Tax matters a tax attorney Bellevue clients handle

Tax attorneys in Bellevue work on both federal and state issues for individuals and the Eastside’s many technology and professional-services businesses. Common matters include:

• IRS audits and examinations — representing you in correspondence, office, and field audits.
• Tax disputes and appeals — challenging assessments before the IRS Appeals office or U.S. Tax Court.
• Back taxes and collection relief — installment agreements, offers in compromise, and lien or levy release.
• Washington state tax issues — Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and sales/use tax disputes with the Department of Revenue.
• Business and transactional tax planning — entity structuring, mergers, and the sale of a company.

How tax law works in Washington

Federal tax law applies the same everywhere, but Washington’s state tax structure is unusual and shapes much of the local work. Washington imposes no personal or corporate income tax. Instead, the state raises revenue largely through the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, a gross-receipts tax calculated on a business’s total income with no deduction for labor, materials, or other costs. Most service businesses fall into the “service and other activities” classification. Washington also relies on a relatively high retail sales and use tax. All of these state taxes are administered by the Washington Department of Revenue. A Bellevue tax attorney who understands both the IRS and the Department of Revenue can address the full picture facing an Eastside business.

What to do and what to expect

If you receive a notice from the IRS or the Department of Revenue, act promptly:

1. Read the notice carefully and note every deadline — appeal and response windows are strict.
2. Avoid contacting the agency until you have legal advice, and never ignore the letter.
3. Gather your returns, records, and correspondence so your attorney can assess exposure.
4. Let counsel communicate with the agency on your behalf to protect your position.
5. Pursue the right remedy — audit defense, an appeal, a payment plan, or a settlement.

Early involvement of an attorney often narrows the issues and can prevent a routine inquiry from escalating.

What hiring a tax attorney costs

Tax attorneys in the Bellevue area most often bill by the hour, with rates reflecting the complexity of the matter and the attorney’s experience. Defined projects — preparing an offer in compromise or structuring a transaction, for example — may be quoted as a flat fee. For a dispute, ask for an estimate of the likely range, what an initial assessment costs, and how the attorney will keep fees proportionate to the amount at stake.

Choosing the right Bellevue tax attorney

Tax is a technical field, so match the attorney to your issue. Questions worth asking:

• Do you concentrate in IRS controversy, state tax, transactional planning, or all three?
• Have you handled matters before the Washington Department of Revenue?
• Will you personally manage my case and represent me before the agency or court?
• How do you bill, and what is your estimate for a matter like mine?

Review the profiles below, compare experience and client ratings, and choose counsel whose background fits your federal and Washington state tax needs.