It is really difficult to determine how much it will cost to get done what needs to get done to resolve a case as there are so many factors that impact a case, a lot of which are out of our control.  Some factors are the complexity of the case, the amount of the liability, the age of the liability, the type of tax involved, where in the process the case is, whether the matter involves multiple taxing authorities and jurisdictions, the type of case, who the case is assigned to at the taxing authority, etc.  Because of all these factors and the potential for new information or issues to spring up in the middle of the case, it is impossible to put a set dollar amount on the cost of resolution, although we usually can give a range or estimate.  

We charge based on an hourly rate.  There are different rates for attorneys and other staff.  To keep costs down, we often have paralegals, Enrolled Agents and our CPA work on the parts of the case that they can work on.  We are careful to make sure the “juice is worth the squeeze” and that our efforts will have tax saving impact for our clients.  

Be wary of representatives that charge a flat fee as they are almost always getting the better end of the bargain.  While some clients like flat fees since they will know exactly how much the service will cost, a certain margin of risk is usually built in so most flat fee clients overpay for services.  Also, if it is flat fee per resolution, the resolution company is going to try and get the simplest resolution for them to get, not the best resolution for the taxpayer, and if more issues pop up, it will be additional fees.  

A client’s options are going to depend on multiple different factors but also depend on a client’s goals.  Some goals or priorities are going to be competing.  It is always the client’s duty to decide whether to accept any settlement proposal, regardless of the type of case. Our team is here to negotiate and navigate the process, and to advise the client of whether a settlement is recommended, but ultimately, settlement authority belongs to the client.

We charge hourly because we want to make sure clients have the proper representation to deal with whatever happens in the midst of the case.  We want to ensure that the matter is resolved.  We just want the case to cost what it will cost, without overcharging a client by building in a flat fee buffer and providing subpar service.  


How to choose a representative

  • Be wary of resolution companies.  While not all resolution companies are bad actors, resolution companies have very little, if any, accountability to any outside organization, including the IRS.  They will often make false promises, collect a client’s money, and then disappear.  Other than making a BBB complaint, what recourse does a taxpayer have?  Resolution companies do not typically employ attorneys but will often say they do.  If a matter needs to go to Tax Court, for any reason, they will often not be able to help, thus potentially shutting off a very important avenue for resolution to clients.

Resolution companies also often make false promises about a resolution they may be able to obtain, and often do so without review of any taxpayer information.  If you get a call from a resolution company or a letter stating that they can settle a tax liability and give a set amount or state that you qualify for “fresh start” without reviewing any of your tax information, run!  How would they know what you qualify for without reviewing your information?  They can’t!

Resolution companies are allowed to solicit potential clients with phone calls and misleading mail correspondence.  Oftentimes these calls are scary and are meant to frighten a potential client into signing up. These companies buy “lien lists” after tax liens are recorded in the public records and they are relentless.  A good representative isn’t going to scare you into signing up but is just going to give you the honest truth.  You should feel better after you get off the phone with a potential representative, not worse.  Attorneys cannot solicit potential clients over the phone and any solicitation via mail from attorneys must be pre-approved by the Florida Bar.  Our firm does not engage in these types of solicitation.  

Furthermore, if a representative is aggressive with you, how are they going to be with an IRS representative or representative from the taxing authority?  Such representatives can hurt your case, not help it.

  • Does the company, whether law firm or resolution company, have a physical office that you can go to and sit down with your representative if you would like to?  While many clients choose to not come into the office, especially since Covid-19, we have that option if a potential client or client wants to come in and sit down with an attorney.  While we haven’t met most of our clients since they prefer to communicate over the phone, having the ability to sit in person with clients is an important option we give.  
  • Is the company promising or guaranteeing a certain result?  This should be a huge red flag since it is very difficult to determine exact results.  It is also against Florida Bar ethics rules to guarantee results. However, we are able to discuss options and likely resolutions and be able to provide ranges.
  • Do you know the team members in the company and who your representative is?  We have every member of our team on our website so you can see exactly the team you are choosing to work with.
  • Do you know how many cases the firm is handling or how many cases are assigned to the lead representative or team?  There are resolution companies who have 250-350 cases assigned to one team member.  There is no way good representation can be provided to those clients.  There are even resolution companies who have 500 cases per team member.  
  • Is there a different sales team then the representative you are talking to?  A lot of attorneys or resolution companies have a dedicated “sales” team who make false promises to get clients signed up.  Once assigned to a representative, the representative or attorney has the difficult job of telling a client that what they signed up for isn’t a possibility under the facts of their case.  You always have the option of setting up a consultation with an attorney at Orlando Tax Law.
  • None of this information is meant to scare anyone, but simply to inform people of common industry practices, and what sets us apart from them.  

 

Our Values

Honesty

We are honest with those in our team, our clients, and potential clients. That sometimes means having tough conversations. We are not here to promise results that cannot be obtained but give clear guidance and representation to assist clients in navigating their tax matters. In practice, this means that a potential client is not going to be sold by a sales or intake team and then told something totally different by the team working the case. It means discussing a client’s responsibilities and expectations when working on a case. I also means being honest about the cost of representation so that the ”juice is worth the squeeze.”

Excellence

We strive for excellence; not only in the results we strive to obtain for a client, but also in communicating with clients about the process and what they can expect. It also means striving to be up to date on tax laws and administrative trends. It means developing relationships within the tax agencies so we can better represent our clients.

Compassion

We are compassionate with our clients and our team. Most clients hope to never need our services as dealing with taxing authorities and the IRS can be stressful, scary and have life-altering consequences. We understand and appreciate these concerns and strive to alleviate these concerns with education, communication, and results. Clients are not alone when they engage with our team. It is our goal to get to the other side of the matter together.

At the same time, we are compassionate with our team members. Dealing with the IRS and other taxing authorities IS stressful and sometimes things do not go as anticipated or we are dealing with uneducated or difficult people within the Service or tax agency. Sometimes we even need to be compassionate with employees working for the IRS and other tax agencies as they are dealing with heavy workloads, difficult managers, etc. Effective representation does not always require aggressive representation.