A tax attorney is a type of lawyer who specializes in the ever changing tax law area. These laws change every year and it can be difficult to keep up with those changes on your own. Even some common tax preparation companies may not be able to help you if you have some history with the IRS or have some other common tax issues.
A tax attorney is your best bet if you: Have just opened a business or are about to, have to file an estate tax return, have an international business, are under investigation with the IRS, have committed tax fraud, and much more. People who have worked in the same career for a very long time will rarely need this kind of attention but it can become very complicated if you are planning on starting a small business, own a lot of property, or already owe the IRS.
You should be able to tell when you need a tax attorney. You will have some problems or other issues that are directly related to taxes and the IRS and you will probably have no other choice. Many people will go to a CPA (certified public accountant) first and be told to see an attorney anyway. A lot of attorneys that specialize in tax law are actually CPA’s themselves which saves both time and money.
When selecting your tax attorney, you will want to gauge their experience level against the problem or issue you currently have. A Juris Doctor level will be able to handle most cases fairly well but if you have something very complex, you will want to find someone with a Master of Laws degree in the taxation area. To find someone to suit your needs, the Internet is usually the fastest and easiest way, especially if you live in a smaller town or rural area.
