What Is a Free Consultation?
Understanding a tax attorney free consultation typically entails meeting with an experienced lawyer who will take the time to get a full picture of your tax problem and offer you advice on the best solution. Keep in mind that this is not a binding engagement, instead, it is an opportunity for you to learn more about the benefits of hiring a tax lawyer and the chance to see if you feel comfortable working with that particular lawyer. By asking lots of questions, you can find out about the tax lawyer’s experience representing clients like yourself, the law firm’s fees, how the law firm operates with their clients, whether they have any specialties, etc .
All too often, people have become frustrated with the process of trying to resolve a tax issue. They may have tried to resolve a tax controversy, either on their own or through a CPA, only to reach a dead-end. It’s understandable that a person may be gun-shy about paying a retainer just to get someone else involved. A free consultation allows you to see how your tax problem is going to be handled before you ever have to pay anything. So at least from the point of view of cost, the free consultation makes sense.
Remember: in order to confidently refer you, we must know we can assist you. Therefore, having your recent notices available to review during the appointment will allow us to assess your situation to determine whether we can help you.
How a Tax Attorney Can Assist You
A tax attorney is an important advocate that will put you in the best position to prevail against an IRS audit or dispute. You have to know the law if you are going to challenge the IRS and a tax attorney does. He knows what to say and when to say it to avoid a confrontation. He knows how to analyze the tax code and IRS procedure to find the best way to prevail. If he can save your money or your home, he will find a way.
Tax attorneys offer different services during a free consultation. During the initial consultation, the tax attorney will request information from the client including: After gathering all of this information, the tax attorney will be able to provide an opinion as to what the client should do. For example, if the matter involves a tax audit, the tax attorney is going to advise the client to file a power of attorney with the IRS so that the IRS and third parties do not communicate without the presence of the attorney. If the matter involves a denial of a tax exemption, the tax attorney is going to discuss the merits of an appeal. If the matter involves protecting the company from collection action, the tax attorney is going to advise the client on the merits of filing for Bankruptcy Court protection (and refer them to a Bankruptcy attorney). The tax attorney will also talk about whether he will take your case as a client and how much the representation will cost.
Tax issues come in all shapes and sizes and involve numerous types of matters. But when your finances and business are on the line, you must make the best use of available resources. You only get one chance and have to know the system in order to be successful.
Questions for Consulting
The questions you ask during your tax attorney free consultation set the stage for the rest of your legal relationship. Including the right questions in your free consultation with your tax lawyer is critical, as they are your best opportunity to discover information about the attorney and your case that will determine whether you proceed to hire them or not. The following list contains the most important questions to ask your attorney during your free consultation. Whether you are handling a small individual audit or a massive corporate monitoring program, you need answers to these questions before moving forward. At the very least, you can expect that your attorney will respond to these questions with factual, honest information. If he tries to avoid answering your questions, or gives you vague responses, chances are good that he does not have your best interests at heart.
- For how long have you specialized in tax law?
- How many times have you litigated tax-related issues in the past six months?
- How do you stay current on tax-related legal issues?
- What is your fee structure (i.e., hourly, retainer, contingency)?
- How many other clients do you currently represent?
- Will anyone else handle my case, and if so, who and when will they do so?
- What is your fee collection policy?
- How will you keep me updated and informed on my case?
- How will you communicate with me?
- Do you have references I can contact?
How to Prepare
When you are preparing to meet with an attorney, it is important to make sure you have thought about questions and concerns ahead of time. It is easy to forget the important things when you get to your meeting. Make sure to write down all the things you would like for the attorney to address. You generally only get about an hour for the initial consultation. It is important that you do not forget to mention all the important things you want to talk about. Make a list and write down the questions as soon as you think about them.
Think about the things that bother you when you have tax issues. For example, if the phone rings and you see the IRS listed on your caller ID, does that make you nervous? If so, you might want to discuss whether you can stop them from calling you on the phone. In addition , when the IRS sends an agent to your home, will you feel safe at home? You may want to talk about alternative methods for resolving the situation without allowing the IRS to come to your home.
Are you worried about how to pay the taxes you owe? Discuss your situation with the attorney to determine whether there are any unique steps that you need to take to fulfill that obligation. Do you need to disperse your assets to pay the taxes you owe, or is there another way to pay those outstanding debts?
What other issues concerning your situation have you considered? Are you concerned that the IRS will take more than it is legally allowed to take from your salary or wages? If so, you may want to discuss with the attorney the possibility of a timely and valid challenge to the garnishment or levy amount.
Selecting a Tax Attorney
When it comes to selecting a tax attorney, there are a number of factors you should consider to ensure you make the right choice for your unique situation. One of the most important things to take into account is the level of qualifications and experience that a particular professional has. While many attorneys may have extensive experience in the field of law, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the in-depth knowledge needed to help you with your tax needs. Find out about the attorney’s educational background and any continuing tax education completed, memberships to special tax law organizations, and other information that may be relevant. In addition to qualifications, it’s important to determine whether the tax attorney has a lot of experience in the area in which you need assistance . It can be extremely frustrating to go through the process of hiring an attorney only to find out that he or she only has experience with a different area of tax law. That’s why it’s important to choose a lawyer who has extensive experience in the specific area where you need help. Another way to get an idea of whether a tax attorney is the right professional for you is to take a look at client reviews that can be found on a professional’s website and other online sources such as Yelp. Going to an attorney’s office for a consultation can also provide an insight into how the attorney treats his or her clients and whether those clients are satisfied with the services they receive.