Tax season can be a stressful time for many Americans. Whether you’re dealing with tax matters like outstanding bills, IRS liens, or wage garnishments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and like you’re the only person dealing with these problems. However, hundreds of thousands of taxpayers deal with the same serious federal and state back tax issues every year, and experienced tax attorneys exist to help you solve these issues efficiently. This applies to individuals and business owners who need assistance making sure their business taxes are squared away.
Tax lawyers can advise you about tax relief and help you deal with back tax issues and disputes. When it comes to tax law in New York state, you want to ensure you’re properly represented, especially when back tax problems require immediate resolution. There are a number of professionals in New York City who can assist you to quickly resolve all IRS or New York State Department of Taxation matters while saving you time and money.
What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need for the IRS?
When you’re in a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, you want to have an experienced professional on your side. Taxes can be confusing, and mistakes can cost you. That’s why it’s recommended to have a licensed tax attorney help you with more serious tax cases. Typically, tax lawyers have to complete extensive education before they can represent clients. They may earn a degree in business or accounting before law school. All practicing lawyers must pass a bar exam, and in order to practice tax law, lawyers focus on certain areas of expertise.
Tax Attorney vs CPA
When you need assistance in tax services, it’s possible to receive help from a number of different resources. A CPA is a certified public accountant and can be very helpful if you’re developing a long-term tax plan. Typically, if you are dealing with more complex tax issues, you want to go with a tax attorney. While CPAs are a better choice for straightforward issues such as filing or preparing your taxes with no expected obstacles, a tax attorney is more experienced in the different problems that can arise.
What Do Tax Attorneys Do?
Tax attorneys may work in law offices or law firms, or they may be involved in legal services for other establishments, such as tax offices or accounting firms. A background in tax law can be useful in many related practice areas. Overall, your tax lawyer can help you by researching your specific case, communicating with the IRS on your behalf, negotiating tax settlements whether through a payment plan or offer in compromise, and potentially representing you in court, should the matter require it. Basically, this person should be your liaison and act as a buffer between you and the IRS, wielding years of understanding and experience in dealing with complex tax situations. The following are some areas in which you may need assistance:
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- Garnishing wages, which is when the IRS threatens to collect a debt by taking a percentage from your paycheck. Your tax lawyer should have other options to propose for a less intensive payment process.
- Audits: Oftentimes, tax audits do not require extensive work and can be handled by the taxpayer. However, if there is a chance that an audit could lead to charges like fraud, you may require representation.
- Tax Returns: Filing your tax returns late or with inaccurate deductions could result in fees and penalties, or even the need for criminal defense. A lawyer can assist you while minimizing the costs.
- Payment Plans: When fees pile up it becomes more difficult to pay off debts owed in a single payment. If you can’t pay your entire tax balance in a lump sum, a tax attorney can create a feasible installment plan and plead your case to the IRS, potentially even reducing the amount owed altogether.
- Offers in Compromise (OIC): Sometimes there is simply no way for you to reasonably pay off a debt with your current income and expenses. When this is the case, you need to prove this inability to the IRS. A tax attorney can assist with this using an offer in compromise, a policy that allows you to settle for less than what you owe, based on your financial situation.
New York State Tax Experts
In the United States, every state has different tax laws and codes, and your attorney should understand your needs in that area. Vetted super lawyers like Joe Callahan at MCC or the IRS Tax Relief Network can assist from their New York offices and offer free consultations to new clients. Whether you’re looking for assistance with your tax planning or need legal aid for more serious cases like bankruptcy, the IRS Tax Relief Network is the right place to call. Our experts in New York directly work with you to keep you informed during every part of the process to help you get the relief you need. We also have additional office locations should you be in a different area. Whether you’re on Third Avenue in Manhattan, in White Plains, or upstate, we can serve your needs.
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