How Tax Professionals Will Help You

There are many forms of tax professionals. CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents are some of them. You need someone with know-how and experience to aid you with your finances, regardless of which professional you pick.

What�s the Difference?

Attorneys who specialize in complex tax, estate matters, and tax return preparation, and IRS dispute resolution are tax attorneys. If they don’t have a law degree, they must at least be certified as a specialist in tax law.

CPAs are accountants holding college degrees and experiences with a CPA company. They file tax returns, and do accounting or audit work. When licensed, they may work in any state. It’ll depend on the training and experience the CPA has undergone to whether they’ll have the ability to deal with the IRS comfortably.

Full-time tax advisors and tax preparers are called enrolled agents. They have the license to work before the IRS. They have passed an IRS exam or earned 5 or more years of IRS work experience. They’re not able to represent you in tax court.

A good tax professional will know the laws that govern the IRS and its many aspects. Their know-how of the ammendments in tax laws are updated. They will have experience with the resolution of tax debts, with dealing with the IRS, and with IRS collections.

Ways to Find a Tax Professional

• Personal referrals
• Recommendations
• Included in legal plans
• Audit assistance or preparer guarantee
• Advertising
• Associations
• Direct solicitation

Things to Ask a Tax Professional

• How much are you charging?
• How long have you been in business?
• Are you an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent?
• What are your licenses?
• Do you have experience with the IRS?
• Does your fee include preparing IRS forms, documentation backup, and negotiating with the IRS?
• Do you have a privacy policy?
• Do you think you can handle my tax situation?
• Do you provide monthly itemized statements?
• Do you provide a written fee agreement?
• Do you perform your work personally?
• How many clients do you have?
• Can you handle tax issues?

You should feel comfortable with your tax professional. You must be able to communicate with them. Be confident that they would be their best for you. Trust is important.

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