Free Tax Relief Attorney Consultation

How a Free Tax Attorney Consultation Can Help You

Facing an IRS tax problem can leave you unsure about what to do next or whether you even need a tax attorney. A free tax attorney consultation gives you an opportunity to explain your tax situation, understand your options, identify important deadlines or risks, and determine whether legal representation makes sense for your case.

During an initial consultation, you may discuss issues such as unpaid taxes, IRS collection actions, an audit, unfiled tax returns, penalties, tax liens or levies, or a dispute with the IRS. Knowing what to expect can help you make the most of your consultation and arrive prepared with the right documents and questions.

In this guide, you’ll learn what happens during a tax attorney consultation, what to bring, questions to ask, and what happens if you decide to hire an attorney.

Need help with an IRS or tax problem? Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss your tax problem and learn your available options.

What Is a Free Tax Attorney Consultation?

A tax attorney’s free consultation is a free initial meeting with a tax attorney. The meeting costs nothing, and it doesn’t obligate you to hire the attorney. It’s just a chance for you to get to learn more about the attorney and their services to see if they are the right fit for your needs.

During the consultation, the attorney or another member of the company’s team will typically gather information about your tax situation, identify potential issues and deadlines, discuss possible next steps, and explain whether the firm may be able to represent you.

It’s also an opportunity for you to vet the team and determine whether they’re a good fit. Make sure you ask about their experience with similar cases, how their process works, and what to expect with costs and payment timing.

What Do Tax Attorneys Do?

Tax attorneys are attorneys who focus on helping clients resolve tax debts, navigate disputes with the IRS or state revenue agencies, and stop unwanted collection actions. They help with these situations:

• You owe unpaid taxes and aren’t sure of the most effective way to pay them.
• You want help applying for penalty relief on your tax bill.
• You’ve been receiving confusing letters from the IRS.
• The IRS has threatened to garnish wages or seize assets, and you need help.
• You have years of unfiled returns.
• You’ve been selected for an audit and want help.
• You’ve failed an audit and want to appeal.
• You owe taxes due to the actions of your spouse or former spouse.

Do I Need a Tax Attorney?

When is the right time to schedule a free consultation with a tax lawyer? Well, if you’re having tax problems, you should typically start with a free consultation. Schedule a consultation if you want to:

• get help dealing with the IRS.
• hire the best tax attorney possible.
• find a tax attorney who meets your needs.
• learn more about the attorney’s experience before hiring them.
• know how the tax attorney can help and what they charge.

Unsure if you need to take this step? Keep in mind it’s a free service, and you have nothing to lose. If you’re on the fence about even hiring a tax attorney, a free consultation can give you a good idea of how they can help you.

How to Prepare for a Tax Attorney Consultation

If you want, you can just pick up the phone and call for a free consultation, but to make the most of this time, you may want to prepare a bit. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of a free consultation:

• Know the basics of your case: First, think of a concise description of your problem. Do you have unfiled returns? Unpaid taxes? An incorrect tax assessment? Or some other issue? You want to be able to tell the tax attorney about your problem during a short conversation.
• Gather your documents: Collect all the documents you can get on the tax problem in question; IRS/state notices, tax returns, account transcripts, collection correspondence, important deadlines – anything.
• Define your goals before the consultation: Have a clear idea of the ending you want. For example, if you have a tax debt, are you looking for a payment arrangement? settlement? Penalty abatement?
• Have your finances in order: The tax attorney will not have time to dive deep into your finances. Having a rough idea of what you can and cannot afford can help you make the most of the first consultation.
• Have a budget in mind: If you choose to work with a tax attorney, moving forward, how much can you afford, or are you willing to pay?
• Prepare to be honest: Your tax attorney can only help you if you tell them everything, especially if you think you’re in trouble.

However, if you don’t have all these answers, don’t worry; we will guide you through the process. You don’t need to plot out your resolution. After all, that’s what we’re here for.

What to Expect During the Initial Free Consultation

Here’s what happens during an initial free tax attorney consultation:

• You explain your tax problem: The tax attorney may want to know the tax years involved, filing status, amount allegedly owed, the IRS notices, collection activity, etc., etc. This is why we recommend gathering documents before the consultation.
• Your case is reviewed: The attorney reviews the basic facts of your tax problem; the initial case isn’t necessarily a full case review.
• You discuss potential options: This may include tax relief options such as installment agreements, CNC status, OIC, appeals, audit representation, or penalty relief, to name a few.
• You discuss whether representation is an option: Not all tax issues require a tax attorney’s assistance; at the end of the consultation, the attorney can refer you to another tax professional or to resources on how to DIY if they deem that a great option.
• You discuss fees and next steps: If you decide to work with the tax attorney, you discuss the fee structure and what to expect throughout the process.

Use this time to learn about their processes. Make sure that an experienced team will be handling your case. You don’t want an inexperienced pro, and you certainly don’t want to hire a firm that sells your lead to someone else.

Questions to Ask During a Tax Attorney Consultation

So, how do you make the most of your free consultation? By asking the right questions and paying very close attention to the answers. Here are some fire questions you can ask your tax attorney:

• What are your credentials?
• Have you worked on cases like mine?
• Can I see your references or client testimonials?
• Who will be my point of contact in the company?
• What steps will you take to resolve my case?
• How will you communicate with me and the IRS?
• Are there deadlines I need to know about?

Red flags to watch out for during tax consultations

Interacting with a tax attorney will help you determine if they’re a good fit for the most part. However, it doesn’t hurt to be extra careful with all the fake tax relief companies out there. Here’s what to watch out for:

• No experience: While even junior tax attorneys are competent, there are limitations. For example, while they may deal with your unfiled tax returns just fine, it may be a problem if you need guidance through collections or help with an audit.
• Vague answers: You should leave the consultation with more clarity, not confusion. If the tax attorney is giving unclear or incomplete answers, this might be a problem moving forward.
• Too much lingo: If your tax attorney is using too much jargon, they may not be a good fit. Your tax attorney should be a strong communicator who knows how to simplify things for you.
• Aggressive sales pitches: The consultation is an opportunity for you to determine if this attorney is right for you, so don’t give in to pressure to sign or commit to anything. You shouldn’t feel any obligation during a consultation. High-quality attorneys don’t have to trick you into signing up for their services, and pushy sales tactics are a red flag that you’re talking with the wrong firm.
• Overpromising: You just don’t want any solutions; you want legitimate solutions. If a tax attorney is committing to tax resolution options without hearing details of your case or finances, that’s a sign you should look somewhere else. Overpromising can be a red flag of underdelivering services or of fraudulent business practices.

Lastly, listen to the questions that the representative or attorney asks you. They should also use this time to learn more about you and your tax problems. If they don’t ask any questions but still promise a certain outcome, that’s a sign they may not be a quality firm.

Beyond that, pay attention to the X factor. How does this phone call make you feel? Do you feel confident about this company’s abilities? Do you feel like you can trust them? Are they willing to answer your questions? Do they seem like they care about getting the best resolution for you? Those are all points you should consider.

What Happens After a Tax Attorney Consultation?

Here are different options you may have after a free consultation with a tax attorney:

• Hire the attorney: If you decide you like that attorney, you can move forward and hire them to resolve your tax problem.
• Explore other options: If you like them but still want more options, you may want to schedule a free consultation with another tax attorney. Don’t hesitate to schedule these meetings — you can talk to as many attorneys as you want until you find the right one for you.
• Request for more details: In some cases, you may need more details before you can hire an attorney. This is generally only relevant in very complicated cases, but if that applies, you may need to schedule a paid consultation. During this meeting, the attorney will take a more in-depth look at your situation and provide more details on costs and timing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the common questions we get on free tax consultations with tax attorneys:

Do tax attorney consultations cost money?

Most tax attorneys offer free consultations to new clients. Before having a meeting, make sure that you understand the costs and obligations involved. Also, some tax attorneys may offer free consultations for simple tax problems but charge for complex issues, such as audits. At Damiens Law, we always start with a free consultation.

What is a paid tax attorney consultation?

A paid consultation requires you to pay for the attorney’s time. It’s a more in-depth meeting where you talk about your tax problems and solutions.

What is the difference between a paid and free tax attorney consultation?

One costs money while the other is free. Beyond that, a paid consultation tends to go in more depth. Some attorneys start with a paid consultation. Others start with a free consultation. Then, if you have a complicated case, they offer a paid consultation so that you can get more details about your options before you move forward.

Are all free consultations with attorneys?

It depends on the firm. Some firms offer free consultations with non-attorney representatives who explain how the process works with cases like yours. Then, they offer paid consultations with their attorneys. Other firms offer a short consultation with an attorney but charge a fee for longer, more detailed consultations. 

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

At Damiens Law, we know how stressful dealing with tax problems can be, and so we try to make the process of hiring a tax attorney as easy as possible. If you want help dealing with the IRS or your state revenue agency, contact us today. 

We’ll start with a free initial consultation, and then we’ll help you end this problem for good.