Choosing a Tax Firm

Choosing a tax resolution firm is a crucial decision that will have significant consequences on your tax debt, your time, your money, and your peace of mind. In fact, it may be one of the most important decisions you will make in your life.

At the Law Offices of Donald G. Koch we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver high quality service to our clients. In addition to receiving premium tax services from tax attorneys with decades of experience, being a client at our firm comes with certain courtesies that may be hard to find elsewhere. It can be as simple as having your phone calls returned promptly and having your questions answered accurately. It can mean being able to pick up the phone and speak directly to your tax attorney when it's necessary. And, most importantly, it can mean being treated with respect as an individual who has made the commitment to resolve their tax problems and being given the attention you and your case deserve.

Caveat Emptor!
 (Buyer Beware)

As someone in the market for a tax professional you should know who you are hiring and you should know what to beware of.

Large national firms with big advertising budgets offering free consultation "hotlines" are looking for your money. Beware of misleading "contingency fees" and "flat monthly fees" as these methods of payment may cost you far more than you expect. Some of our clients have come to us after having highly strenuous and financially painful experiences at these tax mills. A taxpayer must be extremely careful when shopping for a tax resolution firm.

Some of these tax mills are notorious for delivering low quality, or even negligent, services. These same firms advertise that they can settle your tax debt for "pennies on the dollar". It may be possible to reduce the amount of your tax debt and/or to abate late payment or late filing penalties. However, it is misleading to advertise that all tax debts can be reduced for "pennies on the dollar". Click here to read what the IRS says about firms that use the "pennies on the dollar" sales pitch.

Fees

Paying for tax resolution services can prove difficult for many people with tax problems. But it should be kept in mind that hiring a tax attorney is an investment in your financial future. Solving your tax problems will allow you to move forward financially and hiring a tax attorney is the key to that door. We are responsive to this difficulty and offer clients the opportunity to make payment using many convenient options including credit cards and personal checks.

If you are on a tight budget - as many people with tax problems are - you may feel inclined to shop for the lowest flat fee possible; however, there are many reasons to be cautious using this approach. The first concern is you may get what you pay for. If you pay a flat fee of, say $3500, and your case actually requires more than $3500 worth of work, do you think the resolution company will want to continue putting in hard work after they feel that they have earned their $3500?

To use an analogy, imagine dropping your car off for servicing at an automotive shop that used a flat fee system: they fix any and all problems for $500. Would you trust the auto shop to fix a problem on your car that you know should cost more than $500?

Would you trust the shop to do the job right? Does it make you wonder what the shop might have to do to make a profit off your car problem: used parts? cut corners? quick fixes? Imagine what a tax resolution firm might need to do to make a profit off your tax case using a flat fee system? Can you afford to take that risk when your financial health is on the line?

Our firm utilizes an hourly rate billing system based on a retainer deposit for each client, as opposed to a flat fee. Not all tax problems are created equal. If every taxpayer had the exact same tax problem a flat fee would be sensible, however, each case is unique and requires unique attention.