Nobody looks forward to filing his or her tax returns, and for this reason, many people have found themselves with a tax problem beyond their control. If you look at the taxes you owe, you probably feel overwhelmed and frustrated; so you might feel tempted to ignore your tax problem for a little longer. But doing nothing will only hurt you more in the long run, and you can get help with your tax problem by hiring a tax attorney to work with your specific tax problem.
Tax attorneys differ from other tax agents, such as CPA’s and tax preparers, because a tax attorney has the attorney-client privilege, which allows a tax attorney to not testify against you in court about your tax problem. This means that when you discuss your tax problem with your tax attorney, your conversation will remain confidential. A tax attorney can also help you file bankruptcy in case you have absolutely no money to pay your taxes. Here’s how a tax attorney can help you if you encounter one of the following common tax problems.
- Not filing your taxes on time – If you haven’t filed your taxes, you might find yourself worrying every time the mail comes or the phone rings. But don’t let the IRS come looking for you; even though you file your tax returns late, the key to fixing this tax problem lies in taking action. If you wait too long, the IRS will eventually hunt you down, and you’ll find yourself facing a worse tax problem. Instead, talk to a tax attorney, and they will help you figure out how to combat this tax problem, and maybe most importantly, they will make you realize that you can get out of harm’s way by acting as soon as possible.
- Levy – When the IRS levies your bank account because you have an outstanding tax debt, your bank will freeze your account and send your money to the IRS in the next 21 days. With a levied bank account, you might not have money to pay your bills, your rent or house mortgage, or other essentials, so you find yourself with even more tax problems stemming from this single tax problem. Sometimes the IRS makes mistakes in sending out levy notices, so if you talk to a tax attorney within 21 days, you can fix this tax problem. For example, a tax attorney can help you get a 90-day postponement so you can negotiate with the IRS and find a better way to pay your tax debt.
- Audit – When the IRS inspects your tax return and sends you an audit notice, it may mean that you filled out your tax form incorrectly, whether you know about the mistake or not. Especially in cases when you think you did everything right, an audit tax problem can make your life stressful and frustrating. If you go to court by yourself, you stand a slim chance of proving your innocence, but sometimes if you hire a professional tax attorney, they have inside knowledge about how to help you with this tax problem. Often, these tax attorneys once worked for the IRS, too.
By Lisa Zyga