Are you facing a criminal investigation into your finances, an audit, or a large taxation debt? Then you should definitely consider finding a qualified and experienced tax attorney.
Taxation law can be extremely complicated. The regulations and laws are ever evolving. If you are in a conundrum it’s better to hire a specialist that is trained in tax law as well as keeping up with the changes.
If you are finding yourself in a pressing and uncomfortable situation with taxation issues, then you need to find a tax attorney as soon as possible. Read this to learn more about taxation and what it entails.
When do I need a Tax Attorney?
There are some taxation issues that you can definitely handle on your own. But if you don’t want to interact with the IRS, then it’s better to find some help. As the proceedings can be quite stressful and confusing.
Here are some situations you might find yourself in when you need to contact a professional:
- Buying, selling, or starting a business: This will ensure that your taxes are kept as low as possible. The lawyer will also be able to advise you on any other financial issues as well as what kind of formal structure you want your business to fall under (LLC, S corporation, or C corporation).
- Legal Cases: When the IRS comes knocking, you don’t want to scramble around looking for answers. Especially if you are planning to file litigation, then you need an experienced attorney that will be able to represent you in court. This will ensure that you don’t have to pay excessive penalties on fraud cases.
- Audits and Negotiations: During the audit process a lawyer can help and guide you to avoid any other mistakes that can lead to more debt. Even if the debt is determined, an experienced lawyer can help lower your debt by negotiating with the IRS.
- Estate Planning: To ensure that those in your will and testament don’t have to pay a high tax rate on the estate, you’ll need a professional. Making sure that your assets are protected for when you are gone, will ensure a seamless transfer.
Learn more about situations in which you might need a lawyer here: https://www.thebalance.com/when-do-you-need-a-tax-attorney-3193054
What Does a Tax Attorney Actually Do?
The job description is in the name. Tax attorneys or lawyers, help their clients with issues concerning taxation. They can also advice clients on financial and business issues that might have effects on their income, property, inheritance, sales, and corporate taxation.
These lawyers find employment in government agencies, firms, and accounting practices. They can either work within a private sector, as an in-house advisor, or as part of a large financial team
Because they are so clued up with all the legal proceedings (and loopholes) that taxation regulations withhold, they are a great asset to have when you are facing different issues.
How to Find a Trusted and Qualified Tax Attorney
Because this professional will be dealing with extremely sensitive information, and might even help you out of a lot of trouble in the future, it’s important that you find the right one.
Here are a few things to consider before hiring:
1. Ask Recommendations
The best attorneys are recommended by other professionals in the finance and business industry. Ask recommendations from your accountant, a lawyer, a banker, or successful business owners.
Hiring someone that has a great track record with professionals is an excellent guarantee that they’ll be able to help you out as well.
2. Location
Especially if it’s a pressing and urgent matter, you are going to need someone that is close by. If you live in Atlanta Georgia, then hiring a tax attorney in Atlanta, is an excellent solution.
You’ll be able to arrange face-to-face meetings or visit their offices, instead of having an online meeting. Having them close by, will make document and information accessibility much easier.
There are cases in which tax attorneys travel around for their clients, but this all depends on your situation and budget.
3. Qualifications and Experience
Check the local bar association to see whether the attorney is a specialist and if they are truly qualified. Lawyers need to pass their bar exams to be able to practice in their field.
Even if you found someone that you want to handle your case, it doesn’t mean that they are either qualified or experienced to handle it properly. You should definitely ask them about their experience in dealing with a situation similar to yours.
Before you sign up as a client, you have to make sure that this person is able and knowledgeable in cases like yours. In most cases, attorneys will refer you to someone else if they feel like it’s something they can’t do.
Asking about their background and experience will also give you an indication whether they are up-do-date on all the new taxation laws and regulations. We can’t stress enough how important it is for the person you hire to be clued-up about current laws and regulations.
4. Discuss Your Needs
Paying a small consultation fee to discuss your needs is part of the process in finding someone suitable. Some cases can be very complicated and all client’s situations can differ in details. To find the suitable lawyer for your situation, it’s best to start off the process with a face-to-face consultation.
You aren’t required to become a client after the consultation. This is just a short meeting where you can state your case, ask for legal advice, and assess whether the lawyer will be able to take on your case. In most cases, they will be able to guide you in the right direction to see if you can handle the issues yourself or whether you’ll benefit from their services.
Click here to learn about the benefits with hiring someone instead of trying to do it all yourself.
5. Ask About Pricing and Costs
Tax attorney services can be insanely costly. You have to be aware of all the fees and costs that the firm will charge you throughout the entire process. Fees vary depending on the location, quality, and experience.
The most valuable and trusted tax attorneys will most certainly charge more. But you will be guaranteed a professional service. Don’t compromise quality over cost of fees, especially if your case is extremely serious and complicated.
It’s up to you to find the perfect tax lawyer for your taxation issues. Comparing firms and going for consultations will help you narrow it down, until you feel comfortable enough to become a client.
