Tax attorneys handle disputes and planning on the tax side: IRS and state audits, appeals, collection matters such as liens, levies and installment agreements, offers in compromise, penalty abatement, payroll tax liability, residency and multi-state issues, business structuring, and criminal tax investigations.
They differ from accountants in two ways that matter: attorney-client privilege, and the ability to represent you in tax court and district court. For routine filing an accountant is the right professional; for a dispute or a structuring question, a tax lawyer usually is.
Before you hire
- Do not ignore notices. Most collection remedies escalate on a schedule, and options narrow at each step.
- Be wary of firms advertising guaranteed settlements for pennies on the dollar. Offers in compromise are approved on a formula, not on persuasion.
- If the matter is potentially criminal — unreported income, unfiled returns, offshore accounts — speak to an attorney before your accountant, who can be compelled to testify.
Business law, estate planning and white collar defence sit next to this practice and are listed separately.