How to Find Good Tax Attorneys
The thing about tax attorneys is when you need one, it's always too late. Tax attorneys should be on the top of your list to start vetting if you have any investments of substance. Ideally, your tax attorneys should know you and your business before the IRS or any litigator comes at you. Be prepared ahead of time; narrow down what you think your legal problem is.
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Instructions
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Ask your successful business friends and associates who their tax attorneys are.
Also check the bar association in your area for listings of local tax attorneys; you can also check whether the bar has issued any disciplinary action against the attorney. -
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Vet your tax attorneys by credentials. The best tax attorneys also have accounting credentials. Ideally, you want a CPA, but an LLM (Master of Laws in Taxation) is good, too. Also, tax attorneys should study the tax law discipline exclusively.
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Once you find at least three tax attorneys to interview, meet with each personally.
Have a detailed discussion (and this should be free, up to a couple of hours -- good tax attorneys will invest the upfront time) about your business, and note if your attorney has had any similar experience that she can tell you about.
You get one tax law question at this session. Don't try to get a bunch of free advice, but ask your tax attorneys one zinger each. They should be able to answer it without looking through a bunch of files.
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Give your top choice a small problem. Why start off with a crisis situation? See if that attorney can improve your situation. If he/she can, you can be safe that you've found your guy/gal. Note these things:
1. Does she handle the problem promptly?
2. Does she keep you informed?
3. Can she explain to you how the problem was solved in plain English?
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Tips & Warnings
Find tax attorneys that you absolutely trust while you have no problems and no pressure.
