Tax Attorneys

When Do You Need a Tax Attorney? Tax attorneys are lawyers who specialize in the complex and technical field of tax law. Tax attorneys are best for handling complex, technical, and legal issues.

You definitely need a tax attorney if:

1. You have a taxable estate, need to make complex estate planning strategies, or need to file an estate tax return.
2. You are starting a business and need legal counsel about the structure and tax treatment of your company.
3. You are engaging in international business and need help with contracts, tax treatment, and other legal matters.
4. You plan to bring a suit against the IRS.
5. You plan to seek independent review of your case before the US Tax Court.
6. You are under criminal investigation by the IRS.
7. You have committed tax fraud (such as claiming false deductions and credits) and need the protection of privilege.

What you should look for
Tax attorneys must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and must be admitted to the state bar. Those are the minimum requirements for practicing law. Additionally, tax attorneys should have advanced training in tax law. Most will have a master of laws (LL.M.) degree in taxation.

Some tax attorneys also have a background in accounting. If you are facing a complex accounting as well as legal matter, you might want to looking for an attorney who is also a Certified Public Accountant.
(source: Tax Attorney)

A tax attorney specializes in working with taxpayers to solve their problems with the IRS or state revenue department. In fact, they generally focus only on tax issues and relief. A tax attorney can help a taxpayer in trouble make it through an audit, have fines reduced, liens removed, and can navigate through the minefield of small business and self-employment tax issues. Many small business owners consider their tax attorney to be as vital as their accountant. This is because a good tax attorney can help head off tax problems before they even begin. He or she can see potential trouble spots for a business and can advise the owner how to avoid them. Wisegeek