| ome people, the mere mention of the three letters I, R, | | | | 1. Specialization. Every attorney specializes in a |
| and S causes a terrible case of dry mouth and shaky | | | | particular field of law, so you need to make sure you |
| knees. Even for folks who have been timely and | | | | hire someone who specializes in tax law. When |
| correct in their tax payments, the thought of | | | | you’re interviewing potential IRS attorneys, ask |
| interactions with the IRS that go beyond simply writing | | | | them questions about your specific situation and ask |
| a yearly check can be very frightening. Add to that | | | | them how much experience they have dealing with |
| scenario the possibility of being audited and the whole | | | | the IRS. Even if you don’t know how to deal |
| prospect can be absolutely terrifying. Now you have | | | | with your specific situation, you can get a good feeling |
| an agent who is poring over every scrap of paper | | | | for the competence of an attorney by listening to |
| you’ve saved for the last year and you have | | | | what he or she says. |
| absolutely no idea what to expect. | | | | 2. Trustworthiness. When you undergo an IRS audit, |
| Unfortunately, the IRS isn’t known for its | | | | you will be required to share a lot of personal |
| friendly, chummy agents who aspire to create a | | | | information, both with the IRS and with the IRS |
| win-win situation for everybody, which is why you | | | | attorney. While you can’t choose which IRS |
| need to consider hiring a IRS attorney if you find that | | | | agent to work with, you can choose which attorney to |
| you are going to be audited. The primary benefit of | | | | work with, so make sure you choose someone with |
| hiring an IRS attorney is that the attorney will be able | | | | whom you will feel comfortable sharing a lot of |
| to manage all of the phone calls and other | | | | personal information, most specifically financial |
| correspondence that you receive from the IRS. This | | | | information. Get recommendations from friends and |
| means that you’re no longer on-the-spot, | | | | family whenever possible. |
| nervous and searching for words, every time you | | | | 3. Background Check. Do some research on any |
| receive a call from an agent. Your attorney will also | | | | attorney you’re considering hiring. Make sure |
| make sure that your rights are respected by the IRS. | | | | that he or she is licensed in your state. If possible, get |
| While you may be terribly intimidated by an IRS agent | | | | references from the attorney and follow up on them. |
| who calls or sends letters, your IRS attorney has dealt | | | | Conduct a background check online. Find out how long |
| with the agents for many years and can assert | | | | he or she has been in the field and talk to other |
| himself or herself in a way that you probably | | | | attorneys in your area to find out what kind of |
| aren’t comfortable doing yourself. In other | | | | reputation he or she has with other professionals. |
| words, the IRS attorney is going to be your advocate | | | | 4. Fees. Before you hire any attorney, make sure you |
| throughout the whole auditing process, making sure | | | | are very clear about what he or she will be charging |
| that your rights are respected and that you can get on | | | | you for services. Have the attorney put all terms and |
| with the rest of your life rather than laying awake and | | | | items in writing in case you need to revisit it later. |
| night and wondering who will be on the line the next | | | | When you find yourself face with a possible audit, you |
| time the phone rings. | | | | need to call on professional help as quickly as possible. |
| Now that you know the benefits of using an IRS | | | | Find a trustworthy, competent, and capable IRS |
| attorney, how do you go about finding one? Here are | | | | attorney in your area and get the representation you |
| four keys to finding the right one for you. | | | | need. |