Facing an IRS problem in St. Petersburg?
Tax and IRS matters in St. Petersburg — audits, back taxes, liens and levies, unfiled returns, or a U.S. Tax Court dispute — move on the government's timeline, not yours. A tax attorney brings attorney-client privilege and the standing to represent you before the IRS and the courts. The lawyer you choose can change the outcome and the cost.
Choosing a tax attorney is high-stakes, and the right fit depends on whether you are facing an audit, collections, a criminal investigation, or complex planning. Below are St. Petersburg tax firms and attorneys that appear consistently across Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, and Expertise.com, with verifiable tax-controversy focus. Many hold an LL.M. in taxation or a CPA license, and most offer a consultation.
How we picked these 8: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell), bar recognition, verifiable credentials, and consistency across independent directories. Firms that appeared across two or more 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, IRS audits, IRS Appeals, U.S. Tax Court, trust fund recovery penalties
Founder Erica Good Pless practices exclusively in tax law with roughly 17 years in practice, is Super Lawyers rated, holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating, and received a Florida Association for Women Lawyers Leader in the Law Award.
Practice focus: Unfiled returns, IRS audits, criminal tax investigations, appeals, U.S. Tax Court litigation
Daniel Rosefelt is a dual-licensed attorney-CPA with roughly 34 years in practice (attorney 25+ years, CPA 30+ years), an active Florida Bar member focused on serious tax controversy.
Practice focus: IRS tax debt resolution, offers in compromise, audits, discharge of taxes in bankruptcy
Larry Heinkel is a J.D. with an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida and roughly 42 years in practice, holding a 5-star Avvo rating with Avvo Clients' Choice recognition.
Practice focus: IRS audit and criminal tax defense, IRS appeals, unfiled returns, innocent spouse relief
Co-principal Frederick W. Daily III has practiced tax law for more than five decades and authored the NOLO books “Stand Up to the IRS” and “Surviving an IRS Tax Audit.”
Practice focus: Tax controversy and tax defense, IRS disputes in probate and trust matters, business litigation
Led by mother-and-son partners Sandra and Ben Diamond, with Ben Diamond a former General Counsel to Florida's Chief Financial Officer; the firm holds a Super Lawyers firm profile.
Practice focus: IRS audits, IRS negotiations and payment plans, income and estate tax matters
Founder J. Gerard Correa is admitted before the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, with several decades of tax practice.
Practice focus: Tax planning and tax controversy, business tax, estate and transactional tax matters
Tax attorneys Joel D. Bronstein and Susan W. Carlson are both Super Lawyers-rated with decades in practice each at this long-established Tampa Bay full-service firm.
Practice focus: Tax, business and estate-related tax matters, IRS audits
William Battle McQueen has roughly 38 years in practice and holds law degrees from the University of Miami and the University of Florida, concentrating in tax, business, estate planning and probate.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted tax attorneys in St. Petersburg. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →Match the lawyer to the problem. A first-time audit or an installment agreement is different work from a trust-fund recovery penalty, a criminal tax investigation, or U.S. Tax Court litigation. Ask directly how many matters like yours the attorney has handled in the last few years and whether they appear before the IRS and the Tax Court regularly.
Beware national “tax relief” mills that advertise heavily and outsource the actual work. A licensed Florida tax attorney gives you privilege, accountability, and someone who will personally stand between you and the IRS. Confirm you are hiring an attorney, not a sales operation.
The firms above are a starting point, not a verdict. The right lawyer for you depends on your facts, your budget, and how you want to be treated. Use these five signals to compare them.
Genuine tax focus. Tax is a specialty. You want a lawyer who concentrates on tax controversy and resolution — ideally with an LL.M. in taxation, a CPA background, or years of IRS-facing work — not a generalist who takes tax cases occasionally.
Straight talk about your exposure. A good tax lawyer tells you at the first meeting what is realistic: whether an offer in compromise is plausible, what penalties may be abated, and where the real risk lies. If everything sounds easy and the debt sounds erasable, be skeptical.
Privilege and discretion. Only an attorney gives you attorney-client privilege, which matters enormously if your case has any criminal exposure. Ask how the firm protects sensitive information and whether your matter could turn criminal.
Fees in writing, in plain English. Tax representation can be flat-fee for defined work or hourly for litigation. You should leave knowing exactly what you will pay, what it covers, and what could cost extra. Vague pricing is a warning sign.
Credentials you can verify. Look for admission to the U.S. Tax Court, an LL.M. in taxation, CPA licensure, and peer recognition such as Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, or AV Preeminent. These are concrete and easy to check.
Most St. Petersburg tax matters begin with a notice — an audit letter, a balance due, a lien filing, or a levy warning. The first job of a tax attorney is to stop the clock where possible, communicate with the IRS on your behalf, and figure out the real numbers behind the notice.
From there the path depends on the facts: an audit is defended with documentation and, if needed, taken to IRS Appeals; a collection problem is resolved through an installment agreement, currently-not-collectible status, or an offer in compromise; and an unresolved dispute can be litigated in the U.S. Tax Court. State tax matters in Florida follow a parallel track through the state revenue authority. Throughout, your attorney handles the correspondence so you do not face the IRS alone.
In St. Petersburg, defined tax work is often a flat fee — an installment agreement might run a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, while an offer in compromise or audit defense commonly ranges from about $2,500 to $7,500 depending on complexity.
Litigation and criminal tax defense are billed hourly, frequently around $300 to $600 an hour, with retainers to match. The math usually favors getting help early: penalties and interest compound, and a levy on wages or a bank account costs far more than a timely resolution. A good Florida tax attorney tells you at the outset whether your situation justifies the fee.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees how your tax matter will end before reviewing your file, walk away.
The disappearing senior lawyer. You meet a name partner at intake, then never speak to them again while a junior runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
No verifiable track record. “We have handled thousands of cases” is marketing. Real evidence is named results, peer recognition such as Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers, and a clean record with the state bar.
Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable firm gives you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill, not a careful practice.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about the cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate firm puts the fee, what it covers, and what triggers extra charges in writing.
Most firms on this list offer a free consultation. Use it, take notes, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Federal first, but state matters too. IRS rules are national, but Florida has its own revenue authority and tax disputes that run on a separate track. A local attorney handles both and knows the state process.
Local bench strength varies. Tax-controversy specialists are not on every corner. St. Petersburg clients benefit from attorneys who appear before the IRS and the U.S. Tax Court regularly and who hold tax-specific credentials such as an LL.M. or CPA.
Deadlines are unforgiving. IRS notices carry hard response deadlines — for audits, appeals, and Tax Court petitions. Missing one can forfeit rights. A St. Petersburg tax lawyer makes sure the right response is filed on time.
If you have an IRS or state tax problem right now, a few moves protect you while you choose the right lawyer.
Read the notice carefully and note every deadline. IRS letters state what they want and by when. Put those dates on a calendar — missing a response deadline can cost you appeal or Tax Court rights.
Gather your records. Pull the returns, notices, and financial documents connected to the issue into one place. The strength of a tax case often comes down to documentation.
Do not call the IRS alone if the stakes are high. Anything you say can be used in the matter. If there is real money or any criminal exposure, let an attorney speak for you. You are allowed to say you want to consult your own lawyer first.
Book two consultations. Most firms above offer an initial meeting. Talk to at least two before you commit, and choose the attorney who explains your options clearly and is candid about the realistic outcome.
Tell us what is going on. We'll match you with vetted St. Petersburg firms from the list above. Most respond within one business day.
A CPA is excellent for preparing returns and bookkeeping, but a tax attorney gives you attorney-client privilege and can represent you in disputes, appeals, the U.S. Tax Court, and criminal matters. For audits, collections, or anything contentious, an attorney is the safer choice; some St. Petersburg practitioners are both.
Sometimes. The offer in compromise program lets qualifying taxpayers settle for less than the full amount, but eligibility depends on your income, assets, and ability to pay. A good St. Petersburg tax attorney tells you honestly whether you qualify rather than promising a result.
Defined work is often flat-fee — an installment agreement may be a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, and audit defense or an offer in compromise commonly runs about $2,500 to $7,500. Litigation and criminal defense are billed hourly, frequently around $300 to $600 an hour.
File before the IRS files for you. A tax attorney can help you get current, limit penalties, and negotiate a resolution for any balance. Coming forward voluntarily is almost always better than waiting for enforcement.
Yes, through a levy, but only after notices and deadlines have passed. A tax attorney can often stop or release a levy by arranging a resolution. Responding early to IRS notices is the best way to avoid enforced collection.
An audit examines whether your return is correct and is usually civil. A criminal investigation involves potential fraud or evasion and carries far higher stakes. If there is any sign of criminal exposure, hire an attorney immediately for the privilege protection.
Generally ten years from assessment, though certain events pause that clock. The rules are technical, and a tax attorney can tell you where your debt stands and whether the collection period affects your strategy.
You can, but for anything beyond a simple document request it is risky. An attorney controls the flow of information, keeps the audit within scope, and protects you from inadvertently expanding your exposure.
Most tax matters resolve through audits, appeals, or collection alternatives without litigation. Tax Court is the venue when you dispute a deficiency and cannot settle. An attorney admitted to the Tax Court can take your case there if needed.
Compare genuine tax focus, credentials such as an LL.M. or CPA and Tax Court admission, candor about your realistic outcome, and clear fees. Meet at least two and choose the attorney who is specific about your situation rather than selling a guaranteed result.
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 yours they have handled in St. Petersburg in the last three years. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team