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What a Tax Attorney Actually Does
July 12, 2013
The following is Chapter 2 from my latest book The IRS Does Not Just Go Away©. I am still in the process of figuring out how readers can download the book in full through the website. Until then, if you’d like a full copy of the book in .pdf format, please email us through our contact page. CHAPTER TWO – What a Tax Attorney Actually Does Why Don’t I Call a CPA? They Know How to Do Taxes, Right? Most people don’t eat, sleep and breathe tax law (believe me, it is not the most digestible stuff!), and they don’t have relationships with the IRS. So, if there is some suspicion that there may be problems that extend beyond just filing a return, then you may need to call on the help of a tax attorney. If you know you haven’t filed in a while or you have issues that complicate your tax situation – you may need the help of an attorney. CPAs do wonderful things, and most of them know how to create great returns and get results. But, if you are looking for anything beyond a return or need help negotiating with the IRS, then a tax attorney may be in order. Basically, if you think you need a tax attorney (or if you have read this far into the book), then chances are that you could use one. Storytime: When You Know You Need a Tax Attorney The Concerned Father I had a father who was concerned about his son’s tax liability. He wanted to help his son to get rid of it. The IRS had sent letters saying the liability was over $25,000. But, when I took a look at the return, I discovered it had been done wrong. We filed an amended return, the IRS agreed with our assessment, and the entire tax liability was washed away. The Two-Fold Role of a Tax Attorney Job One: The Correct Liability The first job of a tax attorney is to establish the correct liability for our clients. For example, if there’s been an examination or an audit, then it is our job to establish the credits, the deductions, or to make sure that the income input is correct. And to substantiate our claims the best we can. Basically, we make sure that you have the correct liability of what you owe. Job Two: Managing the Liability The second part is, if there’s a good amount of money that you do owe to the IRS or to the state, then it is our job to help you manage that liability. We take care of all of the legal proceedings to make sure you can resolve the issue. Tax attorneys know the IRS, so we help to navigate those waters for you. Tax Attorneys Can Help with Personal and Business Tax Situations Most tax attorneys can represent people in both personal and business situations. For personal tax issues, the issues are always varied. It could be the person forgot to file a return, or they have filed but they owe. For business issues, it is typically a business that is cash-strapped. They pay employees but they don’t pay their quarterly or semi-monthly tax deposits. Today’s blog is the second of many chapters I plan to publish here on the website. Again, if you would like to see the book in its entirety, please email us using the contact page and we will send you a .pdf copy. Until next time, Alex