IRS audit notice? Tax debt? Texas franchise-tax assessment? The right San Antonio tax lawyer turns a six-figure problem into a manageable one — sometimes a much smaller one.
Top 10 Tax / IRS Lawyers in San Antonio
San Antonio's tax bar handles everything from IRS audit defense and collection alternatives to Texas franchise-tax controversy, U.S. Tax Court litigation, and complex transactional tax counsel. The 10 firms below all have verifiable San Antonio tax practices — Board Certified Tax Law specialists, USPTO-equivalent rigor for federal controversy, and documented Texas franchise-tax experience.
Updated October 10, 202514 min readEditorially independent
San Antonio tax work falls into three buckets: controversy (responding to IRS or Texas Comptroller actions), collection (settling tax debt through installment agreements, offers in compromise, or innocent-spouse relief), and planning (structuring entities and transactions to minimize future tax). The 10 firms below cover all three. Several are tax-resolution boutiques that focus on individuals and small businesses with IRS debt; several are full-service business firms with tax partners who handle corporate transactions, estate planning, and Tax Court litigation. The right pick depends on whether you have a CP2000 notice for $40,000, a $400,000 Texas franchise-tax audit, or a $4M estate plan to build.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Martindale-Hubbell, board certifications where applicable), Avvo and Justia ratings, client review patterns, and bar association recognition. 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 →
About this list
Texas has no state income tax, so most resident tax work centers on federal returns, Texas franchise tax (the major state-level entity tax), and federal estate and gift tax. The Texas Comptroller runs franchise-tax audits with steady volume, and sales-tax enforcement is also active for businesses with significant Texas activity. Federal tax controversy can be litigated in U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, or the Court of Federal Claims. The 10 firms below all have verifiable San Antonio presence and documented experience across these venues. Texas Bar Board Certification in Tax Law is a meaningful credential and appears across the firms below.
1
Chamberlain Hrdlicka (San Antonio)
Founded 1965 (San Antonio office 15+ years)Mid-size (national tax-focused)
Practice focus: Tax controversy, U.S. Tax Court litigation, federal and state tax planning, international tax
Tax-focused firm with San Antonio office at 112 E. Pecan Street. Board Certified Tax Law specialists including Leo Unzeitig, Stuart Clements, Jaime Vasquez, Anuar Estefan, and international tax shareholder Patrick Martin.
Why they made the list: Multiple Texas Board Certified Tax Law specialists. CPAs on the tax team. Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" recognition. National tax-focused firm.
Practice focus: Federal tax planning, international tax, M&A tax, state and local tax
Global firm with a significant San Antonio office and a deep tax bench. William P. Bowers is Counsel and former chair of the firm's Tax Section. Strong fit for high-stakes federal controversy, cross-border tax, and large M&A transactions.
Why they made the list: Chambers USA top-ranked. Best Lawyers ranked. Former Tax Section Chair on staff in Texas.
Practice focus: Tax controversy and litigation, M&A tax, estate planning, business tax
One of Texas's oldest firms with a San Antonio office and a dedicated tax controversy and litigation practice. Strong fit for closely-held businesses, family enterprises, and integrated tax-plus-corporate work.
Why they made the list: Chambers USA ranked. Best Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" categories. Texas Board Certified Tax Law specialists on staff.
Clark Hill PLC (San Antonio, formerly Strasburger)
Founded 1890Large (650+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Federal and state tax planning, controversy, estate planning, business tax
San Antonio office through the 2018 Strasburger combination. Long Texas tax history — Stanley Blend's career arc through Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison & Tate, then Strasburger, then Clark Hill is documented in San Antonio legal media.
Why they made the list: Chambers USA ranked. Best Lawyers listed. Long Texas tax practice history.
Practice focus: Tax planning, business tax, estate planning, IRS controversy
Long-running San Antonio business firm with a tax practice integrated into corporate and estate-planning work. Useful for closely-held businesses and family-owned operations.
Why they made the list: Super Lawyers recognized. Best Lawyers listed. Texas Board Certified specialists on staff.
Practice focus: Property tax, commercial tax disputes, business tax planning
San Antonio commercial and tax boutique with a statewide property-tax controversy practice spanning 36 Texas counties. Useful for commercial real estate owners and businesses facing appraisal disputes.
Why they made the list: Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Texas Bar Board Certified specialists on staff. Statewide property-tax practice.
Practice focus: IRS tax debt resolution, audits, payroll tax, wage garnishment release, offers in compromise
National tax-resolution firm with a San Antonio location. Practice emphasizes IRS collection alternatives, wage garnishment release, and tax debt negotiation.
Why they made the list: Super Lawyers profile. Documented client review base. Free consultation model.
San Antonio criminal defense and white-collar boutique with a documented tax-fraud practice. Useful when the tax matter has criminal exposure (CID investigation, FBAR, structuring, or evasion claims).
Why they made the list: Documented criminal tax practice. Texas Bar admitted. Federal-court trial experience.
Signals that predict a good San Antonio tax lawyer:
Texas Bar Board Certification in Tax Law. A meaningful credential — less than 1% of Texas lawyers hold any board certification. For high-stakes work (Tax Court litigation, large franchise-tax audits, complex estate planning, criminal-adjacent tax matters), a board-certified specialist is the right starting point.
LL.M. in Taxation or CPA credential. A tax LL.M. is a year of post-J.D. tax-focused study. Many tax lawyers also hold CPA licenses. Either credential signals real depth on technical questions.
U.S. Tax Court admission. Tax Court is a federal court with its own admission requirements. Lawyers with active Tax Court bar membership can litigate federal deficiency disputes there rather than in district court.
Flat fees for resolution work. IRS installment agreements, offers in compromise, and penalty abatement requests are largely formulaic. Reputable firms quote flat fees for these. Hourly billing on a routine OIC submission is a red flag.
What tax / irs work typically costs in San Antonio
Real San Antonio ranges for 2026:
IRS installment agreement setup. $750–$2,500 flat for individuals; $2,500–$7,500 for business cases.
Offer in compromise. $3,500–$10,000 flat depending on complexity.
Hourly partner rates at San Antonio tax boutiques run $325–$525; mid-size firm tax partners $400–$700; large-firm tax partners $500–$1,200.
How long it takes
Realistic timing:
IRS installment agreement. 30–90 days from filing for streamlined; 4–9 months for non-streamlined.
Offer in compromise. 7–14 months for IRS review.
IRS audit (correspondence). 3–9 months from notice to closing.
IRS audit (field, complex). 12–24 months including appeals.
Texas franchise tax audit. 6–18 months typical.
U.S. Tax Court case through trial. 18–36 months.
Innocent-spouse relief decision. 6–12 months.
Texas property tax appraisal protest. 30–90 days for the appraisal review board; longer if appealed to district court.
What's specific about tax / irs in San Antonio
Texas has no state income tax. Federal income tax controversy dominates the individual practice. Texas franchise tax (administered by the Texas Comptroller) is the major state-level entity tax. Texas sales and use tax is the major transactional state tax for retailers and service providers.
Texas franchise tax. Applies to most Texas entities with revenue over the no-tax-due threshold (currently $2.47 million). The tax computes on the lesser of revenue, gross receipts, or compensation. The COGS deduction is a frequent source of audit dispute, and franchise-tax appraisals can be challenged through the Comptroller's hearing process and then state court.
Texas Bar Board Certification in Tax Law. A meaningful credential — less than 1% of Texas lawyers hold any board certification. San Antonio has more board-certified tax specialists than most Texas cities outside Houston and Dallas, in part because of Chamberlain Hrdlicka's local concentration.
U.S. Tax Court sessions. The court travels to San Antonio annually for calendar calls. Local counsel familiar with the trial calendar and the visiting judges has a practical advantage on case management and settlement positioning.
Red flags to watch for when picking a tax / irs lawyer in San Antonio
Most San Antonio tax firms on Google are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
"Pennies on the dollar" advertising. Some national tax-resolution firms advertise extreme offer-in-compromise outcomes that are statistically rare. The IRS approves about 30–40% of OIC submissions, and the median accepted amount is well above "pennies." Ask for written success-rate data before signing.
Upfront fees before any IRS contact. Reputable tax-resolution firms run a no-cost diagnostic before quoting a fee. A firm that demands $5,000 before reviewing your transcripts is a red flag.
No CPA, no tax LL.M., no Board Certification. Tax is technical. A lawyer without one of these credentials handling a complex audit or Tax Court case is operating outside the specialty.
No state-level experience for Texas franchise tax. Federal-focused tax lawyers do not always know the Texas Comptroller's audit playbook. For franchise-tax work, ask specifically about Comptroller experience and recent assessments handled.
Pressure to sign immediately. Tax problems feel urgent but they almost never require same-day engagement. A firm that won't let you take the engagement letter home overnight is selling on fear.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most San Antonio firms on this list offer a free initial inquiry call. 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 case 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? Larger matters routinely involve outside experts. 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; the fee is sorted between firms. 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.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to respond to an IRS audit notice in San Antonio?
CP2000 notices generally allow 30 days to respond. Field audit appointment letters usually allow 2–6 weeks. Statutory notices of deficiency allow 90 days to petition U.S. Tax Court. Missing these deadlines forfeits substantive rights — call a tax lawyer the day you get the letter.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas has no personal state income tax. The state collects revenue through franchise tax, sales and use tax, property tax, and various fees. Texas residency is itself a meaningful federal-tax planning move for high earners.
What is an offer in compromise and how much does it cost in San Antonio?
An OIC settles IRS tax debt for less than the full balance based on reasonable collection potential. San Antonio flat fees for OIC preparation run $3,500–$10,000 plus the $205 IRS application fee. About 30–40% of OIC submissions get accepted nationally.
Can the IRS take my house in San Antonio?
The IRS can levy real property in extreme cases but rarely does so on a primary residence. Wage garnishment, bank levies, and tax liens are far more common collection tools. A San Antonio tax attorney can usually halt active garnishment within 48–72 hours through a hardship request or installment agreement.
What's the difference between a tax lawyer and a CPA?
A CPA prepares returns, runs the math, and handles accounting. A tax lawyer represents you in front of the IRS or in court, asserts attorney-client privilege, and litigates disputes. Many San Antonio tax matters benefit from both — a CPA on the numbers, a lawyer on the legal posture.
How do I find a Board Certified Tax Lawyer in San Antonio?
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization publishes the list of board-certified specialists by city. San Antonio's Board Certified Tax Law roster is concentrated at a handful of firms, several of which appear on the list above.
What is Texas franchise tax and who pays it?
An annual tax on most Texas business entities, administered by the Texas Comptroller. Entities with revenue under the no-tax-due threshold (currently $2.47 million) file a No Tax Due report. Entities above the threshold compute tax on the lesser of revenue, gross receipts, or compensation. Most LLCs, corporations, and partnerships owe franchise tax.
Can I represent myself before the IRS?
Yes — taxpayers always have the right to represent themselves. For straightforward CP2000 notices and small balance dues, self-representation is reasonable. For audits over $10,000 in dispute, collection actions, or anything heading toward Tax Court, a tax professional usually pays for itself.
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
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