Fighting the IRS? The right help is key.
Battling the IRS over disputed taxes or other matters will probably never be on your Top 10 List of Fun Things to Do.
But instead of feeling overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty 鈥� which, under the circumstances, would certainly be understandable 鈥� focus on finding a qualified聽聽professional who can help you win your case.
Not sure how to find competent representation? Here are four tips to help you find the right tax expert, especially聽.
1. Be leery聽of any advertising or website offering IRS tax help that doesn鈥檛 clearly say that the company has an attorney, certified public accountant or enrolled agent on staff.
Only attorneys, CPAs and EAs can represent you before the IRS collections unit. For those who may be unfamiliar with EAs, enrolled agents these are聽聽experts certified by the IRS to represent taxpayers. You become an EA 鈥渂y either passing a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering individual and business tax returns, or through experience as a former IRS employee,鈥澛�.
鈥淓nrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants, have unlimited practice rights,鈥� the IRS adds. 鈥淭his means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before.鈥�
Check an EA鈥檚 good standing and license with the聽or with the聽. Verify a CPA鈥檚 license with your state鈥檚 licensing board. Verify an attorney鈥檚 license with your state鈥檚 bar association.
2. Beware聽of companies that use salespeople to get you to commit to paying money before you speak with an EA, CPA or attorney at their firm. The company鈥檚 sales staff should also be able to provide an individual鈥檚 name and status as an EA, CPA or attorney.
3. Insist聽on speaking to the person who will handle your case before making any payment. Don鈥檛 hesitate to ask questions, and make sure you are comfortable with the person before retaining the company鈥檚 services.
4. Understand聽that most of the ads you see on TV offering IRS tax help are actually from marketing companies that sell your information to tax representation firms. They do not provide tax representation services before the IRS.
Exercising due diligence and common sense will go a long way when selecting the right company to represent you before the聽聽and getting your tax problems resolved.
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