Anyone who has ever filed their taxes knows how difficult the IRS can be to navigate. While they have a website to help you understand some IRS forms, it can be filled with jargon, impossible to decipher meaning.
That’s why people use tax litigation services. A tax litigator is a legal professional who understands the ins and outs of how tax agencies (the IRS, FTB, etc.) and the U.S. Tax Court work. Tax litigators know how to assess, handle and resolve cases to prevent them from ending up in court.
If this piques your interest, keep reading to learn more about tax situations where you will be better off with the help of a litigator.
Which Tax Litigation Services Require Help
If you are the kind of person who prefers to do things on your own, know that can be the wrong move with tax litigation. Litigation is very time-consuming and costly. Engaging the services of a tax controversy litigator at the outset of your tax matter will save you time and money in the long run in the following four situations.
1. Planning an IRS Audit
Whether an audit is a surprise or not, tax controversy services can help the process run smoothly. Instead of wasting hours of your own time on the phone, tax litigators communicate with the IRS on your behalf, so you don’t have to. Tax litigators will help you gather and present records in the most favorable light. Litigators know the law and can prevent the IRS from taking action that is inconsistent with the law and IRS procedure.
Basically, a tax litigator keeps the IRS in-check so that you don’t pay a single cent more than you owe.
Sometimes, a person may know that they’ll be audited before they file their tax return. If this is the case, a tax litigator can help you with a few things before you file. A tax litigator can:
- Write a statement explaining your taxes and frame the situation in order to give context so the IRS may choose not to audit you.
- Analyze your tax return, and fix anything the IRS would flag for an audit.
- Study your past tax returns where the statute of limitations is still open, to better understand how to handle this year’s filing.
2. Resolving Prior Tax Errors
Tax controversy services advise you regarding the most efficient and effective methods to resolve errors and tax disputes. Tax law constantly changes; even if you filed correctly once before, the following year may be different. Depending on your circumstances, options could include filing:
- An amended tax return
- An appeal
- A claim for abatement or refund
A tax litigator will know what steps to take, and can advise which of these three options is right for your case.
Handling IRS Appeals
While tax litigation services aim to solve problems early on in the process, you may already have received a notice that you need to appeal. Tax litigators can assist in writing protests to the IRS Office of Appeals. They’ll know the correct information to include and documents to attach to ensure that your appeal gets accepted. Tax litigators also help prepare you for in-person conferences so you know how to answer all questions and reach a settlement.
Navigating the Court Process
Tax litigators practice in the U.S. Tax Court, the court that hears most tax cases. This is important because U.S. Tax Court practice and procedure is completely different from any other court. Tax litigators will navigate you through the entire litigation process from filing a petition to settlement or trial, if necessary. Every tax case looks different, so you need a team to come up with a strategy for you to succeed.
Need Tax Controversy Services? Mindy Meigs Can Help
When choosing tax controversy services, you want to know the lawyer is someone you can trust. Mindy Meigs has handled more than 500 cases before the U.S. Tax Court and has 15 years of experience as a trial attorney for the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. If you need tax litigation services, give Mindy a call today.