{"id":353997,"date":"2016-04-04T10:48:06","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/tax\/legal-help-resources\/who-to-contact-for-tax-questions-tax-lawyer-or-accountant.html"},"modified":"2026-02-03T13:25:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T18:25:55","slug":"who-to-contact-for-tax-questions-tax-lawyer-or-accountant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/tax\/legal-help-resources\/who-to-contact-for-tax-questions-tax-lawyer-or-accountant.html","title":{"rendered":"Tax Lawyer vs. Accountant: Who Should You Hire?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tax Lawyer vs. Accountant: Who Should You Hire?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

A tax lawyer<\/span> is a legal professional<\/span> who specializes in resolving complex disputes with the IRS<\/span>, providing attorney-client privilege<\/span>, and offering representation in tax court<\/span>. Accountants generally manage routine filings, bookkeeping<\/span>, and financial goal setting for individuals or small businesses<\/span>. While both tax attorneys<\/span> and accountants handle tax preparation<\/span> and planning, lawyers focus on legal issues<\/span> like tax fraud<\/span> investigations, liens<\/span>, and audits.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Taxes are a nightmare for most people. Nearly everyone, whether they are employees, business owners, or private contractors, has had a\u00a0tax issue<\/span>\u00a0they couldn\u2019t resolve with\u00a0income tax<\/span> software and the internet. In some cases, the IRS<\/span> sends you a polite but ominous notice requesting more information after your last tax return<\/span>. There are accountants, CPAs<\/span>, and tax attorneys<\/span> everywhere advertising their services. Which tax professional<\/span> will best meet your needs?<\/p>\n

Income <\/span>tax<\/span> law<\/span><\/a> changes annually, and\u00a0complex <\/span>tax<\/span> issues<\/span>\u00a0arise whenever a new rule on deductions or inheritance passes a state legislature. Both accountants and lawyers know these rules, and both can do your income taxes<\/span>. The attorney often charges substantially more, but may have legal knowledge the accountant lacks. Before you decide which one meets your tax needs<\/span>, consider other issues that may arise during your tax filing, and why you might pick a tax lawyer<\/span> over an accountant.<\/p>\n

Tax Lawyer<\/span> vs. Accountant: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The main differences between a tax attorney<\/span> and an accountant are price, expertise, and the services they can offer. An accountant typically charges a flat fee to prepare your taxes and file your return. Attorney fees<\/a> are generally tied to the amount of time they spend working on your case. More experienced attorneys often charge higher rates for their services.<\/p>\n

While tax attorneys<\/span> and accountants both have specialized training in tax laws<\/span>, rules, and regulations, the taxpayers<\/span> who consult them are often facing very different issues. We discuss their differences in expertise below.<\/p>\n

Tax Lawyer<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

A tax lawyer<\/span> is both a legal professional<\/span> and a tax professional<\/span>. This means they have a law degree<\/span> from an accredited law school<\/span> and have passed their\u00a0state bar exam<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tax attorneys<\/span> are well-versed in the federal <\/span>tax<\/span> code<\/span><\/a>, other tax laws<\/span>, and have the legal training to resolve tax disputes<\/span> with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS<\/span>) and state or local tax authorities<\/span>. They can help you communicate with the IRS<\/span> during a tax audit<\/span> and protect your rights. If your tax dispute<\/span> ends up going to court, a tax lawyer<\/span> can represent you.<\/p>\n

If the situation escalates to criminal charges, a tax attorney<\/span> is not the legal representation<\/span> you\u2019ll require. A defense attorney experienced in federal and white-collar crime<\/a> will likely be the better choice.<\/p>\n

Accountant<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most accountants who work for an accounting firm<\/span> have a bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span> from a two- or four-year college or university. Many have a master\u2019s degree<\/span> as well. However, some accountants who work for firms specializing in tax preparation<\/span><\/a> may have little more than on-the-job training in preparing tax forms and bookkeeping<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Certified public accountants<\/span> (CPAs<\/span>) have passed the CPA<\/span> exam<\/span> in their state and offer accounting services beyond tax preparation<\/span>. For example, they can assist with tax planning<\/span> to help you achieve your financial goals. An accountant will often refer you to a tax lawyer<\/span> when they realize you need legal help that they can\u2019t provide because they don\u2019t have the skills or are legally barred from doing so.<\/p>\n

Estate Planning<\/span> Attorney<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you want to set up a trust<\/a> to protect your assets, your first move should be speaking with an estate planning<\/span> attorney<\/a>. Some types of trusts are \u201cinvisible\u201d for tax purposes. The revenue generated is subject to\u00a0income tax<\/span> for the grantor, but the assets within the trust will not have any estate tax, gift tax, or other taxes<\/a> when the beneficiaries receive the property upon the grantor\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

These trusts, known as \u201cintentionally defective grantor trusts\u201d and other types of trusts, must be written by an experienced estate planning<\/span> attorney<\/a>. If you want to protect your property and heirs from future estate taxes, you should discuss this after tax season is over.<\/p>\n

Attorney-Client Privilege<\/span><\/h2>\n

In most cases, either a tax attorney<\/span> or an accountant can resolve your financial matters. However, if you have any potential legal matters<\/span> that could be criminal, you\u2019ll need the protection of the attorney-client privilege<\/span><\/a>. When you consult an attorney for any matter, your communications with the lawyer are privileged. This means that in any future legal proceedings<\/span>, your attorney cannot be compelled to testify against you.<\/p>\n

The attorney-client privilege<\/span> protects your conversations with your legal counsel<\/span>, and any other form of communication, including:<\/p>\n