essential to understanding the problem and working efficiently toward a solution.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Paperwork from your case

1. Evaluate your situation. If you do not understand your situation, if you find yourself overly emotional or if the dollar amount involved is beyond your ability to pay, turning to an IRS lawyer for guidance is a good idea.
2. Get personal referrals. Ask friends, colleagues or people in the community who have used an IRS tax lawyer. You want more than a name; you want their reactions to personality, attentiveness, cost and the outcome.
3. Ask an accountant. Many accountants work with tax lawyers and will be able to help you find one to fit your particular situation.
4. Narrow the list of names. Choose two or three from your referrals.
5. Meet with those on your list. Remember, you are interviewing them to see if there is a fit, as much as they are interviewing you to see if they can help you. Ask lots of questions about fee structure, timing, and whether the lawyer will see to your case personally or hand it off to a junior staff member.
6. Establish rapport. You need to be able to work well with your lawyer. If you find there is a personality clash or even a slight bit of doubt, keep looking.

Tips & Warnings

• Local and state bar associations have directories of lawyers.
• Do not make a hasty decision, but do not delay in hiring a lawyer if you need one. IRS interest and penalties can accrue quickly.
• Prepare for your first meeting with as much information as possible. Copies of IRS correspondence, tax returns and any other pertinent documents will make the meeting productive.
• Any search engine will turn up literally thousands of links to IRS tax lawyers. The one who is best at advertising may not be the one with the best results. It takes time to find the right person.
• Be aware of guaranteed positive settlements. There is no such thing as a sure thing.