Common Questions
I haven’t paid taxes in several years, do I need to see a tax attorney?
If you haven’t been paying taxes we highly recommend seeing a tax attorney. Quite often, they can help on your behalf to either reduce your tax debt or make the process easier. Dealing directly with the IRS can be painful and intimidating. Having a lawyer on your side can ease your mind and make sure that you solve the problem once and for all.
I just need to get my taxes done to get a better tax return or pay less, should I contact a tax attorney?
This depends on your situation but in most cases a good CPA can help you out. If you receive a regular W-2 from your employer, have no extra income besides your salary, and make less than 100,000 per year you might even consider companies such as HR Block. They can be far more affordable and you might still see a higher tax return than if you did your taxes by yourself.
What about some of the software such as Turbotax, does that replace a CPA or Tax Attorney?
Chances are, if you need a CPA or Tax Attorney you won’t be able to get by using software. If you have questions that are more complex, they won’t be answered by Turbotax since it’s a program. However, if you fall into the category where HR Block could do your taxes then TurboTax might be a good solution. If you are in a situation where you haven’t paid taxes, owe the IRS a lot of money, have a tax lein, IRS tax levy, or garnished wages, you need to contact a tax attorney.
I received an Audit notification, should I contact a CPA or Tax lawyer?
We recommend contacting a tax lawyer for audits. Depending on your situation, you might find an attorney far more beneficial for audits because they can negotiate on your behalf.
I have back tax debt and there’s no way I can afford to pay all of it, should I just ignore it until I’m better off?
The worst thing you can do is do nothing. Almost everything is negotiable with the IRS and a good tax attorney can help you pay what you can afford.
I’m very confused and don’t want to waste money with legal fees, what are my first steps?
If you need anything besides getting your taxes done on time, we recommend contacting a lawyer. Quite often, they will do an initial consultation free of charge to see if they can help. In fact, seek out a tax lawyer that will do an initial consultation for you without charging just so you know where you stand and what your options are. You can also contact the bar association and they will refer you to a lawyer. There is a small fee however we’re talking about $25.00 in California versus the hundreds some attorneys can charge per hour.