FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I can't understand why some professionals want to charge a potential Client for a consultation or for an investigation of their tax problem. Some professionals will offer a free consultation but we like to actually see if we can help you by having some numbers to go by first. We'll ask you to complete a short Worksheet so we can gather some information before we get into how we may help you. We like to call our first serious discussion a Strategy Session. After determining whether I can help you with your tax problem, I'll outline our fees in an Agreement. Fees are generally based on how much you owe and the difficulty of your case. I do not quote fees in advance of knowing what will be involved with your case. You will be able to find someone to do it cheaper and you'll be able to find someone that will be more expensive. But, I don't think you'll be able to find anyone that will do a better job on your case than I will. I work all of my cases personally and do not hand it over to any office staff like other larger firms do. I also manage my case load and only allow myself to take on five new cases per month. That way, I can give each of my Clients the personal attention they need.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We begin the process with our potential Clients by having them complete a short Worksheet. This Worksheet has some questions about assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. I'll ask you to fax over the latest correspondence you've received from the IRS. I'll look at everything and contact you regarding a time to have a meaningful and informative Strategy Session with you over the phone. We may or may not be able to help you with your problem but most likely we can. After we come to an agreement over the scope of the engagement with you, we'll immediately begin to represent you by sending a simple little form over to the IRS declaring me as your Representative. The IRS will have to contact me regarding your tax problem going forward and I'll take it from there. If we're going to be making an Offer in Compromise, which is a settlement for less than you owe, or, requesting an Installment Agreement, which is a payment plan, then the following discussion is relevant. If we have time, and a Revenue Officer is not involved with the matter, I'll try to help you arrange your finances for maximum benefit regarding a settlement with the IRS. At some point, I'll have to compile some paperwork and serve it to the IRS regarding your tax matter. Then we'll wait for them to consider what we serve them. After they receive what I serve them, the collection process will be paused while they are considering the paperwork. This is very important -- because you'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief in knowing that you won't have your wages garnished or your bank account seized for a while. This is a major part of the protection that I offer as your Representative. After a period of time, usually 4-6 months, I'll hear back from them and we'll see what they say. There may be some negotiation at that point in which I'll try to get the best deal for you that I can. If we aren't happy with the result, we can generally Appeal the decision.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Master of Science in Taxation from The University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Science in Information Systems from The University of Texas at Arlington. I'm an Enrolled Agent with the United States Department of the Treasury.