Tax Attorney - Get Tax Help! |
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A tax attorney assists people or businesses in the computation and payment of taxes of all types: income tax, property tax, estate tax, and more. A good background in statistics, mathematics and business as well as a genuine enjoyment of working with numbers are basic necessities for the best tax attorneys. LLM degrees can be received in tax law in a number of law school graduate divisions around the country. This is one of the specific areas in which the LLM degree is most frequently pursued by a tax attorney./p> The best source for tax help is your CPA or tax attorney. These profressionals can help you interpret the laws and regulations and apply them to your business situation. A good tax attorney can help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year through planning, investments, and savings. A tax attorney and CPA has the most extensive training and experience in tax matters. Generally, because of the level of their rates, they are best reserved for complex tax help. CPAs and tax attorneys are equally qualified to represent clients before the IRS. A tax attorney can get costly, as their rates can run as high as $500 an hour. Types of Tax Problems for Which You May Seek Representation: You have been received a letter by the IRS Department of Revenue Service telling you that your tax return is being examined. Unless you provide documents to prove that you correctly claimed the filing status, deductions, or credits, the IRS or DRS will bill you for additional tax or withhold a refund you are waiting for. A good tax attorney can help you understand what you need to provide, how to present it to the IRS or DRS, and if necessary, attend meetings with IRS employees on your behalf. You have received a notice from the IRS indicating that the IRS has determined that there is a deficiency in your taxes and that you have 90 days to file a petition with the Tax Court. If you do not file within that period, you lose the right to have a court decide the matter without first paying the tax. A good tax attorney can assist you in determining whether you can first resolve the matter without going to Tax Court, and if you cant, can help you file a petition, litigate the matter, and represent you in trying to settle the matter. You have received a bill from the IRS or DRS for past taxes due that are the result of income your spouse earned and which you did not have any knowledge of. A good tax attorney can assist you in determining whether you should apply for innocent spouse relief, file the forms necessary to elect such relief, and represent you before the IRS or DRS in conferences to determine whether you will obtain such relief. You have received a notice that the IRS plans to file
a lien on your property for past taxes, or a notice that the IRS is taking
steps to levy on your property or garnish your wages. A professional tax attorney can
assist you in asking for a Collections Due Process Hearing to determine
whether your property can be subjected to a lien, as well as assist you
in working out other ways to pay tax debts. |
Tax Help from the Best Tax LawyersA tax attorney can help clients navigate the highly technical and complex statutes that make up tax law. And because of the different levels of tax law, and the wide range of activities that are taxed, a tax attorney has gerat variety in their practices. Those unfamiliar with tax law frequently confuse the tax attorney field with tax accounting, and assume that all tax lawyers, like CPAs, spend much of their professional life completing tax returns and making tax calculations. As a result, a common misunderstanding is that, in order to be a good tax attorney, you must be good with numbers. This is generally inaccurate and, although some tax attorneys do indeed make out tax returns and engage in tax calculations, this is true only of a small minority of attorneys, and most tax attorneys rely on accountants to perform those functions. The work of a tax attorney has two major components, namely a tax planning component and a tax litigation component As to the tax planning component, a tax attorney works with clients, or other attorneys, in structuring transactions and other legal actions in a manner that will legitimately minimize the clients tax obligations. As to the tax litigation component, a tax attorney represents his or her clients in dealing with the authorities, such as the IRS, in controversies involving the application of tax laws and regulations to the clients tax returns. The roles of a tax attorney are not that different from most other lawyers. The big difference, of course, is that the planning or litigation engaged in by a tax attorney involves the application of federal or state tax laws and rules, which are constantly being changed by the legislature. As a result, many tax attorneys state that they enjoy their practice because no two tax problems are hardly ever the same, requiring even an experienced practitioner to hit the books in order to keep on top of his or her field. Although tax law touches on many aspects of human activity, it is a highly intellectual field, and a student planning to be a tax attorney should enjoy learning and working with difficult and complicated rules and applying these rules to an infinite variety of business, financial, and other legal transactions. No matter what your family situation, your income or your expenditures, you can benefit from having a financial plan and getting tax help. Some individuals need little help in developing and implementing a plan, but with the increasing complexity and number of financial products available to help in reaching financial goals, most families need some sort of professional advice from a tax attorney. Particular caution is urged when dealing with some local tax attorneys. Because they may lack the motivation of a national tax preparation service to maintain a good reputation, your chances of stumbling onto a dishonest tax attorney may be greater. When in need of information and advice in areas such as wills, trusts, tax planning, bankruptcy and so on, you will need the services of a good tax attorney. Every individual with dependents or property should have an up-to-date will. In situations where a person dies without a valid will , the state of residence will impose its own laws on the estate and determine guardianship for minor children and how to distribute the property. The job of a tax attorney is to advise you on any problem presented and to try to attain a client's legal objectives through all methods permitted by law. Here are some of the things you will want to find out when you meet with a tax attorney: How many years of professional training have you had? One final question that is helpful is to ask "What would you like to know about me?" More than any other, this question will tell you whether this tax attorney is a true pro. If the tax attorney isn't interested enough in you to probe for full answers to these critical questions now, say good-bye. You'll never get the treatment you or your cash deserve from a professional like that. There are several serious danger signals that can indicate you are working with the tax attorney. Plan to look for another professional if your tax lawyer: Does not spend a satisfactory amount of time with you Often individuals and families make the mistake of not consulting a tax attorney and try to get through a tough situation without tax help. They feel they are saving fees, but they may be losing many times what they save, incurring unnecessary costs from such mistakes as drafting an invalid will. Just as finding a good doctor can take time, locating the right tax attorney to handle your financial affairs often requires effort. This guide is intended to introduce you to the various aspects of tax attorney services available, and the professionals who can provide them. One way to select the tax attorney that best meets your own needs is to ask relatives, friends or colleagues to recommend someone. On the other hand, don't hire a professional just because he or she happens to be a friend or relative. Once you've narrowed your list down to three tax lawyers who have clean records and who are backed by financially sound firms, make an appointment to spend an hour with each and interview the person for the position you have to offer: your tax attorney. It's a good idea to interview more than one person to be sure you find the right lawyer for you. Arm yourself with as much knowledge of the subject as possible before you talk with these tax lawyers. Then, you'll be able to ask more detailed questions and make the most of their advice. Ask each tax attorney for credentials and references. Pay attention to credentials, but also become aware of what is required to receive credentials. Ask how and how much the tax lawyer will be compensated. Finally, once you've found a qualified attorney who meets your needs, keep informed and keep an eye on what is happening with your financial affairs. You have much more at stake in the process than anyone else. Copyright 2005 Tax
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