Do I really need the IRS lawyer?
Due to not paying income taxes for over 5 years—-lost of job and behind the bills…… and lost our old CPA, we were FORCED to hire a lawyer before the new CPA would process our paper.
My questions is when can i let go of this lawyer? The reason i am saying this is:
1. We have nothing to hide. We claim all the income and expense as our best knowledge without try to cheat in any other way…..
2. We have enough saving to pay all the penatly and interest in cash.
So far, i don’t really see any benefits in my knowledge we receive from the lawyer but we still have to pay him $?00/hour every time he reviews our profiles. write to IRA…talk to us…. We paid all cash for any late charges so far. And it was very simple—-the bill from IRS and i wrote a check.
I just paid the IRS the last one year of penalty and interest yesterday.
So I am thinking is this the time to let go the lawyer. i guess i want to get a 2nd opinion from others besides hearing like the CPA was telling us the lawyer is protecting our right—-that kind of thing.=====I were late for tax, so I was willing to pay IRS and did and want to get this over with before more bills from lawyer.
if you can tell me what right i was protected from lawyer, your response is welcome, but please be specific.
If you know anything i should know about before i let go the lawyer, or you know when is the best time to let go of the lawyer, you are welcome.
I have no objection to lawyers, but we have been working so hard to catch our life– really need no more unnecessary bills to harden our life.
Thanks
Thanks all your responses. Anyone knows any good CPA who can do the oversea taxes in IL? please send me inform…. We did have hard time to find the one who deal with the oversea tax and that’s why i use this one who was introduced to us after many many calls and supposed buy prescription drugs online without prescription to be reliable, dependable and not really affordable……….anyway he did all the paper and if i can find a good one i will take the opportunity…..
Tagged with: Best Time • Guess • Irs Lawyer • Lawyers
Filed under: Attorney FAQ
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I would let the lawyer go. You only really need one if you can’t afford to pay the IRS what you owe and you want to get the amount reduced. Don’t waste your money.
If the issues are down to your paying the balances due and there are no tax issues to decide, you should be able to retire the lawyer.
I assume the lawyer actually hired the CPA to work for you, giving the CPA the privilege status by association. That may have been wise then but by now it is probably redundant.
Ask the CPA if it is OK to take the attorney out of the loop. If he will not permit that, find another CPA or an Enrolled Agent to do your taxes.
You did not need a lawyer unless the IRS was sending you nasty-grams. Yes, you will pay interest and penalty on the money you owed, but that is very common, normal. What did the lawyer do for you? Did you have an engagement letter? Sounds like you are getting scammed by a CPA/lawyer set up.
Kick that can to the curb now.
An attorney is never required in dealing with the IRS unless you have done something criminal. Your CPA, if he is truly a CPA and not just an accountant, can represent you at your office or field audits and negotiate with the IRS as if he was you if you sign a power of attorney form for him to do that.
It sounds like your CPA just doesn’t want to do the representing so he sent you to a lawyer.
If I were you, I would just change to another tax advisor. Any CPA or Enrolled Agent can represent you and negotiate for you. Actually I would prefer an EA since they are the only ones that have satisfied the IRS of their expertise by passing IRS tests. CPAs have proven their expertise in general accounting, not tax accounting, and they proved it to their state and not the IRS.
If you just want to pay your back taxes, why do you need a lawyer?
For most people, the “lawyer” just takes thousands of dollars, and gets exactly the same deal as if you went to the IRS yourself.
Take your power of attorney Form 2848, make two photocopies, write REVOKED on the top of both, and send one to the IRS and one to your lawyer. Presto, no legal representation anymore.
When need a lawyer:
If there is any criminal investigation on you.
when a lawyer (CPA, or EA) might be useful:
The right POA can assist if you are doing an offer in compromise. Sometimes, it might help if you have to fill out a Financial disclosure statement (433-A or 433-B) if they don’t charge too much, but if you are reasonably financially competent, it is not really necessary. Ditto for installment agreement.
When to run: If anyone says the phrase “pennies on the dollar” run and hide!