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California Dual Licensed Tax Lawyer & CPA

California Dual Licensed Tax Lawyer & CPA

Issues related to your taxes can be complicated and multifaceted, leaving you to wonder what kind of tax professional might best be able to help you achieve your goals. In particular, you may be unsure whether your situation would most benefit from the skills and experience of a tax lawyer or those of a certified public accountant (CPA). These two classes of professionals are both highly trained and respected due to their extensive educational background and the strict licensure procedures required to get licensed/certified. However, while their skills and knowledge may overlap in some cases, they also have very different areas of expertise.

A CPA can be useful when it comes to the specifics of your day-to-day tax planning and recordkeeping policies.  CPAs can help identify or create the organizational structure that best suits you or your business.  Tax attorneys are more equipped to handle long-term tax planning strategy and are invaluable whenever the government attempts to audit or bring criminal tax charges.  Having both a short and long-term perspective on tax issues can be critical in keeping you or your small business above governmental reproach.

In many cases, it can be useful to have the perspective of both a licensed tax attorney and a certified public accountant. However, it can be costly to hire two tax professionals, especially for individuals or small business owners. At the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, our California dual licensed & certified tax lawyers and CPAs offer you the best of both worlds in a single package. We are fully licensed attorneys as well as fully licensed and accredited CPAs. Whether you are looking to file your taxes correctly, or deal with issues related to past filings, we have the experience to help you get the best possible results. To set up a consultation, call us today at (800) 681-1295.

In many cases, it can be useful to have the perspective of both a licensed tax attorney and a certified public accountant. However, it can be costly to hire two tax professionals, especially for individuals or small business owners. At the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, our California dual licensed & certified tax lawyers and CPAs offer you the best of both worlds in a single package. We are fully licensed attorneys as well as fully licensed and accredited CPAs. Whether you are looking to file your taxes correctly, or deal with issues related to past filings, we have the experience to help you get the best possible results. To set up a consultation, call us today at (800) 681-1295.

Hiring a CPA vs. a Tax Attorney in California

As noted above, both CPAs and Tax Attorneys have different, but overlapping, areas of expertise and each can offer a unique perspective on your personal and business, estate and trust tax issues. Below, we explore some of the benefits of each type of tax professional and explain why your best bet is choosing a California dual licensed and certified Tax Attorney and CPA like those on the team at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing.

Advantages of a CPA

CPAs have an extensive educational background in accounting and other areas like auditing, taxation, bookkeeping, and business planning and strategy. Because of the breadth of the knowledge and the intensity of their licensure process, CPAs are considered the cream of the crop among accounting professionals. Regarding tax issues, they can help with the year-round record and bookkeeping necessary to file proper tax returns and be prepared for a potential tax audit. They can also help you fill out and file the returns themselves.

In addition, mainly when you first hire them, it can be helpful to have a CPA look over your financial records.  This way, you can identify problem areas that need improvement and stave off potential issues with the IRS in the future.  Giving the CPA the chance to review your records for problems helps you prevent noncompliance while also testing the CPA on their ability to perform in their capacity as a tax safeguard.  Remember, no matter who fills out your tax returns, your name is at the top of the document, and you are responsible for the contents of what you submit.  For this reason, be sure that you have a trusted and fully certified CPA by your side.

Advantages of a Tax Attorney

Tax Attorneys also go through a rigorous educational process during law school and must pass the notoriously difficult bar exam before being licensed as an Attorney. Tax Attorneys usually have some specialized training or certification in the complex field of tax law. David Klasing for example, has a master’s degree in Taxation.  While CPAs tend to focus more on book and record-keeping, Tax Attorneys will be more skilled at long-term tax planning and short-term dispute resolution, such as representation during an audit or criminal tax investigation. They will have an additional background in criminal and procedural law to know how to protect your rights and navigate any potential criminal tax charges that could result from past tax fraud or other tax crimes.

Furthermore, while accountant-client privilege is rather weak, the attorney-client privilege is powerful. Attorney-client privilege forbids the attorney from disclosing any information given to them by a client in the course of the representation. The work-product doctrine also protects their thoughts and musings on the case from being subpoenaed. While it is not unheard of for a CPA to be forced to flip on their client and testify against them, this is almost impossible in the case of a lawyer as long as they did not prepare or advise on the tax returns at issue. Furthermore, the privilege extends to employees or co-workers of the lawyer working on your case, like paralegals or secretaries, and can also extend to an accountant brought in to consult on accounting matters if a Kovel letter is issued or where directly employed by the Tax Attorney.

Hiring a Dual Licensed and Certified Tax Lawyer and CPA

Why hire one firm instead of two?

Firstly, a dual licensed and certified Tax Lawyer and CPA can most likely handle all of your tax needs without having to refer you to someone else, making the communication process more streamlined.  Communication issues between your Accountant and Attorney run up your bills immensely because they will both strive to set the agenda and often do not play well together and ego battles are common.

Second, paying one Dually licensed Tax Attorney CPA is less expensive than paying two separate people who can only accomplish your goals by working separately.  You may as well get your money’s worth by ensuring that the hands you entrust with your tax planning, compliance and controversy needs to are universally capable and economically efficient.

Finally, and most importantly, a professional with an understanding of both business & tax law and accounting will be able to act with top-to-bottom understanding of the tax strategy you are employing, so that nothing ever gets lost in translation.

We can offer you the most comprehensive level of service because our dual certified tax lawyers and CPAs at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing have strong educational background and experience in both tax law and accounting. Whether you need help properly filing your returns and claiming the greatest possible number of legal deductions or you are dealing with a problem that has arisen because of an issue with a previously-filed return, we will have the breadth of knowledge needed to advise you on all aspects of your tax situation. Our dual perspectives give us an advantage over tax practitioners only trained and licensed in one of these two fields.

What Kind of Tax Issues Can a California Dual Certified Tax Lawyer and CPA Assist Me With?

The following is a non-exhaustive list of areas where our dual certified Tax Lawyers and CPAs at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, P.C. can assist you:

Call Our Skilled California Dual Licensed & Certified Tax Lawyers and CPAs Today

There is no need to choose between the services of a Certified Public Accountant and a Licensed Tax Attorney when you can have the best of both worlds by hiring the tax professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing. Our skilled dual licensed Tax Lawyers and CPAs have extensive experience helping taxpayers deal with issues related to taxes at the local, state, and federal levels.

Whether you are dealing with the California Franchise Tax Board or the IRS, our Tax Attorneys and CPAs will be there with you every step of the way, answering any questions you may have, protecting your constitutional rights, and working to bring your matter to a successful resolution. To set up a consultation with a dually licensed Tax Attorney and CPA near you, call us today at (800) 681-1295 or schedule online.

We Are Here for You

Regardless of your particular business or estate needs, the professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing are here for you. We are open for business and our team will help ensure that your business is too. Contact the Law Offices of David W. Klasing today to discuss your business with one of our professionals.

In addition to our main office in Irvine,  the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing has unstaffed (conference room only) satellite offices in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Panorama City, Oxnard, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Carlsbad and Sacramento. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff are working from home, but have full virtual meeting capability.

Our office technology allows clients to meet virtually via GoToMeeting. With end-to-end encryption, strong passwords and top-rated reliability, no one is messing with your meeting. To schedule a reduced rate initial consultation via GoToMeeting follow this link.   Call our office and request a GoToMeeting if you are an existing client.