For some people, the mere mention of the three letters I, R, and S causes a terrible case of dry mouth and shaky knees. Even for folks who have been timely and correct in their tax payments, the thought of interactions with the IRS that go beyond simply writing a yearly check can be very frightening. Add to that scenario the possibility of being audited and the whole prospect can be absolutely terrifying. Now you have an agent who is poring over every scrap of paper you've saved for the last year and you have absolutely no idea what to expect.



Unfortunately, the IRS isn't known for its friendly, chummy agents who aspire to create a win-win situation for everybody, which is why you need to consider hiring a IRS attorney if you find that you are going to be audited. The primary benefit of hiring an IRS attorney is that the attorney will be able to manage all of the phone calls and other correspondence that you receive from the IRS. This means that you're no longer on-the-spot, nervous and searching for words, every time you receive a call from an agent. Your attorney will also make sure that your rights are respected by the IRS. While you may be terribly intimidated by an IRS agent who calls or sends letters, your IRS attorney has dealt with the agents for many years and can assert himself or herself in a way that you probably aren't comfortable doing yourself. In other words, the IRS attorney is going to be your advocate throughout the whole auditing process, making sure that your rights are respected and that you can get on with the rest of your life rather than laying awake and night and wondering who will be on the line the next time the phone rings.

Now that you know the benefits of using an IRS attorney, how do you go about finding one? Here are four keys to finding the right one for you.

1. Specialization. Every attorney specializes in a particular field of law, so you need to make sure you hire someone who specializes in tax law. When you're interviewing potential IRS attorneys, ask them questions about your specific situation and ask them how much experience they have dealing with the IRS. Even if you don't know how to deal with your specific situation, you can get a good feeling for the competence of an attorney by listening to what he or she says.

2. Trustworthiness. When you undergo an IRS audit, you will be required to share a lot of personal information, both with the IRS and with the IRS attorney. While you can't choose which IRS agent to work with, you can choose which attorney to work with, so make sure you choose someone with whom you will feel comfortable sharing a lot of personal information, most specifically financial information. Get recommendations from friends and family whenever possible.

3. Background Check. Do some research on any attorney you're considering hiring. Make sure that he or she is licensed in your state. If possible, get references from the attorney and follow up on them. Conduct a background check online. Find out how long he or she has been in the field and talk to other attorneys in your area to find out what kind of reputation he or she has with other professionals.

4. Fees. Before you hire any attorney, make sure you are very clear about what he or she will be charging you for services. Have the attorney put all terms and items in writing in case you need to revisit it later.

When you find yourself face with a possible audit, you need to call on professional help as quickly as possible. Find a trustworthy, competent, and capable IRS attorney in your area and get the representation you need.