If the IRS or Florida Department of Revenue has contacted you, the clock is already running. A Fort Lauderdale tax attorney protects what an accountant cannot: privilege, audit strategy, and a path out of debt that does not blow up your business.
Updated November 27, 202513 min readEditorially independent
These 10 Fort Lauderdale tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt resolution, offshore reporting, sales-tax disputes with the Florida Department of Revenue, and criminal tax defense. We cross-checked each firm against Florida Bar Tax Section recognition, LL.M. (Tax) credentials, Super Lawyers tax recognition, and verifiable IRS practice history. Tax attorneys with both a JD and an LL.M. in Taxation are noted below where applicable.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed verifiable peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), bar association recognition, state bar standing, published verdicts and settlements, client review patterns, and board certifications where applicable. 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 →
1
Klitzman Law Group, PLLC
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1995Boutique
Practice focus: Tax controversy, IRS audit, appeal, collection
Lawrence Klitzman holds an LL.M. in Taxation and has more than 30 years of experience negotiating taxpayer debts and representing taxpayers in audit, appeal, and collection proceedings. Pure tax controversy practice. No estate planning, no general tax planning.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: LL.M. in Taxation plus 30 years of pure controversy work. Tight specialist focus.
Practice focus: Tax controversy, IRS and Florida Department of Revenue disputes
Dale R. Kennedy is a tax attorney and a licensed CPA. The unusual combination that lets one person handle the books and the legal defense. The firm deals exclusively with tax controversy matters: IRS issues, Florida Department of Revenue audits, and state tax disputes.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: JD + CPA combination is rare. Useful when the case is as much about reconstructing books as defending an audit.
Practice focus: Tax controversy, offers in compromise, audits
Attorney Ray Haselman provides a wide range of tax-related legal services for clients in Fort Lauderdale and represents clients across Florida and nationwide. The practice covers audits, collections, levies, liens, and offers in compromise.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong volume of OIC and installment-agreement work. Useful for solo-debtor situations.
Practice focus: Tax controversy, tax planning, IRS resolution
Family-run firm with over 50 years of combined tax planning and tax litigation experience. The firm helps clients resolve issues with the IRS and offers continuity from initial audit through litigation.
Fee structure
Hourly / Flat
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Long tenure on a small bench. Useful when you want one or two attorneys handling the entire matter.
Practice focus: Tax evasion defense, white-collar criminal tax
Fort Lauderdale defense firm with a tax-evasion practice. Handles cases where the IRS Criminal Investigation Division has opened a file and the matter has crossed from civil to criminal exposure.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best when the matter is criminal. Tax evasion, structuring, or false-returns indictments.
Practice focus: Tax controversy, audit defense, FBAR / FATCA
Fort Lauderdale tax practice handling audits, offers in compromise, installment agreements, FBAR / FATCA compliance, and IRS appeals. Strong bench for offshore-reporting cases.
Fee structure
Hourly / Flat
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong offshore-disclosure practice. Useful for clients with foreign bank accounts or foreign income.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1925Large (Statewide Florida)
Practice focus: Tax planning, tax counsel for business
Statewide Florida full-service firm with deep tax counsel for businesses, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals. The tax practice handles transactional tax planning, structuring, and IRS representation.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best for high-net-worth clients and business owners with tax-planning needs beyond controversy work.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1985Large (100+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Tax planning, transactional tax, tax controversy
Florida's largest business-only law firm has a strong tax bench for transactional tax structuring, M&A tax, and high-stakes tax controversy. Fort Lauderdale office at 201 East Las Olas Blvd.
Fee structure
Hourly ($425-$800)
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Useful when the tax issue is wrapped around a transaction. Sale of business, restructure, fund formation.
Practice focus: Federal tax fraud and evasion defense, white-collar
South Florida white-collar defense firm with a federal tax fraud and tax evasion practice. The firm defends individuals and businesses facing federal tax investigations, grand-jury subpoenas, and indictments.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best when the case has moved from IRS exam to federal grand jury or Department of Justice Tax Division.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1980Large (240+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Tax controversy, business tax planning
Multi-practice firm with a tax bench inside a 240-attorney structure. Strong fit when the tax matter is part of a larger business problem. Entity restructure, employment-tax dispute, or successor-liability issue.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Useful when the tax matter touches multiple practice areas (employment, corporate, real estate).
What to expect on a Fort Lauderdale tax engagement
IRS audit response (correspondence audit): 4-12 weeks. IRS office audit: 3-6 months. Field audit: 6-18 months. Offer in Compromise (OIC) submission and decision: 9-24 months. Installment agreement negotiation: 30-90 days. Innocent spouse relief: 6-12 months. Tax court petition through trial: 18-36 months. Voluntary disclosure for unreported offshore accounts: 12-24 months. Criminal tax investigation through indictment: 12-36 months.
What does a Fort Lauderdale tax lawyer cost?
IRS audit defense (correspondence): $1,500-$5,000 flat. Office audit defense: $5,000-$15,000. Field audit defense: $15,000-$75,000 depending on complexity. Offer in Compromise preparation: $3,500-$10,000 flat. Installment agreement: $1,500-$4,000. FBAR or FATCA voluntary disclosure: $15,000-$75,000+. Tax court litigation: $25,000-$150,000+. Criminal tax defense: $50,000-$500,000+. Most firms quote flat fees for known-scope work (OIC, audits) and hourly ($350-$700) for litigation or open-ended controversy work.
How to choose between these 10 firms
All ten firms above are competent practitioners. The right pick depends on the shape of your matter, not on which firm has the biggest billboard. The patterns we see:
Pick a boutique when your case is high-stakes but narrow in scope, you want a senior attorney doing the actual work, and you are willing to trade brand recognition for senior attention. Boutiques typically run $325-$525 per hour for the lead attorney and have lower overhead. The risk: if the firm gets conflicted out or busy, your case may stall.
Pick a mid-size firm when your matter has multiple moving parts, or when you need a steady team with a bench behind it. Mid-size firms in Fort Lauderdale typically charge $375-$650 per hour and are the natural fit for most tax cases.
Pick a large firm when the matter is genuinely large in dollars at stake, complex in legal issues, multi-jurisdictional, or institutionally sensitive. Large firms charge $450-$850 per hour but bring depth across practice areas. The risk: junior attorneys do most of the day-to-day work unless you push for senior involvement.
What is specific about tax cases in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
The local courthouse matters. Broward County is the venue for most tax matters originating in Fort Lauderdale. The judges have published procedures, scheduling preferences, and trial calendars that an experienced local lawyer knows by heart. A firm that has never appeared in front of your judge is starting from scratch on the procedural side, and that costs you time and money.
Filing deadlines are strict. Statutes of limitations, notice requirements, pre-suit certifications, and Florida procedural rules are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop. Your first conversation with a lawyer should include a written confirmation of the controlling deadlines.
Florida law has specific quirks. Florida statutes governing this practice area shape strategy, leverage, damages, and settlement value. A firm that primarily practices in another state is starting at a disadvantage even when admitted in Florida.
Local juries and judges have patterns. Verdict patterns, judicial temperament, and settlement norms in Broward County are local knowledge. A trial-capable firm uses venue, judge assignment, and jury demographics strategically.
Red flags to watch for when picking a tax lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Most firms in Fort Lauderdale are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, custody outcome, or settlement number, walk away. Ethics rules in every U.S. state prohibit guarantees, and any lawyer making them is either uninformed or willing to lie to get your business.
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, how often you will hear from them, and what happens when they are unavailable.
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 rather than a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We have helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Do not worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Fort Lauderdale lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my case day to day? Get a name. Get an email. Get their bar number so you can verify their standing.
How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
How many of those went to trial? Settlement skill is important. Trial skill is what gives you leverage to settle well.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign anything.
What case expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs (filing fees, deposition costs, expert witnesses) surprise people. Ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes for a case like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? Rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
What is the worst-case outcome for my case? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a tax attorney or a CPA for an IRS audit?
Use both. The CPA handles the numbers; the attorney handles the legal strategy and protects privilege. CPAs do not have attorney-client privilege. Anything you tell your CPA can be subpoenaed. Communications with a tax attorney are protected.
I got an IRS audit letter. How long do I have to respond?
Correspondence audit: 30 days. Office or field audit: typically 30-60 days to schedule. Missing the deadline is not a small thing. The IRS can move to a default assessment and start collection. Call a tax attorney within 5-10 days of receiving the letter.
What is an Offer in Compromise (OIC) and do I qualify?
An OIC is an IRS program that lets you settle your tax debt for less than you owe. Eligibility depends on your reasonable collection potential (RCP), what the IRS thinks it could collect from you over 10 years. Acceptance rates run 30-40% nationally. A tax attorney calculates the RCP before you apply so you do not waste the $205 application fee.
What happens if I just do not file my taxes?
Failure-to-file penalty is 5% per month, capped at 25%. Failure-to-pay penalty is 0.5% per month. After 3+ years of non-filing, the IRS can file Substitutes for Return (SFRs) that assume your worst-case tax position, then assess and start collection. Five+ years of non-filing can trigger a criminal referral to IRS-CI.
Can the IRS take my house or my business?
Yes, but rarely on first contact. Levies on bank accounts and wage garnishment are common. Real-property seizure happens in extreme cases and requires court approval. A tax attorney can usually negotiate an installment agreement, currently-not-collectible status, or OIC that stops collection before it gets to seizure.
Do I have to disclose my foreign bank accounts?
If your aggregate foreign account balance exceeded $10,000 at any time in the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN 114) by April 15. If you had foreign assets over $50,000 ($100,000 joint), you may also need Form 8938 with your tax return. Failure-to-file penalties are draconian. $10,000 per non-willful violation, up to 50% of the account per willful violation.
What is the statute of limitations on IRS collection?
10 years from the date of assessment. The clock can be paused (tolled) by bankruptcy, an OIC submission, certain installment-agreement events, or you being outside the U.S. for 6+ months. Track your Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED). It matters.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many tax matters like mine have you handled in the last three years, and how many went to trial? The answer tells you what kind of lawyer you are actually hiring. — The LawFirmSquare team