Paying $ for Representation on your IRS or State Tax Issue: 50% for Expertise, 50% for Hassle

In the six years of the Tax Problem Resolution Blog -- we have mused about the usefulness of paying a tax professional for representation on a tax issue -- when it can be of great value and when it might just be a huge waste of time and money. On TV and radio - the sales pitch for tax representation is a combination of FEAR and SAVING YOU MONEY on your tax debt (settling your debt for pennies on the dollar). From our perspective -- tax representation has two distinct values:

1. Expertise.  (Which might mean saving money thru settlement (OIC) or other methodologies). 

2. Reducing Hassle. 

For some clients - the hassle factor, e.g., staying on hold with the IRS, setting deadlines, avoiding levies - is the reason paying a tax professional makes sense. They value their time and don't want to deal with the IRS in their spare hours.

For others - who have complex tax problems or who hiring an expert might mean the difference between paying tens of thousands of $$$ OR Not. 

But let's be candid - if you have a back tax issue - and the result of negotiations is going to be a PAYMENT PLAN and NOT an Offer in Compromise -- then hiring a tax professional is to save hassle. And for that reason in many cases - you might be better off - value-wise - NOT hiring a tax professional.

A few years back we wrote a piece 7 Reasons to Pay for Tax Representation to further illustrate these points.

Want to avoid HASSLE and want EXPERTS to solve your TAX problem? You can get started by calling WATAX at 1 888 282 4697. We promise to analyze your tax issue and explore all options with you.