If you think that you can simply pick out the first California tax lawyer that pops up in Google, think again. Before you hire someone to handle something as delicate as your tax situation, you’ve got to make sure he has these 4 things:

1. An awesome education
Becoming a great California tax lawyer starts in the classroom. Oh sure, every Orange County tax lawyer has been to law school and passed the Bar Exam. However, it goes so much further than that.
For example, where did he go to law school? What did he get his undergraduate degree in? Does he have any other professional skills that you can use to your advantage — like a business degree or a CPA license?
Finding out more about the education your Orange County tax lawyer got will give you a clue as to what kind of expertise you can expect from him.

2. An understanding of taxes at all levels
If you’ve just hired a San Francisco tax lawyer, he should be able to answer all of your questions about federal taxes — along with your tax responsibilities at the state and local levels. After all, California has its own set of unique tax regulations. If your San Francisco tax lawyer doesn’t understand all of the ins and outs of them, he’s not much help to you!

3. An ability to keep you out of trouble in the first place
Your California tax lawyer should be watching out for you all the time — not just when problems pop up. In fact, a good lawyer will have all kinds of tips to keep you out of tax trouble in the first place. That way, whether you’re starting up a new business, storing some of your money overseas, or simply trying to get a handle on your taxes after that big promotion, a good California tax lawyer can point you in the right direction.

4. An ability to negotiate
If the worst happens and you wind up in some trouble with the IRS, a good California tax lawyer will be able to help you make the most out of it. He may not be able to get you completely off the hook, but he’ll have the negotiation skills (and the knowledge) to fetch you a lesser penalty — like a fine instead of jail time, or a payment plan instead of a giant fine.
If he doesn’t have good negotiation skills, your tax lawyer won’t be able to help you when it really counts!

The team at www.kahntaxlaw.com has all of this — and more!