You’ve probably seen the TV and Internet ads for tax help, but you probably don’t know who you can turn to or who to trust. Tax attorneys provide IRS representation, as do CPAs. Both of these service providers have their benefits, but there is a little-known third option- the enrolled agent. Before you make your decision, read this short guide to learn the difference between a tax attorney, a CPA, and an enrolled agent.
Tax attorneys deal with all tax-related matters. If you have to go to court for a tax issue, this is your first and best choice. Tax lawyers are skilled in the handling of arbitration, estate matters, and tax investigations. In fact, some criminal matters can only be handled by a tax attorney. If you need skilled and reliable IRS representation, your first call should be to a tax lawyer.
However, many tax issues can be settled out-of-court. While the advice provided by a tax attorney is very useful, they really don’t know how to prepare a financial document or a tax return any better than the average person. To fully deal with most tax problems, you’ll need this kind of information, which only an accountant or enrolled agent can provide.
Tags: Accounting, IRS