OK, so you need a California tax lawyer… Now what? After all, you need someone who’s good. Pick the wrong tax relief attorney, and you could wind up paying massive penalties, or — at the very least — paying more in taxes than you need to.

But with so many lawyers out there claiming to be the very best, how do you weed through the “wannabes” and find a “somebody”?

Just look for a tax attorney with these qualities:

1. Someone with a number of offices

OK, so quantity doesn’t always equal quality, but if your potential tax attorney has a few offices up and down the Golden State, he must be doing something right. After all, each office needs a full-time staff and enough work coming in to turn a profit. Having one successful office is impressive enough; having a few successful offices shows that this tax attorney knows his stuff!

2. Someone who can keep you out of trouble

Most people only turn to a California tax lawyer when things get sticky, but a good lawyer can keep you out of trouble in the first place. For example, if you’re setting up a new business, it’s smart to consult with an IRS tax lawyer and make sure you’re doing everything right. After all, you don’t want any surprises later!

3. Someone who will answer basic questions before he’s handed a check

A good tax relief attorney knows that dealing with IRS is scary stuff. That’s why he’ll be happy to answer some questions before you’ve officially hired him. That way, you can see if your potential IRS tax lawyer really knows what he’s talking about — or if he’s just blowing smoke.

In some cases, you don’t even have to take up the lawyer’s time to get basic information. That’s because a good California tax lawyer will have a website that’s chock full of information that proves he knows his stuff.
If your potential tax relief attorney isn’t even willing to have a conversation before you’ve written him a check, that’s a bad sign!

4. Someone who has “been there and done that”

A good California tax lawyer has tons of experience. He’s handled enough cases to have seen just about everything — which is good for you. By having an IRS tax lawyer that knows exactly what to expect, there won’t be any surprises in your case. After all, surprises can be expensive!