IRS audit, collection notice, or tax court case in New Orleans? Get a tax attorney, not a CPA.
New Orleans IRS matters run through the IRS Office of Appeals (Dallas), the U.S. Tax Court (rides circuit through New Orleans), and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (for refund cases and criminal tax). Louisiana state tax disputes go through the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals and the state district courts. The 10 firms below have verifiable New Orleans tax-controversy practices.
IRS work is its own specialty. CPAs and enrolled agents can handle most filings and even some audits, but only attorneys have attorney-client privilege, can litigate in U.S. Tax Court at a sophisticated level, and can defend criminal tax investigations. The 10 firms below split into two groups: full-service firms and mid-size firms for complex transactional tax and high-dollar controversy, and boutique tax firms focused on individual and small-business IRS resolution.
These firms are filtered against Best Lawyers in America 2026 Tax Law, Super Lawyers Louisiana Tax, the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (Tax Law), and U.S. Tax Court admission records. The list spans full-service firms with deep tax practices to boutique IRS-resolution firms focused on individual and small-business federal tax matters.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed peer rankings (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia), bar association recognition, and published case results. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two 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 tax controversy, state and local tax (SALT), transactional tax, partnership tax, international tax, IRS appeals
Largest law firm in New Orleans. William M. (Bill) Backstrom leads the Tax Practice Group and has focused on state and local tax matters in Louisiana for more than 35 years. Strong SALT and federal tax controversy bench.
Practice focus: Federal tax controversy, IRS audit defense, state and local tax, severance and franchise tax, transactional tax
Louisiana-based regional firm. Jaye A. Calhoun has decades of experience and is Board Certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization in Tax Law and Estate Planning. Strong Louisiana SALT bench.
Practice focus: Federal tax controversy, transactional tax, partnership tax, executive compensation, IRS appeals
New Orleans-HQ firm. Sophisticated tax practice serving Louisiana and Gulf Coast businesses with tax planning, IRS controversy work, and transactional tax matters. Recognized in Super Lawyers Louisiana for tax law.
Practice focus: Tax planning, IRS audits and collections, tax controversy, business tax structuring, estate tax planning
Since 1989, Chehardy Sherman Williams has represented individuals and businesses looking to protect their tax interests, with law offices in New Orleans, Metairie, and Hammond. Useful for individuals and middle-market businesses with both planning and controversy needs.
Practice focus: Tax planning, IRS controversy, state revenue agency disputes, federal and state tax litigation
New Orleans tax planning lawyers with more than 40 years of legal experience representing clients in tax matters before the IRS, state revenue agencies, and in court. Useful for individuals and businesses needing experienced tax counsel.
Practice focus: IRS audit defense, IRS collections, offers in compromise, installment agreements, Louisiana Department of Revenue matters
Louisiana boutique tax firm serving New Orleans clients. Cary Bryson and the team handle IRS resolution work including audits, collection cases, and offers in compromise. Useful for individuals and small businesses facing IRS issues at non-AmLaw fees.
Practice focus: IRS audits and collections, tax planning, tax litigation, estate tax
Michael L. Eckstein has been AV rated by Martindale Hubbell for over 30 years and has been selected a Louisiana Super Lawyer since the inception of the rating. Long-established New Orleans solo tax practice.
Practice focus: Federal tax controversy, transactional tax, partnership tax, state and local tax
New Orleans-HQ regional firm. Tax practice covers federal and Louisiana tax issues for closely held businesses, family offices, and middle-market companies.
Practice focus: Federal tax controversy, IRS audit defense, partnership tax, transactional tax, state tax
New Orleans-HQ regional firm with a long-established tax practice. Handles federal tax controversy, transactional tax structuring, and Louisiana state tax matters for businesses across the Gulf South.
Practice focus: Energy and oil-and-gas tax, partnership tax, transactional tax, state and local tax for energy clients
New Orleans-HQ firm with deep energy-sector roots. Tax practice particularly strong for oil and gas, energy, and maritime clients with complex partnership and SALT issues. Useful when tax matters cross energy or maritime regulatory issues.
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IRS audit (correspondence or office audit): 6 to 14 months from notice to closing letter. IRS field audit: 12 to 24 months. IRS Appeals: 6 to 12 months after the 30-day letter. U.S. Tax Court petition: 14 to 24 months from filing to trial. Offer in compromise: 9 to 12 months. Installment agreement: 30 to 60 days. Criminal tax investigation (CID): 18 to 36 months before charging decision. Louisiana Department of Revenue assessment appeals run through the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals on a 12 to 18 month timeline.
New Orleans ranges for 2026: IRS audit defense (correspondence) $2,500 to $7,500 flat; IRS office audit $5,000 to $20,000; field audit $15,000 to $75,000+; IRS Appeals $10,000 to $50,000; Tax Court petition through trial $25,000 to $200,000+; offer in compromise $3,500 to $10,000 plus application fee; installment agreement $1,500 to $5,000; criminal tax defense $50,000 to $500,000+; transactional tax opinion $5,000 to $50,000+. Hourly rates: $250 to $475 boutique, $400 to $750 mid/large firm, $550 to $1,100+ BigLaw partner.
Most New Orleans firms doing this work are competent. A few patterns predict trouble.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific outcome, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The matter is handled by an unsupervised junior or paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter 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 verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar recognition. Specific numbers, named matters, and third-party rankings are evidence. Brochure phrasing is not.
Vague fee terms. "Do not worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate New Orleans firm will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you change counsel.
Most New Orleans firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial inquiry call. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
For IRS audits where the dispute is over numbers, a CPA or enrolled agent is often enough. For IRS Appeals, Tax Court litigation, criminal tax investigations, fraud penalty defense, or any matter where attorney-client privilege matters, you need an attorney. CPAs do not have attorney-client privilege for tax-controversy work.
A settlement of an IRS tax debt for less than the full amount owed, based on the IRS's analysis of your reasonable collection potential (assets plus future income capacity). Acceptance rates are roughly 30 to 40% nationally. The 24-month review window means timing matters.
Tax Court is the only court that lets you challenge an IRS deficiency before paying it. You file a petition within 90 days of receiving a Statutory Notice of Deficiency. The court rides circuit and holds trial sessions in New Orleans. Small tax cases ($50,000 or less per year) can use the small case procedure (no appeal).
IRS Appeals is an administrative process within the IRS - faster, less formal, and based on the strength of your factual and legal position. Tax Court is a federal court with formal procedure and judicial review. You can do Appeals first, then Tax Court if Appeals does not resolve.
Yes, in extreme cases - but the IRS rarely does. Federal tax liens attach to all your property; levies are the active seizure. Principal residences receive heightened procedural protection (collection due process hearings, judicial review). Most homeowners can negotiate installment agreements, offers in compromise, or currently-not-collectible status before levy.
10 years from assessment, plus tolling for periods when collection is stayed (offer in compromise pending, bankruptcy, hardship status). The 10-year collection statute is one of the strongest taxpayer protections in the Code.
File now, before the IRS files a substitute return (SFR) on your behalf. SFRs use single filing status and no deductions, which produces the worst possible tax result. Voluntary filing also opens the path to penalty abatement and Streamlined Filing for non-willful non-filers.
Sometimes. First-Time Penalty Abatement is available for taxpayers with a clean 3-year filing history. Reasonable cause abatement is available for penalties caused by circumstances beyond your control (serious illness, natural disaster, reliance on incorrect IRS advice). Documentation matters.
The Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals is the administrative tribunal that hears appeals from Louisiana Department of Revenue assessments, denials of refunds, and severance tax disputes. Filing deadline is 60 days from the assessment notice. Decisions can be appealed to Louisiana district court.
Yes. Louisiana has a state corporate income and franchise tax, sales and use tax with parish-level overlays (parish sales tax is a major compliance issue), severance tax on oil and gas, and a unique inventory tax credit. SALT planning and controversy in Louisiana benefit from counsel with deep Louisiana-specific experience.
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