Why Might You Seek the Help of a Raleigh Tax Attorney rather than a CPA?
|Tax law can be complex. If you need assistance when dealing with the IRS or FTB, consulting with either a CPA or attorney could be invaluable.
An attorney with both a law degree and state bar exam can more effectively handle legal matters pertaining to taxes, such as controversies, disputes and litigation. When should you hire a tax attorney instead of CPA?
Tax Planning
Tax attorneys are legal specialists who specialize in all things IRS code-related, and can represent you in any disputes or proceedings that may arise.
A tax attorney can also assist in planning for the future and structuring your finances to reduce overall tax liability – this may involve taking advantage of carryover deductions such as capital loss, foreign tax credits and mortgage interest that can later be used to offset future income tax obligations.
At times, it may be wise to retain both a CPA and tax attorney for assistance with various tax-related matters. While both professionals can assist in handling many aspects of accounting and tax preparation duties, CPAs typically handle day-to-day accounting duties due to their expertise in accounting as well as finding ways to minimize your taxes through deductions, credits and other methods of tax reduction. You can visit this site to learn more about accounting.
Most individuals opt for legal help when it comes to tax matters instead of consulting a CPA, because lawyers provide comprehensive legal counsel and advice regarding every aspect of taxation; as well as advise any risks involved with any decisions you might be considering.
Furthermore, attorneys are protected by attorney-client privilege and work product privilege clauses which allow them to protect any information about your affairs from being revealed to anyone other than yourself or legal representative.
CPAs do not benefit from any confidentiality restrictions; therefore they can be forced to disclose any information related to you or your finances – including discussions and documents shared with them as well as information provided directly to the IRS.
Tax Disputes
Though CPAs can assist you with tax preparation and accounting tasks, they lack the legal experience to represent you against the IRS if there is a dispute.
A tax attorney, on the other hand, is licensed to practice law in your state after having gone through rigorous studies in order to earn their degree – this means they have legal standing to defend your rights against IRS agency officials while possibly getting better results when negotiating. You can click the link: https://www.gabar.org/membership/membersearch.cfm to learn more.
While CPAs and tax attorneys both offer services, when your issue is particularly complex or involves high-income taxpayers it is generally best to consult an attorney instead.
You should choose someone reputable who comes highly recommended from other professionals or clients in your area, such as by reading online reviews or asking friends, family or colleagues for recommendations. You should also verify if that individual has ever been disciplined by their state bar association before making your final choice.
When seeking help to resolve a tax dispute, acting quickly is of utmost importance. For instance, if you disagree with an IRS decision regarding your taxes and want to file an appeal within thirty days is essential in protecting your rights and obtaining the optimal result. A skilled tax attorney is equipped to guide this process effectively while safeguarding both parties’ interests during it all.
Conflicts can often be settled through alternative dispute resolution services such as mediation sessions led by appeals officers at independent offices. Sometimes these services even preclude time-consuming and costly litigation in Tax Court, District Court, or Court of Claims.
Hiring a CPA or tax attorney is an invaluable way to stay on top of your tax situation. While CPAs are trusted with preparing returns, tax attorneys specialize in legal aspects associated with tax preparation and can protect your rights if there is ever any dispute between yourself and the IRS.
Tax Audits
CPAs specialize in accounting, while tax attorneys specialize in IRS tax law and its many complexities. Some may also possess expertise in estate or business planning and may assist clients with filing tax returns for an additional fee.
As soon as a person receives notification of an audit from the IRS, they should immediately seek legal advice to discuss it and protect their rights throughout. A certified Raleigh tax attorney could explain the process while working to negotiate an acceptable settlement between themselves and the IRS.
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An individual could face one of two types of tax audits depending on their circumstances and why the IRS chose them for investigation: office audit or field audit. An office audit requires bringing documentation directly to an IRS office for review against what has been reported on their return; while in contrast a field audit involves visiting their home or place of business for evidence related to specific claims on that return.
If someone disagrees with an initial determination made by the IRS, they have 60 days to appeal the decision and appeals can involve conferences with an IRS manager, the opportunity to present new evidence, and a final determination from an IRS Commissioner. As this process is often lengthy and complex, consulting a tax attorney would ensure a more satisfactory result.
Tax Litigation
An attorney is capable of helping CPAs in many instances when traditional tax prep work cannot, such as mediating tax disputes and handling more complicated matters, such as back taxes, wage garnishment or lien issues that require detailed legal knowledge and an understanding of dealing with the IRS than is typically needed in standard tax prep work.
Tax attorneys are the ideal professionals to represent clients before the IRS for audits, collections and appeals as well as in court. This is due to having passed a stringent bar exam specializing in legal matters related to IRS code; additionally they possess extensive knowledge regarding its complex workings while being equipped to offer expert advice to help resolve disputes quickly and efficiently.
Tax attorneys provide added legal protections that CPAs don’t, making them ideal when handling tax controversies and costly errors that could damage either business or personal affairs for years.