Searching for the right tax attorney in Los Angeles takes work. After all, the lawyer you pick will have direct impact on the success you have — or don’t have — with the IRS. If you don’t work with an IRS tax lawyer who’s the best at what he does, you’re putting yourself at risk.

So, how do you know if your Los Angeles tax relief attorney is a good one?

These 3 signs are a real good indication you’ve picked the right one:

1. A tax relief attorney who’s realistic
A subpar tax attorney in Los Angeles might be tempted to promise you the moon and the stars, even though he knows he probably can’t deliver.

Why?

Because Los Angeles is a flashy town, and he’s trying to cover up his lack of expertise with dynamite promises.

The only problem is that great promises don’t mean anything. They’re certainly not going to help you clean up a tax mess.

What you really need is an IRS tax lawyer who’s a straight-shooter. He may not always tell you everything you want to hear, but at least you’ll have an honest assessment of your situation. You’re much better off with an Orange County tax lawyer who says he’s going to do everything he can — then goes into detail about exactly how he’s going to help you and what he thinks your chances are — rather than just making blanket promises about how you’re going to be just fine.

2. A tax relief attorney who knows about more than just the IRS

Yes, a good Orange County tax lawyer will understand the ins and outs of the IRS very well. However, he’ll also have a strong background in other, related areas. For example, by hiring a tax relief attorney who also has a background in accounting, you get to work with someone who understands the facts and figures themselves — not just the laws behind them. By having a well-rounded tax relief attorney, you get more well-rounded service — and that’s always a good thing!

3. A tax attorney in Los Angeles who doesn’t just work in Los Angeles

Huh?

A great IRS tax lawyer will have a strong practice — and the odds are high that he’ll have more than one office.

Now, that’s not to say that every lawyer with multiple offices is a good one. However, if your potential Orange County tax lawyer also has offices in Marin County or San Diego County, it’s a sign that he really knows his stuff.

After all, what are the odds that a bad lawyer can successfully manage several different offices?