Atlanta Tax Lawyer
The tax appeals process allows taxpayers and businesses to resolve a disagreement with the IRS. As you can imagine, there is a specific process that must be followed, and even though you always have the right to contest your tax bill, the procedures must be adhered to in order for your appeal to be considered.
The Appeals Office of the IRS is an impartial body separate from the other offices of the Internal Revenue Service. You can request an appeals conference, which is an informal meeting with an officer to settle the dispute, much in the same way you might present a case to a judge or mediator. You are allowed to have a CPA or attorney attend the conference with you, and their familiarity with the tax code can facilitate a more favorable outcome.
Your appeal requires a formal written protest as well, a document that must contain material such as your personal contact information and statement of law and fact that support your position. Compiling these statements and assembling the written evidence that builds your case is best attended to by a tax attorney. In cases where the amount in dispute is under $25,000, you can submit a small-case request that excuses you from the formal documentation, but it is still indispensable to be assisted by a lawyer who can navigate the landscape of the appeals process.
However, if your appeal is not received favorably, you can always pursue legal action in court. This of course, is not something you should approach without the services of an attorney, since you will essentially have to sue the IRS in a U.S. District Court—a federal court. For contesting state or local taxes in the courtroom, you would likely need the assistance of a lawyer in state court as well. Either way, contacting a lawyer at the beginning of the appeals process can actually reduce the odds of needing to take your case to court.