An IRS notice in your Portland mailbox is not the time to start reading the Internal Revenue Code. The right Portland tax attorney has worked the local IRS office, knows the Oregon Department of Revenue auditors by name, and can usually settle the issue for less than what you're losing in sleep.
Updated April 28, 202613 min readEditorially independent
These 10 Portland firms handle IRS audits, appeals, and collection defense; Oregon Department of Revenue disputes; criminal tax investigations; offers in compromise and installment agreements; FBAR and foreign-account reporting; estate and gift tax planning; and tax issues for closely held businesses. Several attorneys spent years inside the IRS or Department of Justice Tax Division before moving to private practice.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, 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 →
1
Jeffrey M. Wong, Attorney at Law
📍 Downtown PortlandFounded 2002Solo
Practice focus: IRS controversy, Oregon Department of Revenue disputes, audit and collection defense, criminal tax
Tax lawyer since 1984 who spent 14 years as IRS chief counsel and special assistant US Attorney before private practice. Particularly strong on complex IRS examinations and criminal tax referrals.
Fee structure
Hourly + flat
Free consultation
Paid
“Jeff knew every IRS examiner in the Portland office. The audit closed in three months with a no-change letter.” — Verified client composite, public reviews
Practice focus: Tax controversy, IRS audits and appeals, Oregon Department of Revenue, tax court litigation
22+ years representing taxpayers before the IRS and Oregon Department of Revenue. Strong fit for individuals and small businesses with complex tax disputes that may end up in US Tax Court.
Practice focus: Tax audits, US Tax Court litigation, tax liens, penalty abatement, hardship relief, IRS and ODR
Matt Erdman runs a broad tax controversy practice spanning audits, tax court, liens, and penalty abatement. Strong fit for Portland individuals and small businesses with active collection or audit matters.
Practice focus: IRS notices, installment agreements, offer in compromise, lien removal, Oregon DOR
Nearly 20 years on tax matters from IRS notices and installment agreements to offers in compromise and lien removal. Strong fit for Portland metro taxpayers facing routine to mid-complexity IRS and ODR issues.
Fee structure
Hourly + flat
Free consultation
Free initial
“She got the lien released, the levy stopped, and an installment plan I could actually afford — inside six weeks.” — Verified client composite, public reviews
Practice focus: Tax dispute resolution, audit and appeals, tax litigation, estate and gift tax
Long-established Portland firm with a tax controversy practice spanning IRS audits, appeals, and litigation alongside estate and gift tax work. Strong fit for high-net-worth individuals and family-owned businesses.
Practice focus: IRS controversy, Oregon Department of Revenue, audits, collections, penalty abatement
Dale R. Kennedy, J.D., CPA — deals exclusively with tax controversy. Particularly useful when you want a single professional who's both an attorney and a CPA running the matter end to end.
Practice focus: IRS dispute and controversy resolution, tax court, appeals, collection defense
Tax attorneys with master's degrees in tax law and 40+ years of combined experience settling cases with both the examination and collection divisions of the IRS. National firm with a Portland office.
Practice focus: Federal and state tax planning, IRS controversy, transactional tax, ERISA, executive compensation
Pacific Northwest regional firm with a deep tax practice. Strong fit when tax controversy work needs to coordinate with corporate, M&A, or real estate matters at the same firm.
Practice focus: Tax planning, IRS and ODR controversy, transactional tax, tax-exempt organizations
Schwabe's tax group serves Pacific Northwest businesses with tax planning, controversy, and transactional work. Strong fit for mid-market companies and tax-exempt organizations.
Practice focus: Federal and state tax planning, IRS controversy, transactional tax, executive compensation, ERISA
Portland-headquartered firm with a tax practice covering planning and controversy. Strong fit for established Oregon businesses, family-owned companies, and high-net-worth individuals.
Tell us about your situation and we’ll match you with vetted tax and IRS attorneys in Portland. Free, confidential, no obligation.
What does a tax and IRS engagement cost in Portland?
Portland tax controversy work breaks down by matter type. A simple installment agreement or penalty abatement letter runs $1,200 to $3,500 flat. A standard IRS audit through closing letter runs $4,500 to $20,000. Offers in compromise run $3,000 to $9,000 in fees regardless of outcome. IRS appeals add $7,000 to $25,000. US Tax Court litigation runs $20,000 to $200,000+. Criminal tax defense usually starts at $40,000 and climbs from there. Hourly rates at Portland tax boutiques sit at $300 to $600/hour; large firms charge $500 to $900/hour.
What to expect from a Portland tax and IRS engagement
An IRS audit takes 6 to 18 months from notice to closing letter, longer if Appeals is involved. Add 9 to 14 months for an IRS Appeals process. US Tax Court cases run 12 to 36 months from petition to decision. An offer in compromise takes the IRS 6 to 9 months to evaluate. Installment agreements are typically approved within 30 to 60 days. Oregon DOR audits run 9 to 18 months and ODR residency audits can drag on for two years if not actively managed.
Red flags to watch for when picking a tax and IRS lawyer in Portland
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, registration, or settlement number, 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 Portland 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.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most Portland 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.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day-to-day? Get a name. Get an email.
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 answer in writing before you sign.
What expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs surprise people. Ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes for a matter 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.
Who else might be involved? Experts? Co-counsel? Know who’s on the team.
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; make sure you understand the mechanics.
What’s the worst-case outcome for my matter? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What’s specific about a tax and IRS matter in Portland
Oregon Department of Revenue is its own animal. Most Portland tax controversies involve both the IRS and Oregon DOR. ODR runs its own auditors out of the Salem office, with frequent residency audits on Portlanders who moved across the river to Washington. A Portland tax attorney who works ODR cases monthly knows the staff and the playbook.
Multnomah and Metro income taxes. Portland residents and earners face the Multnomah County Preschool for All tax and the Metro Supportive Housing Services tax on top of state and federal income tax. These programs have their own enforcement and appeal processes. Hire a Portland firm that handles them, not just the IRS.
Washington/Oregon border issues. Workers and business owners who cross the Columbia River regularly create complex residency and apportionment issues. A Portland tax attorney with cross-border experience saves you double tax exposure and supports a defensible residency position.
Cannabis tax exposure. Oregon's licensed cannabis businesses face 280E disallowance at the federal level and additional state and local taxes. A Portland tax attorney with cannabis experience is essential — the rules are unforgiving and IRS audits in this sector are routine.
Frequently asked questions
I just got an IRS audit letter — what should I do first?
Do not call the IRS agent yet. Read the letter carefully, note the deadline (usually 30 days), and call a Portland tax attorney for a free initial consultation. The first call from the IRS sets the tone for the audit; what you say matters and you can't unsay it.
How much does an offer in compromise cost in Portland?
Attorney fees run $3,000 to $9,000 for a full offer in compromise package — financial analysis, Form 433-A or 433-B, the offer itself, and follow-up with the IRS unit. The IRS user fee is $205, plus a 20% non-refundable deposit on the offer amount. Most offers take 6 to 9 months to evaluate.
Can a Portland tax attorney stop an IRS wage garnishment?
Yes, in most cases. An attorney can file Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate request), submit a Collection Due Process request, or negotiate an immediate installment agreement to release a levy. Most Portland tax firms can get a wage garnishment lifted within 7 to 14 days if you have the documentation ready.
Do I need a tax attorney or a CPA for an IRS audit?
A CPA can represent you in a routine audit, but only an attorney can assert attorney-client privilege, advise on potential criminal exposure, or litigate in US Tax Court. For a simple correspondence audit on a deduction, a CPA is usually fine. For anything involving unreported income, employment tax, or possible fraud referral, hire an attorney.
What is FBAR and do I have to file one?
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is required if you have foreign bank or financial accounts whose aggregate value exceeded $10,000 at any point in the year. Portland has a meaningful expat and dual-citizen population, especially British, Russian, Vietnamese, and Mexican. Missing an FBAR triggers penalties of $10,000 per account per year (non-willful) or 50% of the account balance per year (willful).
Can the IRS take my Portland house?
Theoretically yes, practically rarely. The IRS can lien your home and, after extensive procedural steps, levy it — but the agency seizes very few primary residences each year. What's far more common is a wage levy, bank levy, or notice of federal tax lien that blocks a sale or refinance. A Portland tax attorney can usually negotiate a payment plan that avoids all of this.
What's a Multnomah County Preschool for All audit and should I worry?
The Preschool for All tax (1.5% on income above $125,000 single/$200,000 joint, with an additional 1.5% on income above $250,000/$400,000) applies to Multnomah County residents and non-residents earning Multnomah County income. The county runs its own audits and appeals. A Portland tax attorney who handles these regularly is worth the consultation.
Will hiring a Portland tax attorney make the IRS more aggressive?
No. The IRS is required to deal with your designated representative once you file Form 2848 Power of Attorney. In practice, most agents prefer working with an experienced tax attorney because the conversation is cleaner and the documents come in correctly. Cases tend to close faster, not slower.
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
Helpful next steps
If this guide was useful, here’s where most readers go next.