We live in a world where consultants are aplenty. Society has become so complicated with its myriads laws and protocols that the average person can' be sure he or she knows what they are talking about, much less doing. Every time something comes up, our first reaction is to get a consultant, legal advice, or some other costly solution. I can understand seeking help with the <a href="http://www.taxhelpvault.com/recommends/page64.html">real estate capital gains tax</a>, or even sitting down with a tax accountant who specializes in <a href="http://www.taxhelpvault.com/recommends/page64.html">partnership tax planning</a>. But natural things like parenting, exercise, diet run the gamut of information we want in this fast-paced world. Don't you long for the good old days?

Let's continue our series of articles about tax planning and income tax preparation. 

<h4>How to Choose a Tax Professional for Your IRS Problems</h4>

If you are running a business or are a professional, then you have to pay your taxes regularly and correctly. These taxes are collected by the IRS and when they are not satisfied with your returns, you get a letter from them. You then have a choice of handling the problem yourself or let a professional handle it. 

You have a choice of either hiring an enrolled agent or an attorney or a CPA [Certified Public Accountant to handle your problem. With their experience and knowledge, they can save you time and money, and in most cases you will not have to personally go to the IRS Office. The key here is to choose an efficient and honest tax professional who can solve your problem in the least amount of time and whose charges are reasonable. You can start by asking your friends or relatives who have had to use their services and who could recommend names. 

While an enrolled agent is a tax advisor who also prepares your tax returns and has to have more than 5 years of IRS experience, he still cannot represent you if your case goes to court. A Tax attorney is an expert in Tax laws and should have a law degree and experience in handling tax returns. The CPA does tax auditing and filing of tax returns and is licensed. You could also get their names from advertisements or the Internet. 

The point to be taken care of when you are choosing a Tax professional is to check out his knowledge and work experience in handling similar cases. He should have knowledge regarding the latest amendments of the IRS rules. He should have been in the line for some years at least and should have handled similar problems. You can ask him for the names of people whose cases he has handled and cross check with them. You can ask them about his fees, the time taken for him to solve the problem and whether they were satisfied with his handling of the case. 

When you ask your Tax Professional regarding his fees, make sure that those fees include everything, right from his traveling expenses to his filling and filing of IRS documents and his personal interaction on negotiating with the IRS. He should be able to provide you with the break-up of his fees. The Tax Professional should show personal interest in your case and his firm size should be right enough for you. If you are hiring a Tax Attorney, he should be a specialist in handling tax matters, rather than any other field. There are many ex-IRS employees who have started their own business after their retirement. They could be of great help, since they are already familiar with the inside procedures of the IRS.

While choosing your Tax Professional, you should ensure that you have a clear communication channel with him and he should be also be comfortable in handling the IRS employees, without any issues. He should be able to solve your problem in a calm, quiet way with the least interference in your business or personal life. 

<a href="http://www.april15.com" target="_blank">Sacramento CPA</a> Firm Murray and Young can help you with Tax Planning and <a href="http://www.google.com/Top/Business/Accounting/Tax_Negotiation_and_Representation" target="_blank">IRS Representation</a> services. You do not have to be afraid anymore. For 2008 Tax tips visit our website: <a href="http://www.april15.com" target="_blank">http://www.april15.com</a>

Remember tax planning works best if you begin it the first day of your taxation year.
  