Research Before You Hire

Essential Questions for a Tax Relief Firm

When dealing with the IRS in any capacity make sure you’re getting the most up-to-date tax advice. But before hiring any tax resolution business make sure they’re the right firm for the job. Research before you hire and be sure to ask these essential questions:

Are you licensed / legally able to provide me with accurate tax advice?

Many tax relief firms hire unlicensed staff to handle their clients, which comes as a surprise to many people. These individuals don’t have the training or licenses required to give clients legitimate tax advice on IRS-related issues.

Plenty of agencies will hire non-professionals to handle their sales and office work. So when you’re talking with a tax firm representative, always ask if you’re speaking with an enrolled agent, CPA, or tax attorney. These are the only three (3) individuals authorized to represent taxpayers to the IRS. You also want to make sure you’re speaking with the actual representative handling your case should you decide to use the firm.

How much experience do you have in IRS tax resolution negotiations?

Credentials don’t mean anything if the representative doesn’t have experience in handling IRS back tax cases. A seasoned, licensed professional will be able to answer all your questions and walk you through the entire process.

In addition to experience, the company should specialize and dedicate 100% of its services to IRS tax relief work instead of tax preparation, bookkeeping, or payroll.

Do you have any client testimonials or reviews?

Always ask for testimonials or reviews. When letting anyone represent you, you need to do your due diligence. Typically, the firm will have testimonials readily available on its website. But don’t stop there; look into resources like Yelp or Google Reviews and consider the testimonials that aren’t so great. You’ll be better able to reach a consensus on how capable the company is.

Questions or concerns regarding your IRS situation? Contact us immediately for a FREE no-obligation consultation at (949) 260-4770 or help@landmarktaxgroup.com.

~ Michael Raanan MBA, EA, Former IRS Agent