The short answer
Most people with an IRS problem don’t need an attorney. If the IRS is sending you bills, taking money from your pay, or asking about your returns, you have choices.
Three kinds of professionals can fully represent you before the IRS. Attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents all have the same rights to speak for you.
What an Enrolled Agent is
An Enrolled Agent is a tax pro licensed by the federal government to represent people before the IRS. To get the license, you pass a three-part exam on federal tax and a background check. You also have to take 72 hours of training every three years to keep it.
The name confuses people. We don’t work for the IRS. We work for you.
What any of us can do for you
Once you sign a form called a Power of Attorney, which lets us speak for you, the IRS deals with us instead of you. From there, an attorney, a CPA, or a tax pro like us can:
- Get your full IRS records and check the numbers.
- Talk to the IRS for you, so you don’t have to take their calls.
- Ask for penalties to come off.
- Set up a payment plan you can keep, or ask to settle for less.
- Ask to pause collection when money is tight.
- File appeals and ask for hearings when you disagree.
None of that needs a law degree. It needs someone who knows the IRS rules and does this work every day.
When you really need an attorney
There are a few times when an attorney is the right call.
Criminal matters. If someone from IRS Criminal Investigation contacts you, call a tax attorney first. Don’t talk to them on your own. The same goes if anything in your past could be seen as a crime, like hiding income on purpose.
Here’s one big reason. What you tell an attorney has strong legal protection. What you tell a tax pro like us is protected in civil tax matters, but not in criminal ones.
Arguing in Tax Court. Tax Court is where you can fight an IRS bill before you pay it. If your case goes to trial there, you want an attorney admitted to that court. We coordinate with one when a client needs it.
We can still help before it gets that far. When a letter gives you 90 days to go to Tax Court, we make sure that right is protected. We treat that deadline as absolute, because late cases are usually thrown out.
Other legal problems. Some tax problems are tied to bigger legal ones. If bankruptcy may be your best way out, you’ll need a bankruptcy attorney to file it. The same goes for divorce and estate questions.
What to ask anyone you hire
Whether you call an attorney, a CPA, or us, ask these questions.
- Who will work my case? You want to know the name of the person, not just the company.
- How do you charge? A flat fee in writing is clear. A fee based on how much you owe is a warning sign.
- What will you check first? A good answer is “the bill itself.” The number on your letter isn’t always right.
- Do I even need you? An honest pro will tell you if you can handle it yourself.
Our honest take
We do one thing: fix IRS and state tax problems. For most of the people who call us, that’s exactly what they need.
If your case needs an attorney, we’ll tell you right away. And if you don’t need us either, we’ll tell you that too.