With the long list of IRS notices that hit taxpayers’ mailboxes every year, the conflicting advice from other taxpayers (and even tax professionals) on social media, and the looming threat that the IRS can take your property and wages, it’s no surprise that dealing with tax problems is stressful.
That’s why so many people turn to tax attorneys. Knowing that your concerns are being handled by a trained professional alleviates a lot of stress. Despite this, a number of taxpayers are reluctant to talk with tax professionals because they fear that hiring legal representation makes them look guilty.
However, that’s not the case — hiring a tax attorney does not generally make the IRS suspicious of your tax situation or your compliance. Legal representation gives you a better understanding of your tax needs and options. Learn more about how the IRS views legal representation and how Wiggam Law can help you tackle your tax concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Hiring an attorney isn’t suspicious behavior in the eyes of the IRS.
- Taxpayers have a variety of reasons for seeking legal assistance, most of which have nothing to do with any actual wrongdoing.
- The IRS recognizes the importance of legal representation and even offers limited legal help through Low Income Tax Clinics and the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
- Tax attorneys can help taxpayers with a variety of problems, including audits, late payments, unfiled returns, and levies.
- Hiring a tax attorney can also streamline communication with the IRS.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Increased Suspicion
It’s important to remember that the vast majority of tax cases handled by the IRS are managed by their automated system. It’s easy to imagine your case in the hands of a zealous IRS agent looking for any sign of wrongdoing on your part. But in general, you are one of millions of taxpayers, and in many cases, an individual may not even have reviewed your case.
Hiring legal representation isn’t an admission of guilt; it’s an admission that you are in over your head with your taxes and you need help.
That said, some cases are handled by revenue officers, especially cases with high balances, repeated delinquencies, business taxes, or other significant concerns. And it’s often easier to deal with a revenue officer with the help of a tax professional.
The IRS is Concerned With Your Taxes, Not Your Lawyer
The IRS has one priority: to collect taxes in a way that minimizes the use of their resources and doesn’t cause undue hardship for taxpayers. To that end, they aren’t troubling themselves with taxpayers who choose to get help with their taxes. They want the money they are owed, and in many cases, taxpayers who hire attorneys actually put themselves in a better position to get caught up on their taxes.
The IRS is well aware that many people seek assistance because they are interested in payment plans, offers in compromise, or other relief options, but do not know if they qualify. In these cases, legal representation actually gets the IRS one step closer to being paid, which is a positive for the IRS.
The IRS Knows Tax Problems Are Stressful
The IRS’s reputation isn’t a secret to anyone who works within the IRS. They know that taxpayers are afraid of the IRS showing up at their door, seizing their home, and garnishing their wages, and leaving them with nothing. Although the IRS is actually more flexible than many state tax agencies, they continue to be one of the most feared government agencies in the United States.
Because of this, they aren’t surprised or suspicious when people seek legal assistance; it’s a normal response when you’re afraid of losing your home or income. Keep in mind that the IRS also created the Taxpayer Advocate Service because of the complexity of American tax laws and requirements. If they know how confusing tax regulations can be, they also understand that some taxpayers will seek outside help.
Seeking Representation Indicates Seriousness
Remember that the IRS doesn’t have a personal vendetta against you. All they want is to collect the money they are owed. Many of their efforts to collect past-due taxes are unsuccessful; official notices go unanswered, mail gets returned, and the IRS remains in the dark about whether or not a taxpayer actually intends to pay.
Hiring a tax attorney often shows that you take your tax obligations seriously and want to get caught up. Contrary to popular belief, in many cases, the IRS prefers to work with a tax professional. That’s easier for IRS employees because they don’t have to explain as much — instead, they get to talk directly with someone who understands the tax code and IRS collection processes.
Catching Up is Your Top Priority
If you’re worried about looking suspicious to the IRS, remember that your top priority is getting caught up and avoiding future tax concerns. You could avoid seeking legal representation and continue on as you have been. For many people, that means saving money until they hopefully have enough to pay off their tax debt in full, even though interest and penalties continue to accrue daily. It also often means ignoring IRS communications out of fear of enforced collection.
To put it another way, what do you think looks more suspicious to the IRS: hiring a tax attorney to talk to them on your behalf or ignoring your tax problems and hoping they don’t take their collection efforts further? If hiring an attorney gets you closer to paying off your tax debt and being compliant with tax regulations, it’s a step you should consider taking. And the IRS sees that as a welcome move.
How the Tax Attorneys at Wiggam Law Can Help You
At Wiggam Law, we help taxpayers like you tackle a wide range of tax issues. Whether you’re behind on filings, have missed payments, or have no idea how to handle the IRS notices you keep receiving, we have the expertise and knowledge needed to help you find relief.
Our team’s extensive knowledge of America’s tax laws allows us to provide answers and guidance rooted in fact. We make it a top priority to keep up with changes to the tax code to better assist our clients.
We also bring sharp negotiating skills to the table, putting us in a better position to help our clients fight aggressive collection efforts, negotiate payment plans, set up offers in compromise, and appeal previous IRS decisions. If you’re facing imminent levies and wage garnishment, we can advocate for a better solution on your behalf.
If you’re facing an audit, we know the intense stress and pressure you’re feeling. We advocate for taxpayers undergoing the audit process and fight for a fair and favorable outcome.
For many of our clients, facing tax concerns is one of the most stressful things they’ve ever experienced. Our goal is to minimize your stress and anxiety during this challenging time while providing solutions that fit your needs.
Myths About Seeking Legal Representation for Tax Problems
When struggling taxpayers finally take the plunge and turn to us for help, we find that many have misconceptions about how legal representation affects their tax matters. Let’s look at some common myths and the facts behind them:
Myth: The IRS looks at legal representation as an admission of guilt.
Reality: Taxpayers who hire attorneys are just using the resources available to them, which is how the IRS views this choice.
Myth: The IRS is tougher on taxpayers who hire attorneys.
Reality: This is not true, and in fact, hiring an attorney may also lead to more positive communications with the IRS. Taxpayers who know their rights are less likely to be railroaded by aggressive or demanding IRS representatives. Often, IRS representatives prefer to work with tax pros over individuals.
Myth: Hiring an attorney limits your resolution options.
Reality: Hiring a tax attorney can actually make it easier for you to explore the variety of tax resolution options available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hiring a tax attorney make the IRS think I’m hiding something?
The IRS won’t assume that you’re hiding something simply because you hire an attorney. They know that people hire tax attorneys for a variety of reasons, including the complexity of tax laws and confusion regarding payment options.
Can a tax attorney stop IRS wage garnishment?
Working with a tax attorney may allow you to halt IRS wage garnishment. Your lawyer may be able to negotiate another form of payment or prove that garnishing your wages would cause undue hardship.
What are the key benefits of tax attorney representation during an audit?
Having an attorney during a tax audit can help you prepare all necessary documentation, answer questions in a concise and accurate way, protect your rights, and appeal the results of an audit.
Wiggam Law: Your Advocate for IRS Solutions
If you’re surrounded by IRS notices and overwhelmed about what to do next, your next step is a call to Wiggam Law. Our extensive experience in unpaid and unfiled taxes, IRS audits, enforced collections, and tax penalties puts us in the ideal position to help you through your tax problems. Whether you want to negotiate a fair payment plan or figure out how to get caught up on years of unpaid taxes, we’re here.
Call us at (404) 233-9800 or schedule your consultation online now.
