Paying taxes is a part of our civic duty and essential to fund our public services. However, the tax codes can be complicated and no one wants to pay more than their fair share of taxes. A California tax attorney can help you with tax planning and keeping you out of trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

California has several agencies that are responsible for collecting state taxes, such as the California State Board of Equalization (SBE), the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the California Employment Development Department (EDD). With all these state agencies plus the IRS, the federal agency responsible for the collection of taxes and enforcement of tax codes, a tax problem can be complicated and stressful.

A California tax attorney understands and knows how to work with each of these taxing authorities and can represent your interests. If you are setting up a new business, an estate plan or are preparing for a large financial payout, a tax attorney could help preserve your assets and reduce your tax burden.

Tax attorneys can also help you through problems with the IRS, or the state taxing agencies if you are undergoing an audit or have been assessed back taxes. The IRS can charge fees and penalties that can lead to wage garnishments, property liens or seizure and even the possibility of jail time for tax evasion. An experienced tax attorney can represent your interests in negotiations with the IRS. Often your attorney may be able to reduce the fees and penalties and establish a payment plan to help resolve your case.

The California State Bar Association has Certified Legal Specialist in the area of taxation law. You can contact them for a listing of specialists in your area. In addition, your accountant or tax professional may be able to provide you a referral of a reputable tax attorney. Having a good tax attorney can be as important as having a good accountant. While it may seem expensive to hire a tax attorney, the reduction in your tax burden or the negotiated re-payment of back taxes may end up saving you money in the long run.

When Benjamin Franklin stated that “nothing is as certain as death and taxes” he could not have even imagined the complexity of the federal and state tax codes we face today. A California tax attorney can help you with your tax concerns before you have an issue or upon your first indication of a problem.

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