IRS Representation

• Enrolled Agents (EAs): Federally licensed by the IRS, focused solely on taxation, and authorized to represent taxpayers in all IRS matters.
• CPAs: State-licensed accountants who may offer a wider range of financial services but not all specialize in taxation.
• Tax Attorneys: Lawyers who handle complex tax issues and court cases, often with higher fees.

For most individuals and small businesses, an Enrolled Agent provides the right mix of expertise and affordability.

I can represent you in matters such as:

• IRS notices and letters
• Audits (mail, office, or field)
• Back taxes and payment plans
• Wage garnishments and levies
• Penalty abatement requests
• Offers in Compromise

You’ll sign a simple authorization form (Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative). With this form, you can authorize an individual—such as an attorney, CPA, enrolled agent, or other IRS-authorized representative—to discuss and negotiate your tax matters, including payment arrangements and settlements, directly with the IRS. The authorization must specify the tax matters, forms, and years involved, and the representative must be authorized to practice before the IRS. This allows the representative to receive confidential tax information and act on your behalf until the authorization is revoked or expires.

You can check your representative’s credentials directly through the IRS:

• Use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to confirm whether someone is an Enrolled Agent, CPA, or Attorney.
• Enrolled Agents can also be verified through the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA).

Always make sure the person representing you is properly licensed — this protects you and ensures they can legally act on your behalf before the IRS.

Yes — if you have unfiled tax returns, a representative can help you gather records, prepare accurate filings, and communicate with the IRS to minimize penalties. For collection issues such as back taxes, liens, levies, or wage garnishments, an Enrolled Agent can negotiate payment plans, request penalty relief, or explore settlement programs like an Offer in Compromise. Without representation, it’s easy to miss deadlines or options that could save you money.

In many cases, yes. Even a simple IRS notice can include deadlines or require a detailed response. Having a professional reply on your behalf ensures the issue is handled correctly and prevents a small problem from escalating.

Fees depend on the complexity of your case.

• Simple matters (like responding to a notice) may be billed at a flat fee.
• More complex cases (such as audits, multiple years of unfiled returns, or collection negotiations) are usually billed hourly or on a retainer basis.

Before starting, I provide a clear engagement letter so you know exactly what services are included and how fees are structured.

Delays can lead to added penalties, interest, and enforcement actions, such as tax liens on your property, wage garnishments, bank account levies, or property seizures. Continued non-response can also lead to legal actions, loss of taxpayer rights to appeal, delayed processing of future tax returns or refunds. Essentially, ignoring an IRS notice escalates financial and legal risks, so timely response is crucial to avoid or mitigate these consequences.

Yes. An Enrolled Agent can negotiate directly with the IRS to:

• Set up installment agreements
• Request penalty abatement
• Submit an Offer in Compromise (if you qualify) to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount owed

Representation ensures the right paperwork is filed, deadlines are met, and all available options are considered.