Long Beach, California - Tax Controversy & IRS Resolution
Top 10 Tax & IRS Lawyers in Long Beach, CA
Ten Long Beach tax attorneys who handle IRS audits, back taxes, liens, and offers in compromise - plus what resolution costs, how long it takes, and when a tax lawyer beats a CPA.
Updated August 04, 202512 min readEditorially independent
If you own a business in Long Beach or you are staring at an IRS notice you do not understand, the stakes are simple: tax problems compound. Penalties and interest accrue every month, a lien can freeze your ability to borrow or sell, and a wage garnishment or bank levy can land before you have finished reading the letter. A tax attorney is the person who steps between you and the IRS, the California Franchise Tax Board, the CDTFA, or the EDD, and turns an open-ended threat into a defined number you can plan around.
A tax lawyer is not the same as your CPA. Your accountant prepares returns and keeps your books; a tax attorney represents you in a dispute, negotiates settlements, and protects you with attorney-client privilege if there is any question of fraud or criminal exposure. That privilege is the practical reason to bring in a lawyer once a matter turns adversarial - an audit that smells like more than a paperwork mismatch, unfiled returns going back years, or a balance you genuinely cannot pay.
We built this shortlist from peer-reviewed directories - Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, and Expertise.com - and confirmed each firm has a real tax controversy practice serving Long Beach and the wider Los Angeles County area. Several of the attorneys here are former IRS lawyers or California State Bar certified tax specialists. Treat it as a starting point: call two or three, describe your situation, and notice who quotes a clear scope and fee rather than selling you a package before they have seen your file.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Long Beach-area tax / irs practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Brager Tax Law Group
Former IRS trial attorneysCA State Bar Tax SpecialistAudits & appeals
Practice focus: IRS and California tax controversy, audits, appeals, and tax litigation
Founder Dennis Brager is a former IRS senior tax attorney and a California State Bar certified tax specialist, and the firm is staffed by former IRS trial lawyers with decades of combined controversy experience serving Long Beach individuals, businesses, and estates.
Why they made the list: A strong pick when an audit or balance carries real exposure - the former-IRS-insider perspective is exactly what you want negotiating an appeal or fending off a fraud referral.
Fee structure
Hourly, typically $400-$650; engagement varies by matter
Practice focus: IRS and FTB resolution, audits, planning, and controversy
Tax Lawyers Group, APC provides personalized tax representation across California, including Long Beach, combining strategic planning with hands-on resolution work for complex tax problems.
Why they made the list: Worth a call if you want one firm that can both clean up a current dispute and put planning in place so the same problem does not return next year.
Practice focus: IRS and California agency disputes, audits, collections, and appeals
This boutique firm focuses on helping Long Beach residents and businesses resolve federal and California tax issues - IRS, Franchise Tax Board, CDTFA sales tax, and EDD payroll matters - with hands-on, partner-level attention.
Why they made the list: A good fit for a small business juggling a state sales-tax or payroll-tax problem alongside the IRS, where you want one attorney who knows all four agencies.
IRS resolution focusOffers in compromiseTax Court representation
Practice focus: IRS resolution, offers in compromise, audit reconsideration, unfiled returns
Kennedy Tax Solutions concentrates on IRS resolution - penalty abatement, offers in compromise, audit reconsideration, and U.S. Tax Court representation - drawing on decades of experience dealing directly with the IRS.
Why they made the list: Made the list for collection cases: if your real problem is a balance you cannot pay, this is the kind of resolution-focused shop that lives in offers in compromise and installment agreements.
Fee structure
Flat fees common on resolution work; quoted upfront
32+ years experienceTax & bankruptcy litigationIRS, FTB, BOE, EDD
Practice focus: Tax and bankruptcy litigation, audits, fraud investigations, FBAR, innocent spouse
With more than 32 years in practice, Victor J. Yoo handles tax and bankruptcy litigation against the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board, Board of Equalization, and EDD, including sales-tax audits, fraud investigations, FBAR, and innocent spouse claims.
Why they made the list: Worth a look for the harder cases - offshore account FBAR exposure, alleged fraud, or a tax problem tangled up with bankruptcy - where deep litigation experience matters.
Tax resolution teamServes LA CountyLiens, levies, garnishments
Practice focus: IRS debt resolution, wage garnishment and levy release, audits, and liens
J. David Tax Law serves clients across Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, with a team focused on aggressive resolution of serious IRS problems - wage garnishments, bank levies, liens, audits, and back-tax debt.
Why they made the list: A practical choice when you need fast action to stop a garnishment or levy, with flat-fee pricing so you know the cost before the work starts.
Former IRS agent experienceTax controversyIndividuals & businesses
Practice focus: IRS audits, collections, appeals, and tax controversy
Beem & Isley, P.C. represents Long Beach individuals and businesses in IRS controversy work, drawing on prior experience as an IRS agent to read how the Service approaches a file.
Why they made the list: A reasonable option for a standard audit or collection matter where the former-agent perspective helps anticipate the IRS's next move.
Tell us what the IRS notice says and we will connect you with a Long Beach tax attorney who fits - whether you need audit defense, an offer in compromise, or help with years of unfiled returns.
How to choose between them in Long Beach
Hire a lawyer, not just a preparer, once it turns adversarial. A CPA is fine for filing. The moment there is an audit with real money at stake, unfiled years, or any whiff of fraud, you want attorney-client privilege and someone who negotiates with the IRS for a living.
Match the firm to your actual problem. A collections case (a balance you cannot pay) calls for an offer-in-compromise shop. An audit defense or appeal calls for a former-IRS controversy lawyer. A criminal or FBAR exposure calls for a litigator. Ask which of these the firm does most.
Get the fee scope in writing. Tax resolution is sold both hourly and flat-fee. For a defined task - an offer in compromise, a penalty abatement, a single audit year - a flat fee protects you. Ask exactly what is and is not included before you sign.
Ask who handles the IRS contact. At some firms an enrolled agent or paralegal does the legwork and the attorney only appears if it escalates. That can be fine and cheaper - just confirm it, and confirm a lawyer is on the file if criminal exposure is possible.
Watch for guarantees. No honest tax lawyer guarantees the IRS will accept an offer in compromise or wipe a penalty. Be wary of anyone who promises pennies on the dollar before reviewing your finances.
What tax / irs help typically costs in Long Beach
Long Beach tax attorneys price work two ways - hourly for open-ended controversy and litigation, flat-fee for defined resolution tasks. Rough ranges for the LA County market:
Hourly rate: Commonly $350 to $650 per hour, with former-IRS attorneys and certified tax specialists at the top of that range.
Offer in compromise: Often $3,500 to $7,500 flat to prepare and negotiate, depending on the complexity of your finances.
Penalty abatement: Frequently $1,000 to $3,500 for a first-time or reasonable-cause abatement request.
Audit defense: Roughly $3,000 to $10,000+ for a single audit year, more if it spans multiple years or heads to appeals.
Installment agreement setup: Commonly $750 to $2,500 to negotiate a manageable monthly payment plan with the IRS.
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest outcome. A lawyer who structures an offer in compromise correctly the first time, or who gets penalties abated, can save you many times the fee. Ask every firm for a written engagement letter stating the scope, the fee, and what happens if the IRS rejects a proposal.
How long it takes
IRS matters move on the agency's clock, not yours. Here is a realistic sequence for a Long Beach resolution case:
First response (days): A good firm files a power of attorney and contacts the IRS within days, which can pause collection activity like garnishments while the case is worked.
Document gathering (2-6 weeks): Pulling transcripts, building a financial statement, and reconstructing unfiled returns takes a few weeks depending on how complete your records are.
Offer or audit work (3-9 months): An offer in compromise typically takes six to nine months for the IRS to evaluate. An audit can run a few months to over a year.
Appeals (add 6-12 months): If you appeal an audit result or a rejected offer, add roughly six months to a year for the appeals process.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a tax / irs lawyer in Long Beach
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many tax / irs matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Long Beach consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most tax / irs matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Tax / IRS attorney in Long Beach
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about tax / irs lawyers in Long Beach
Do I need a tax attorney or is a CPA enough?
A CPA prepares returns and keeps your books. A tax attorney represents you in a dispute, negotiates settlements, and gives you attorney-client privilege. Once an audit gets serious, you have unfiled years, or there is any fraud concern, hire the attorney.
What does a tax lawyer cost in Long Beach?
Most charge $350 to $650 per hour, or a flat fee for defined work - roughly $3,500 to $7,500 for an offer in compromise and $1,000 to $3,500 for a penalty abatement.
Can a tax lawyer stop an IRS wage garnishment or bank levy?
Often yes. Filing a power of attorney and opening a resolution case can pause or release collection action while a payment plan or settlement is negotiated. Move fast - the sooner a lawyer contacts the IRS, the better.
What is an offer in compromise?
It is a settlement that lets you pay less than the full balance when you genuinely cannot pay it all. The IRS evaluates your income, assets, and expenses. Acceptance is not guaranteed, so the preparation matters.
What is the difference between the IRS, FTB, CDTFA, and EDD?
The IRS is federal. In California, the Franchise Tax Board handles state income tax, the CDTFA handles sales and use tax, and the EDD handles payroll tax. A business problem often touches more than one, so ask whether a firm handles all of them.
How far back can the IRS go?
Generally three years to audit a return, but six years for substantial understatements and with no time limit at all in cases of fraud or unfiled returns. Unfiled years are the most common reason a problem stays open indefinitely.
Will hiring a lawyer make the IRS think I did something wrong?
No. The IRS deals with represented taxpayers constantly. Representation signals you are taking the matter seriously and want it resolved correctly - it does not raise suspicion.
What is FBAR and why does it matter?
FBAR is the report required for foreign bank accounts over a threshold. Failing to file carries steep penalties, so if you have offshore accounts and an IRS issue, use a lawyer experienced in FBAR and voluntary disclosure.
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 a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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