How to Choose a Tax Attorney

Your tax attorney's qualifications could determine how much money you save.

If you have a significant tax-related financial dispute with the IRS or state tax bureau, a tax attorney can help you reduce or eliminate the amount you owe. A tax attorney can also advocate on your behalf to waive penalty fees and interest, and help develop a reasonable repayment plan if you do owe back taxes.

Instructions

1. Get feedback from others. Ask if they were satisfied with the legal service they received and request recommendations. The quality of your tax attorney can have significant bearing on how quickly your case is processed, how much money you save or recover, and how informed you become about navigating a tax dispute.

2. Evaluate the qualifications. Contact your state's bar association to find out if a tax attorney is a member, or contact the American Bar Association if your issue involves the IRS. Also, you want to know how long an attorney has worked in tax law, whether she's worked with the IRS in the past and if she is a certified public accountant (CPA) or holds other certifications. Also contact the Better Business Bureau to find out if she is accredited.

3. Schedule a consultation. Meet with two to three of the prospective tax attorneys to discuss the details of your case, how they might help you and their fees. Select the attorney who best suits your requirements and budget.

4. Form a contract. States often require tax attorneys to establish a contract with you for services above $1,000. Your contract should state all anticipated fees, such as the consultation cost, the tax attorney's hourly rate and an estimate of the number of hours your case requires. If your issue is complex, your contract might include a retainer fee, which you pay upfront to guarantee that your tax attorney follows up on subsequent inquiries into your case.

Tips & Warnings

• Decide whether your tax attorney should be a consultant who can provide highly individualized attention to your case or a law firm that may be able to pool the expertise of several tax specialists. Also decide whether you want an attorney who specializes in an area of tax law or a generalist, who might possibly be more affordable.

• Some tax attorneys wave their initial consultation fees.

• Don't select a tax attorney just because he's a friend's cousin or brother-in-law whose relative can vouch for his character.

References

• The Tax Attorney Guru: Choose the Right Tax Attorney