A Lot at Stake: How to Find The Right Tax Attorney
Mike Donatt is a criminal attorney living in St. Louis. When he needed legal help for a tax issue, Donatt contacted an attorney who specialized in tax law. However, most taxpayers are not as well connected and need to learn how to find the right tax attorney. A lawyer who is experienced in litigating tax cases can make the difference between hefty fines to the IRS or walking out of a courtroom exonerated on all tax charges.
What Does a Tax Attorney Do?
The federal income tax system is like navigating the labyrinth of tunnels found in a Harry Potter movie. The complex layers of tax law confuses most taxpayers, even the ones that file the most basic tax form, which is the 1040.Working with a licensed tax attorney ensures you get all of your tax legal issues in order. A tax lawyer collects detailed information about your tax status, the events that caused the tax legal issue, and all of the financial information required to correct tax form mistakes. The tax attorney you hire will then suggest options that should resolve your tax legal issues. He or she discusses the advantages of each option, as well as possible drawbacks that you must consider. You receive information about how the legal process works, which depends on your tax legal issues and the experience the attorney has acquired litigating similar cases.
Do Your Part to Find the Right Tax Attorney
An accomplished tax attorney does not fall from a tree. You have to conduct interviews with every tax lawyer on your short list. The interviews should occur during initial free consultations. You should ask prospective attorneys for your tax case about their education, professional qualifications, and the attorney’s expectations for your case. Although must spend time to prepare and present the documents your chosen attorney requires for analysis, you also need to spend time creating a list of questions that provide insight into an attorney’s legal skills. Complement your interview by researching client reviews not on an attorney’s website, but instead on third-party review sites that present more objective information. Moreover, you can implement a modified version of the Mike Donatt approach by asking for referral from friends and family members, as well as networking with your professional peers.
Interviewing a tax attorney reduces the number of unpleasant surprises that derail tax cases. You to need to know how much attorneys charge, with an emphasis on finding out if an attorney charges by the hour or takes a flat fee. If your case involves a lawsuit against the IRS or another party that adversely impacted your tax status, an attorney might request a percentage of what you win in court.
The Right Attorney Helps Win Your Case
The right attorney to handle your tax legal issues should ask you to bring specific documents to the initial meeting that include completed tax forms, expense receipts, twelve months or more of bank statements, and other financial records. If your tax case involves appearances in front of a judge to deal with the IRS, the right tax attorney vigorously pursues the case with your best interests in mind. The ultimate goal of the right tax attorney is to protect your legal rights and deliver the best financial outcome.
Mike Donatt settled the tax case in his favor. The attorney he hired made a few inquiries and discovered an error made by Mike’s bank. Most tax cases do not end as swiftly.
Contact a licensed tax attorney today to schedule an initial consultation. Tax legal issues require prompt attention, as the IRS moves cases quickly through tax courts.