If you find yourself in serious financial duress, with the IRS bearing down on you threatening wage garnishments, tax liens, or tax levies, then you need to know your rights and the processes involved to get you through it. If you are wondering if it’s time to hire a tax attorney, then take a look at this quick guide on the process, including when to do it and where to find the right professional.

The Right Time to Hire a Tax Attorney

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If you’re curious about the right time to hire a tax attorney, chances are you have run into a financial or legal issue with the IRS. These problems can range from needing representation from criminal defense lawyers during an audit to criminal defense in a courtroom.

Problems often arise when your taxes are overdue and you need help working out an agreement with the IRS to pay back what you owe through the Fresh Start Program, such as making a lump-sum payment, negotiating an installment agreement, or applying for an Offer in Compromise

No matter which issue you are facing, a tax attorney can help you through the processes that you don’t have the experience or knowledge to handle on your own.

Where to Find a Tax Attorney

If you’ve decided it’s time to hire a tax attorney, then you are going to need to determine where to find one. The answer might depend on where you live. If you live in a large metropolitan area, your options are likely to be much more expansive than if you reside in a rural part of the country.

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No matter your circumstance, there are ways to make sure the person you are hiring has a proven track record of handling similar cases. The best place to start an online search is by examining reviews from customers who can demonstrate their own experiences dealing with specific attorneys and the results they produced. For unbiased opinions, you can also consider the Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, which reveal a law firm’s size, history, and way of practice.

Find a Reputable Tax Attorney

Before you begin searching for the best attorney available, know that you might have to wade through innumerable companies to find the one that best suits your needs. Here are some ideas to get you started with your search.

J. David Tax Law has firms serving those with complex legal issues in many large cities in the South, with high ratings from third-party sources and an A+ from the BBB. If you are looking for online help, consider StopIRSDebt.com, one of the highest-rated tax law firms in California, which has been doing business for the past decade and helps those with smaller tax issues. If you’re facing a tax lien, wage garnishment, or other overdue tax issues, Community Tax has resolved more than $400 million in tax debt cases over the last 10 years.

If you have legal problems with your taxes, know that a capable tax attorney can help you through the process.