Many people fall behind on their taxes, start to receive notices from the IRS, and/or find themselves in a troublesome situation with the Internal Revenue Service. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you may receive advice about seeking out a certified tax resolution specialist. What does this mean? How can they help?
A certified tax resolution specialist (CTRS) is a tax professional—specifically, an attorney, certified public accountant (CPA), or enrolled agent (EA)—with proven experience and knowledge resolving problems with taxes. This is far beyond and above tax preparation, and includes things like:
Any of the above issues can cause enormous stress and hardship. Even seasoned tax professionals can struggle with them. It’s important to understand that not every attorney, CPA, or EA will necessarily have in-depth knowledge or experience in tax resolution. By choosing a certified tax resolution specialist, you can be confident that your tax practitioner has proven their ability to handle even the thorniest of tax problems.
It’s important to remember that the IRS doesn’t want you to be burdened by debt, and they are willing to work with you to find a solution. A certified tax resolution specialist is someone who has a good understanding of what kinds of solutions the IRS will accept, and can help you find a way to resolve your tax issues while paying the lowest amount of tax legally allowed, and with as little disruption to your life as possible.
RELATED: Guide to Professional IRS Tax Resolution Services
In order for a tax attorney, certified public accountant, or enrolled agent to become a certified tax resolution specialist, they must pass a rigorous certification course that includes educational, experience, and examination requirements.
The candidate must have completed 16 hours of continuing professional education covering tax problem resolution (tax preparation education does not count). They must also have a full year of experience handling cases of tax resolution. Finally, the candidate must pass a comprehensive two-part exam about IRS tax problem resolution, including both objective questions and a sample case problem that the applicant must prepare for resolution.
In addition, candidates are required to exhibit high moral and professional character, and to adhere to an ethical code. They are to put their clients’ interests ahead of their own, and work to find a favorable solution for their clients.
Afterward, certified tax resolution specialists must maintain continuing professional education covering tax resolution.
RELATED: These 5 Methods Can Solve Most Tax Problems
There are some tax problems that you can solve on your own, such as when the IRS finds a minor discrepancy on your return and sends you a CP2000 notice. However, even minor issues can be very stressful and require some expert knowledge, in which case you might find it very beneficial to talk to a certified tax resolution specialist.
No matter how large or how small your tax problem is, hiring someone with knowledge and experience can dramatically ease your pain. Here are some situations that a certified tax resolution specialist can help you with:
This list is not exhaustive, so make sure you bring any other tax concerns you have to your tax resolution specialist to find the best course of action. A mark of excellence in tax services is the ability to help you understand your options in plain English, so that you feel empowered to make the right decisions to resolve your tax situation.
RELATED: How to Find the Right Tax Audit Representation
Find out what sets S.H. Block apart when it comes to tax problem resolution. We take the “high moral and professional character” certification requirements very seriously, and work hard to make sure you are receiving the best services for a reasonable flat fee. We will work with you so you always know what to expect from us and from the IRS, and you can read our Guide to Professional IRS Tax Resolution Services for an overview of the process.
We always start with a free consultation, so that you can talk to one of our tax attorneys and get an idea of what your options are and what the timeline may look like. To get started, call us at (410) 872-8376 or fill out our online contact form.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
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