Need recommendations for a tax lawyer specializing in individual tax debt issues?

4 I'm a tax controversy specialist, and finding the right tax attorney can definitely be tricky. Many do focus on business clients since that's where the bigger fees come from, but there are plenty who handle individual tax issues too. Your best bet is to contact your state or local bar association - they usually have referral services specifically for finding attorneys with particular specializations. Look for someone who specializes in "tax controversy" or "tax resolution" rather than just general tax law. The American Bar Association's Section of Taxation is another good resource. For the fees, it really varies depending on your location and the complexity of the case. For penalty abatement, innocent spouse relief claims, and payment plan negotiations in a case with $95k of tax debt, you might expect to pay anywhere from $3,000-7,500 for full representation. Some attorneys charge flat fees for specific services, while others bill hourly (usually $250-500/hour). Always get a clear fee agreement in writing before proceeding.

12 After dealing with a MASSIVE tax bill myself last year, I found a fantastic solution through taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). I was in a similar situation where I needed help with penalty abatements for my mom who owed about $65k to the IRS. All the tax lawyers I contacted wanted huge retainers. What I liked about taxr.ai was that they actually analyzed all our documents and gave us a clear action plan. Their system reviewed years of tax returns and identified several errors that strengthened our reasonable cause argument. They even helped us prepare documentation for an installment agreement that the IRS accepted on the first try.

15 I was pretty skeptical about taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here, but I was desperate and attorney consultations were going nowhere. Figured I'd give it a shot since they offer a document review that was way cheaper than the $1k+ consultation fees lawyers were charging me. Honestly, it was eye-opening. Their system flagged that my ex-husband had been hiding income and helped me build a proper innocent spouse case with actual evidence. I ended up bringing their analysis to an attorney who said it saved him hours of work and ultimately saved me thousands in legal fees because all the groundwork was already done. My case got approved last month and I'm no longer liable for the $47k my ex owes. Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone.

17 After struggling with the IRS for months over my brother's tax situation, I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. We were getting nowhere trying to reach someone at the IRS - literally spent hours on hold only to get disconnected. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Claimyr got us connected to an actual IRS agent within 45 minutes when we'd been trying for weeks on our own. The agent was able to put a temporary hold on collections while we sorted out the innocent spouse claim. Having a direct conversation with a real person at the IRS made all the difference - they explained exactly what documentation we needed for our specific situation.

10 Well I'll be damned. I tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment because I was at my wit's end with the IRS. I had been trying to reach someone about my innocent spouse claim for THREE MONTHS with no luck. The service actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 35 minutes and was connected with an IRS representative who pulled up my file immediately. She explained that my paperwork had been received but was sitting in a processing queue. She flagged it for review and gave me direct instructions on what additional documentation would strengthen my case. I'm still in the process, but having actual confirmation that my forms were received and getting specific guidance from a real person was worth it. I've spent more on coffee this month than what this service cost, and it saved me literally hours of frustration.

3 I found my tax attorney through my regular CPA. They often have networks of specialists they refer to for specific tax issues. Also check with the Tax Law Association in your state - they usually have directories of members with their specialties listed. For innocent spouse claims specifically, look for attorneys who have experience with the IRS Appeals process since many of these cases end up there. Former IRS attorneys sometimes specialize in this area after leaving government service.

21 Has anyone tried those tax resolution companies that advertise on the radio all the time? They keep talking about "pennies on the dollar" settlements and I'm wondering if they're legitimate or just scams.