An IRS notice, an audit, or a tax bill your business cannot pay is a problem that compounds with interest and penalties every month you wait. These verified Richmond firms handle audits, appeals, back taxes, offers in compromise, tax litigation, and business tax planning.
Updated September 26, 202512 min readEditorially independent
A letter from the IRS or the Virginia Department of Taxation is one of those problems that gets worse, and more expensive, the longer it sits. Penalties and interest stack up, an unanswered audit can become a much larger assessment, and an ignored balance can turn into a lien on your property or a levy on your accounts. A Richmond tax lawyer steps between you and the agency, stops the clock where possible, and works toward the resolution that costs you the least money and the least risk.
Tax lawyers cover two related jobs. The first is controversy and resolution: representing you in an audit, filing an appeal, negotiating an installment agreement or an offer in compromise, getting back into compliance after unfiled returns, and defending against liens and levies, in Tax Court if it comes to that. The second is planning: structuring a business, a transaction, or an estate so the tax bill is as low as the law allows and the next audit is less likely. Many businesses need both over time.
Be clear about which problem you have, because the firms differ. A focused resolution practice is built to settle a back-tax problem efficiently; a full-service or global firm is built for transaction-driven tax planning and high-dollar disputes. The firms below range across that spectrum. Each appeared in at least two independent sources, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Justia, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or its own verified practice pages, and has a real Richmond-area tax practice. Note that many national "tax relief" advertisers are not local law firms; everyone on this list is.
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 Richmond-area tax / irs practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Williams Mullen
Richmond, VATax controversy teamFull-service
Practice focus: Federal, state, and local tax controversy and litigation, audit and appeals defense, and tax planning for businesses and high-net-worth individuals.
Williams Mullen's tax controversy lawyers defend clients at every stage of an audit, appeal, and tax dispute with the IRS and the Virginia Department of Taxation, working from the firm's Richmond office. Attorneys Kyle H. Wingfield and Kevin G. Bender handle full-service tax representation for private and public companies, tax-exempt organizations, and individuals. For a business with a complex audit or a tax matter heading toward litigation, the firm's depth and courtroom experience are the draw.
Why they made the list: Deep tax-controversy bench that can take a dispute from audit through litigation.
Practice focus: Business taxation, IRS audit representation, tax planning and compliance, and federal and state tax controversy for companies and owners.
Kaufman & Canoles is one of Virginia's larger firms, with a Richmond office at 1021 East Cary Street and a business-taxation practice that handles planning, compliance, and IRS audit representation. Attorney Megan Martz Gilliland is among the tax lawyers serving Richmond clients. For a company that wants tax counsel attached to a full corporate and transactional practice, the firm covers both the planning and the problem.
Why they made the list: Established firm pairing business-tax planning with audit and controversy representation.
Practice focus: IRS and Virginia tax controversy, back taxes, audits, liens and levies, offers in compromise, and unfiled-return resolution.
Crowgey & Associates, which practices as Richmond Tax Law from 1108 East Main Street, concentrates on tax controversy and has represented taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and the Virginia Department of Taxation for decades. Attorney Guy C. Crowgey and the firm focus squarely on resolving tax problems, back taxes, audits, collection actions, and settlements, which makes it a focused choice for a business or owner already in a fight with the agencies.
Why they made the list: A focused tax-controversy practice with decades of IRS and Virginia Department of Taxation experience.
Practice focus: Transactional tax planning, tax controversy and litigation, and federal, state, and international tax counsel for companies and funds.
Hunton Andrews Kurth provides tax advice on transactions and tax controversies from its Richmond base, covering federal, state, and international questions for corporate clients, partnerships, and funds. The firm is a fit for companies whose tax needs are tied to deals, financings, or complex structures rather than a single collection problem, and that want planning and dispute work from the same global firm.
Why they made the list: Global-firm tax counsel for companies whose tax issues are wrapped up in transactions and structure.
Richmond, VAGateway Plaza, 800 E. Canal St.Global firm
Practice focus: Federal and state tax planning, tax controversy and litigation, and tax counsel on M&A, partnerships, and complex business structures.
McGuireWoods, headquartered at Gateway Plaza in Richmond, has a broad tax practice that handles planning, controversy, and litigation for businesses of all sizes. For a company facing a high-dollar audit, a tax dispute with national reach, or tax questions baked into a major transaction, the firm's scale and litigation resources are the reason to call.
Why they made the list: Big-firm tax practice for high-stakes audits, disputes, and transaction-driven tax questions.
Practice focus: Business and transactional tax, state and local tax including real-estate assessment appeals, and tax issues within corporate and real-estate deals.
Hirschler's tax lawyers, working from 2100 East Cary Street, advise on the tax side of corporate, partnership, and real-estate transactions, and the firm handles real-estate tax assessment challenges from informal talks with local assessors up through the Virginia Supreme Court. For a business or property owner whose tax question is tied to a deal or a property, that combination of transactional and assessment experience is a practical fit.
Why they made the list: Transactional and state-and-local tax depth, including real-estate assessment appeals.
Practice focus: IRS tax resolution, Tax Court representation, audits, appeals, unfiled returns, and federal and state collection defense.
Kennedy Tax Solutions is a Richmond tax-attorney practice focused on resolving IRS problems: audits, appeals, Tax Court matters, unfiled returns, and collection defense such as liens and levies. For an individual or small business that needs a lawyer to deal directly with the IRS and settle a back-tax problem, the firm's narrow focus on resolution is the appeal.
Why they made the list: A resolution-focused tax attorney for audits, Tax Court, and back-tax collection problems.
Fee structure
Often flat fee for resolution work; hourly for litigation.
Tell us about your tax notice, audit, or planning question, and we'll connect you with one of these Richmond tax and IRS attorneys for a consultation.
How to choose between them in Richmond
Separate resolution from planning. Settling a back-tax bill is a different engagement than structuring next year's deal. Resolution boutiques excel at the first; full-service firms at the second. Tell each firm which one you need today.
Make sure you are hiring a tax lawyer, not a sales pitch. Many national "tax relief" companies advertise heavily and are not law firms. A licensed Virginia tax attorney gives you attorney-client privilege and can represent you in Tax Court. Confirm credentials before you sign anything.
Ask about IRS and Virginia Department of Taxation experience. Federal and state tax problems run on different rules and timelines. A lawyer who regularly handles both agencies, including Virginia collection and assessment matters, will be more efficient than one who only does federal work.
Get the fee structure in writing. Resolution work is often a flat fee; audits and litigation are usually hourly, commonly $300 to $500 an hour in this market. Ask what the fee covers, what triggers extra charges, and whether the engagement includes the appeal.
Act on the deadline, not your schedule. Audit responses, appeal rights, and collection notices carry hard deadlines. The first thing a good tax lawyer does is calendar them. Missing one can cost you appeal rights or trigger a levy.
Weigh privilege and complexity. If your matter could turn criminal or involves significant exposure, attorney-client privilege matters, and a lawyer, not an accountant alone, should lead. Be candid at intake so the firm can structure the engagement correctly.
What tax / irs help typically costs in Richmond
Tax representation costs in Richmond depend on whether you are resolving a debt or planning a structure:
Initial consultation: Often free or a modest flat fee. Bring every IRS or state notice, your recent returns, and any correspondence you have already sent.
Resolution work: Offers in compromise, installment agreements, and back-tax cleanups are frequently billed as a flat fee, scaled to the complexity and the size of the balance.
Audit representation: Usually hourly, commonly $300 to $500 an hour, depending on the lawyer and the scope of the audit.
Tax litigation: Hourly against a retainer. A contested matter in U.S. Tax Court or state court is a larger investment than an administrative resolution.
Tax planning: Hourly or project-based, depending on whether you are structuring a one-time transaction or putting an ongoing plan in place.
The cost of waiting: Penalties and interest accrue every month, and a lien or levy can disrupt your business. Early representation often pays for itself by stopping that accrual and avoiding collection action.
The most expensive tax mistake is ignoring the notice. Interest and penalties do not pause, and collection action gets harder to unwind. A short consultation early is far cheaper than a levy later.
How long it takes
Tax matters move on the agencies' clocks, but here is the usual rhythm in Richmond:
Consultation and review: Days. The lawyer reads your notices and returns, identifies the deadlines, and tells you the realistic options.
Power of attorney and contact: Quickly after engagement, the lawyer files authorization to deal with the IRS or the state directly, so the agency talks to your representative, not you.
Audit or examination: Weeks to several months, depending on scope. The lawyer manages document requests and the examiner's questions.
Appeals and negotiation: An IRS appeal or an offer in compromise commonly takes several months to be reviewed and decided.
Installment or settlement: Once approved, a payment plan or settlement resolves the balance on agreed terms, often over months or years for larger amounts.
Litigation: If the matter goes to U.S. Tax Court or state court, expect a year or more. Most tax disputes resolve administratively before reaching that point.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a tax / irs lawyer in Richmond
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 Richmond 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 Richmond
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 Richmond
Do I need a tax lawyer or an accountant?
An accountant prepares returns and handles routine compliance. A tax lawyer represents you in disputes, gives you attorney-client privilege, and can appear in Tax Court. For an audit with real exposure, a collection problem, or anything that could turn criminal, you want a lawyer, often working alongside your accountant.
How much does a tax attorney cost in Richmond?
Resolution work like an offer in compromise is frequently a flat fee scaled to the balance. Audits and litigation are usually hourly, commonly $300 to $500 an hour. Ask each firm for a written fee structure before you engage.
Can a lawyer really settle my IRS debt for less?
Sometimes. An offer in compromise lets qualifying taxpayers settle for less than the full balance, but the IRS only accepts offers that reflect what it could realistically collect. A tax lawyer assesses whether you qualify and, if not, negotiates an installment agreement or other relief. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a settlement amount.
What happens if I ignore an IRS notice?
It gets worse. Penalties and interest keep accruing, an unanswered audit can become a larger assessment, and unpaid balances can lead to a federal tax lien or a levy on your wages and accounts. The sooner a lawyer responds, the more options you keep.
What is the difference between the IRS and the Virginia Department of Taxation?
The IRS handles federal taxes; the Virginia Department of Taxation handles state income, sales, and other state taxes. They have separate rules, deadlines, and collection processes, and you can have a problem with one, the other, or both. A Richmond tax lawyer handles both.
I have unfiled returns. Am I in trouble?
Unfiled returns are a common and fixable problem, but they need to be handled carefully, especially if several years are involved. A tax lawyer can bring you back into compliance, often minimizing penalties, and protect you if the IRS has already noticed.
Will hiring a lawyer make the IRS think I am guilty?
No. Representation is routine and is your right. Once you authorize a lawyer, the agency deals with your representative instead of contacting you directly, which usually makes the process calmer and more orderly, not more suspicious.
What should I bring to a tax consultation?
Every notice or letter from the IRS or the state, your last few years of tax returns, any correspondence you have already sent, and a summary of the balance or issue. The more complete the file, the faster the lawyer can map your options.
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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