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Hiring a Tax Resolution Specialist? Not all are created equal - Do your homework first

One out of every six taxpaying Americans (or about 25 million consumers) has a tax issue, and of those, many have between 4-11 years of unfiled taxes. Tax issues are complicated enough and dealing with the IRS directly often makes them harder to deal with and more difficult to understand. If you owe $20k-$25k or more in back taxes, hiring a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist is just what the doctor ordered. Like finding the right health care professional takes research, referral and a bit of time, the same applies to retaining a tax advocate who will treat your complex situation. But let the buyer beware - not all "specialists" who claim to deal with tax resolution are equal. Put yourself in the driver's seat. Do your homework! Find the specialist who treats your needs best. Here is a simple checklist to get you started down the road to a speedy resolution:

Determine the credibility of the tax resolution specialist


    Look for someone who is a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) and works directly with the IRS on your behalf to get the best possible outcome for your tax settlement. These licensed professionals (who must be tax attorneys, CPA's and enrolled agents first) must meet educational, experience and examination requirements prescribed by the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS). There are only about 200 Certified Tax Resolution Specialists in the country.

Determine the credibility of the tax resolution specialist


  • What type of tax issues are they? Personal income tax, business/payroll tax problems, sales and use taxes? Are you being audited? Are you an "innocent spouse"? Are your issues both federal and state?

  • Does the IRS know about the issue yet or have you just discovered it? For example, do new FBAR requirements (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) apply to your situation? If so, will the firm have the expertise and experienced staff on hand to help resolve this particular issue?

  • Are your records organized and can you attempt a true reckoning of what happened?

Once you have completed these steps, it's time to do some on-line research on the firms who are in the running. Use this checklist to narrow the list even further:

Google it! - Check the firm's credentials


    Google the company name with the words "complaint," "rip-off" and "scam." If the firm has a tax attorney (or several), check with your state's bar to see if there are complaints rendered against them. If they are not ASTPS Certified, consider the following: How many years is the firm in practice? How many cases have they successfully settled that are similar to yours? Does he or she have references? Is he or she licensed? Google their professional trade affiliations and associations and check up-to-date status.
    Google the founder's name and check his/her credentials. You need to know who is running the show and whose trust you are employing.
    Check their social media efforts (hopefully, they have them) like Facebook and LinkedIn. Check the posting activity. The more reputable the company the more timely content and information will be posted. The benefit: you will be able to see all comments both good and bad.

Better Business Bureau: a great resource


    Check out a potential tax attorney or tax resolution specialist/firm with the Better Business Bureau's website: bbb.org. Make sure to note the grade rating (example: B-) and read all the BBB analysis and their Trust Link reviews for this company. Take into consideration that the BBB only tracks complaints and not resolutions. However, the Trust Link reviews will give helpful feedback from previous client experiences and after reading a few, you should get an idea of the satisfaction and service this company provides.

You get what you pay for! Don't be penny-wise and dollar-foolish


    Look for value and the number of services you get from a firm. Don't just lock onto a tax attorney or tax resolution firm's low price or compare a CPA's fee to that of a Tax Attorney's. Instead, determine what their success rate is for situations similar to yours and how much they saved their clients. Also, determine if this tax attorney or tax resolution professional will give you all of the prepared IRS forms, backup documentation, and negotiations with the IRS.

Lastly, the tax problem resolution industry is coming under scrutiny by federal and state regulators due to a few "bad apples" who employ deceptive trade and business practices. Make sure that the firm you chose to work with is a supporting member of the Tax Problem Resolution Services Coalition. (www.taxproblemresolutionservicescoalition.com)

Now that you have conducted your research, and you've narrowed down your list, pick up the phone and contact the company(s) directly to make an appointment for a consultation. Armed with your research, you will be informed and able to articulate details and ask relevant questions. Most importantly, by doing your homework, you will be putting your tax issues in the hands of a tax resolution specialists who will provide you with expert guidance and beneficial results.

About the Author: Michael Rozbruch, one of the nation's leading tax resolution specialists, is a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS), licensed CPA in the state of Maryland, and the founder of Tax Resolution Services,Co. He teams up with an expert staff of tax attorneys, CPAs, EAs, and tax relief professionals to help individuals and small businesses solve their IRS audit and collection problems including tax liens, unfiled back taxes, offers in compromise, wage levies, tax relief, delinquent returns, tax debt installment plans, bankruptcy and protecting an innocent spouse from unfair tax burdens. Michael also shares valuable tax advice and information in his blog - Tax Resolution University.

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