Strategically Navigating Your Audit and Hiring a Tax Attorney

It is crucial for California taxpayers to be aware that auditors are trained to gather all applicable information to use against you to increase your tax liability if you unexpectedly receive an audit notice from the Employment Development Department (EDD), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), or Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As they go on a fact-finding journey to extend or perhaps refer you or business’s tax matter for criminal tax prosecution, auditors with the IRS, FTB, and EDD are focused on representing federal, state, and local governing authorities in this situations.

This is why consulting with and working under the guidance of a trusted licensed financial advisor, CPA and a local tax attorney could minimize your vulnerability for incompliance, civil penalties, and/or interest. Additionally, it would be an advantage and low-risk approach to have expert protection against any possible disputable items on your tax returns that may perhaps otherwise be clarified with legal basis and evidence. This is when you might consider hiring a licensed tax attorney as your biggest form of defense due to their understanding of IRS, FTB or EDD legal interpretations, procedural errors, settlement negotiations or offers in compromise with legal strategy, to assist in more complex situations. Some complex tax matters could lead to court proceedings or hearings, where a licensed financial advisor or CPA alone, cannot represent you or your business, and a licensed tax attorney could.

The largest difference between working with a licensed financial advisor, enrolled agent, and CPA versus a tax attorney, is the reliability of Attorney-Client, Work Product and Kovel protections which also provide a larger net of confidentiality while navigating through your tax matter. The IRS, FTB, or EDD cannot force disclosure of such information and your risk is manageable under such a strategic shield and for the primary purpose of working towards civil resolution. The benefit of working with a well-equipped team like Wilson Tax Law Group, APLC is that we have a diverse team comprised of former IRS trial attorneys, California FTB Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Federal Tax Prosecutors, a Forensic Accountant and dedicated staff, who seek to help protect you and your business when your finances, freedom and future are on the line.

If you have any questions regarding your individual or businesses’ state and/or federal tax return(s)/tax liabilities or received a notice from the IRS, FTB, EDD, CDTFA or any other regulatory agency, please call or email Wilson Tax Law Group, APLC, to setup a consultation with our firm.

Wilson Tax Law Group, APLC is a boutique Orange County tax controversy law firm that specializes in representation of individuals and businesses before federal and state tax authorities with audits, appeals, FBAR, offshore compliance, litigation and criminal defense.  Firm founder, Joseph P. Wilson, is a former Federal tax prosecutor and trial attorney for the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board.  Wilson Tax Law Group, APLC, is comprised of former IRS litigators & Special Agents, and Assistant US Attorneys from the US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Tax Division, which at the time handled both civil tax lawsuits and criminal tax prosecutions on behalf of the United States of America.

For further information, or to arrange a consultation please contact: Wilson Tax Law Group, APLC

Tel: (949) 397-2292 (Newport Beach Office) 

Tel: (714) 463-4430 (Yorba Linda Office)

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Please consult with a qualified attorney, accountant or financial advisor for specific guidance related to your circumstances.