When Should You Hire a Tax Attorney?
March 8, 2022
Many people falsely believe they only need a tax attorney if they get audited, but there are a host of other reasons why you may consider hiring one. In fact, for most people, the fear of an audit from the IRS never comes to pass. For those making less than $200,000 annually, you only have a .52% chance of being audited. What’s far more common are issues with an IRS dispute resolution or concerns about payroll taxes or wage garnishment. It’s in these cases that a tax attorney can offer you the legal counsel and support that a traditional CPA will be unable to provide.
If you’d like to discuss any concerns you have about your taxes, call me at Zuckerman Law, LLC today to set up an appointment. I’m located in Fort Lauderdale, but can help individuals throughout South Florida, including Miami, Boca Raton, North Miami Beach, Sunny Isles, Hollywood, and Aventura.
When Do You Need a Tax Attorney?
You won’t always need the services of a tax attorney, and for many simpler services, you may be able to consult your CPA. However, there are several issues where you’ll want an attorney with years of experience.
Tax return preparers. If you’re a tax preparer, you know you’re frequently under scrutiny from the IRS. Unfortunately, there are some tax preparers out there who prey upon innocent people in attempts to scam them out of money. No matter how meticulous and honest you are, because you handle such a large number of returns, the IRS will investigate your actions more closely. An experienced tax attorney can help fight unwarranted accusations and keep your business safe.
IRS dispute resolution. Receiving an IRS notice or an IRS lien can be extremely stressful and confusing. Even if you’ve prepared your own taxes, most people don’t know the details of tax law well enough to fully understand what’s being asked of them and how they can fight it. I can help you make sense of the notices and partner with you to resolve the dispute.
Payroll taxes. If you own your own business, you’ve no doubt spent countless hours yourself or with your accountant figuring out your payroll taxes. It’s essential that these are done correctly since you may be personally liable if they’re done incorrectly and the penalties can be steep.
Wage garnishment. Wage garnishments are used by the IRS to collect back taxes by taking money directly out of your paycheck. If this is happening to you, you could see your disposable income reduced by as much as 50%. This is clearly not sustainable, and there may be other options available to you that can address your issues with the IRS, but not cut into your paycheck.
Florida IRS criminal investigation. Perhaps the most serious issue to be facing is an IRS criminal investigation. If you receive a notice of an investigation, you need to contact a tax attorney immediately. You need someone who understands federal tax law and can work on your behalf to achieve the best outcome possible.
How Can a Tax Attorney Help You?
A good tax attorney will have years of experience working directly with the IRS. They can educate you about your specific situation and help you understand the options in front of you. In many cases, you won’t be able to avoid paying fines, back taxes, or facing other penalties, but there are often more choices in front of you than you may be aware of.
Risks When You Don’t Hire a Tax Attorney
If you attempt to address your issues with the IRS on your own, you’ll typically see less favorable outcomes than if you work with a tax attorney. Experienced attorneys know the ins and outs of the IRS and how best to communicate with them. In general, you’ll be treated better by the IRS since they know you have legal representation backing you up. Furthermore, if you don’t use an attorney, you’re likely to make mistakes that can cost you money and time.
Work With Zuckerman Law, LLC
I’ve been in this business for over 30 years and can use this experience to help you. If you’re in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere else in Florida, reach out to me today at Zuckerman Law, LLC to get started.