An IRS letter is not the end. It is a deadline.
If you have an IRS notice, a tax debt, an audit, or a wage garnishment on your Austin paycheck, the worst thing you can do is wait. The right Austin tax attorney can stop a levy in 24 hours, negotiate an installment plan, file an offer in compromise, or fight an exam — but every option has a clock attached.
These 10 Austin firms handle the spectrum of tax controversy work: IRS audits, tax debt resolution, offers in compromise, installment agreements, lien and levy relief, payroll-tax problems, U.S. Tax Court litigation, and Texas franchise and sales-tax disputes. Most offer a free initial call to assess whether you have a tax-debt problem (resolution) or a tax-position problem (controversy).
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Federal and state tax planning, controversy, transactional tax
Established Austin firm with a tax practice anchored by Robert E. Reetz, Jr. — a Certified Public Accountant and Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Strong fit for complex, high-stakes tax matters.
Practice focus: IRS audits and appeals, tax disputes, business and family tax planning
40+ years of Central Texas tax controversy work. Partner Thomas F. Virr is board-certified in tax law and worked at the IRS for over a decade. Substantial experience on both sides of the IRS table.
Practice focus: IRS audit defense, tax litigation, taxpayer-side advocacy
26+ year Austin tax attorney who has never represented the IRS — always the taxpayer. Strong fit if you want a single attorney handling the matter from intake to resolution.
“Ron got a $190K liability reduced to $42K over 11 months. He told me exactly what to expect at each step and never oversold.”Request Free Consultation →
— Verified client composite, public reviews
Practice focus: IRS audits, back taxes, wage garnishments, installment agreements
Tax controversy firm with Austin presence handling IRS and state tax enforcement actions — audits, levies, garnishments, and tax debt resolution. Flat-fee structure for most resolution work.
Practice focus: IRS tax controversy, state Department of Revenue disputes
Austin tax-controversy boutique handling exclusively IRS and state-tax matters — no estate planning, no general litigation. Good fit when you want a specialist focused on your specific problem type.
Practice focus: IRS audit defense, tax court litigation, criminal tax
Chad Silver is a 7-time Super Lawyer with 20+ years defending taxpayers against the IRS in U.S. Tax Court. Particularly strong on contested audits and criminal tax exposure.
Practice focus: IRS relief, tax debt, offers in compromise, audit representation
Austin tax-controversy boutique offering full-scope IRS representation — audits, appeals, collections, and U.S. Tax Court. Useful when you need a board-certified specialist without an AmLaw bill.
Practice focus: Business tax planning, entity-level tax structuring, IRS controversy
Austin business law boutique with tax-aware structuring work for closely held companies. Strong combination of formation, contracts, and tax under one roof.
Practice focus: Business and individual tax planning, IRS controversy, estate tax
40-year Austin firm with a tax practice integrated into broader business and estate work. Useful when the tax issue overlaps with succession planning or business transitions.
Practice focus: Startup tax structuring, S-corp elections, QSBS planning, R&D credits
Austin startup-focused firm with tax planning aimed at early-stage companies — S-corp elections, 83(b) elections, Section 1202 QSBS planning, R&D tax credits.
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Most Austin tax resolution firms quote $2,500 to $7,500 flat for an installment agreement, $3,500 to $10,000 for an offer in compromise, and $5,000 to $15,000+ for full audit representation. Hourly rates for board-certified tax attorneys in Austin run $400 to $700/hour. U.S. Tax Court litigation typically starts at a $15,000 retainer and can exceed $100,000 in a contested case. State and local tax disputes (franchise, sales) are usually hourly + retainer.
Stopping a wage garnishment or bank levy: typically 24 to 72 hours once the firm has a Form 2848 power of attorney on file. Installment agreement: 30 to 90 days from engagement. Offer in compromise: 6 to 12 months for an IRS decision. Full audit representation: 3 to 18 months depending on scope. U.S. Tax Court petition to trial: 12 to 24 months. Statute of limitations on IRS collection: 10 years from assessment, with significant tolling exceptions.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or visa approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a careful practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to deals closed, verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. “We’ve helped thousands of clients” is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. “Don’t worry about cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate Austin lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what’s covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Austin firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Austin IRS Office. The IRS Austin campus on West 35th Street processes returns and houses appeals officers. Local representation can mean in-person meetings with revenue officers and appeals — significant in negotiation.
U.S. Tax Court Austin sessions. The U.S. Tax Court holds regular sessions in Austin. Local counsel familiar with the Austin trial judge’s preferences and the local appeals office has measurable advantage.
Texas has no state income tax. Texas residents avoid the most common state-tax controversy seen elsewhere — but Texas franchise tax, sales and use tax, and motor-vehicle tax all generate substantial controversy work. The Texas Comptroller is the state-tax counterparty.
Board-certified specialization. Less than 1% of Texas attorneys are board-certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The credential is a real differentiator on a tax matter with substantial exposure.
Read the letter carefully — there is a deadline on it. Do not call the IRS until you have spoken with a tax attorney. Anything you say to the agent can be used against you. Most Austin tax attorneys will do a free initial call and tell you whether you need representation or can handle the audit yourself.
In extreme cases, yes — the IRS can seize a primary residence after a court order. In practice, this is rare and reserved for the largest cases with no resolution effort. Wage garnishment, bank levy, and lien filings are far more common. Most can be released within 24 to 72 hours by an attorney with a power of attorney on file.
An offer in compromise (OIC) is a settlement with the IRS for less than the full amount you owe. The IRS accepts an OIC only if it determines you cannot reasonably pay the full liability through an installment agreement. Acceptance rates run roughly 25 to 35% nationwide. Application fee: $205. Attorney fee: typically $3,500 to $10,000.
Tax Court allows self-representation, but the rules of procedure and evidence are real. Cases under $50,000 can use the simpler Small Tax Case (S Case) procedure, where decisions are final and non-appealable. For anything over $50,000, hiring counsel almost always pays for itself.
The Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) is 10 years from assessment. The clock pauses while certain events are pending — bankruptcy, offer in compromise, collection due process appeals — so the practical collection window is often longer than 10 calendar years.
No. Texas has no state income tax for individuals. Texas businesses pay franchise tax (based on margin, not income) to the Texas Comptroller. Texas also has sales and use tax, motor vehicle tax, and a few specialized taxes. State-tax controversy in Austin is usually a Comptroller matter, not an income-tax matter.
A CPA prepares returns and provides accounting advice. A tax attorney handles legal disputes — audits, appeals, tax court, criminal tax — and gives advice protected by attorney-client privilege. For a routine return, a CPA is enough. For an audit, a tax court petition, or anything criminal, you want an attorney.
If you cannot pay anything toward your tax debt without serious hardship, the IRS can place your account in Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status. Collection stops, but penalties and interest continue to accrue and the IRS will periodically review your finances. CNC is useful as a bridge to an offer in compromise or installment agreement.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team