When you decide to hire an IRS attorney, you need to be focused on hiring the very best. If you cut corners, it could wind up costing you a lot of unnecessary time, money, and frustration.

If you’re looking for a great tax attorney in the Southern California area, follow these tips:

1. Don’t just get a tax lawyer in Los Angeles that comes with great recommendations

While the popular saying goes, “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know”, you don’t want to apply that to your search for an IRS attorney! Sure, you want a tax attorney to have the respect of people that you know and trust. However, great recommendations don’t always make for a great finished product. Make sure that your potential tax lawyer in Los Angeles has more to offer than just sizzling testimonials. Make sure that he also has the credentials to back them up!

2. See if your Orange County tax attorney offers legitimate information – or is just all about collecting a fee

When you’re going toe-to-toe with the IRS, you need a tax attorney that’s going to be your #1 advocate. If your lawyer is more interested in collecting your fee than he is in protecting your interests, that’s bad.

So, how do you tell if your tax attorney is all about the money?

Check him out before you sign on the dotted line. A good Orange County tax attorney will be happy to answer your questions upfront. Plus, he may even offer free advice on his website that can help you navigate through your tax issues. If your potential Orange County tax attorney won’t offer you any legitimate advice until he sees dollar signs, find another one.

3. Look for a tax lawyer that has several different offices
Bigger isn’t always better, but if your potential tax attorney has the resources to have a bunch of different offices, that’s a sign that he must be doing something right! For example, a good tax attorney in San Diego will also have an office in Los Angeles, or even further north. Just make sure that no matter which office you do business with, you’ll get the same great attention and knowledge as you would in the “home” office.

4. Look for an IRS attorney that can handle both big and small issues

Just because you’re not up to your neck in back taxes doesn’t mean that you don’t need the help of a qualified IRS attorney. In fact, a great tax attorney in San Diego or Los Angeles can prevent you from getting into tax trouble in the first place!

Bottom line – a good tax attorney will be happy to work for you, even if you’re not in the middle of an IRS emergency.