An IRS audit, a large tax debt, or a collection notice is stressful and time-sensitive, and the rules are unforgiving. A Tacoma tax attorney can handle audits, negotiate settlements, and litigate in U.S. Tax Court. The lawyer you choose — often a former IRS attorney, a CPA, or an LL.M. in taxation — shapes both your outcome and your cost.
Updated June 05, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Choosing a tax lawyer depends on whether you face an audit, a collection action, a tax debt you cannot pay, or a planning question, and on whether the matter is civil or potentially criminal. Below are firms serving Tacoma and the surrounding area that appear consistently across Justia, Avvo, Super Lawyers, Expertise.com, and Martindale-Hubbell, with verifiable tax focus. Several are led by former IRS attorneys, hold an LL.M. in taxation, or are also CPAs.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell), bar recognition and board certifications, and verifiable practice focus across independent directories such as Justia, Avvo, FindLaw, and Expertise.com. 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
Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP
TacomaLarge
Practice focus: Tax planning, business and estate tax, federal and state tax matters
A Pacific Northwest firm with more than 50 attorneys that has operated for over a century; its Tacoma tax group includes Alan D. Macpherson, with roughly 50 years in taxation and estate planning, and Dianne K. Conway. Several of its tax attorneys hold University of Washington or NYU law degrees.
Attorney John A. Sterbick has nearly 40 years representing taxpayers before the IRS, Washington state agencies, and the U.S. Tax Court, with a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. The firm's staff includes enrolled agents and IRS-experienced specialists.
Practice focus: Tax appeals, audits, IRS and WA Department of Revenue disputes, international tax
A Tacoma firm that handles tax appeals, audits, and occupation-tax matters before the IRS and the Washington State Department of Revenue. Its tax attorneys include Laura Lee Weselmann and Lee A. Thorson, the latter with about 50 years in practice.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Consultation
Office
One Tacoma Avenue North, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98403
Practice focus: State and local tax, excise tax, sales and use tax, tax reporting and disputes
A Tacoma firm handling state and local tax and major excise taxes across retail, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and telecommunications. State and local tax attorney Garry Fujita is joined by Devitt D. Barnett, who has about 45 years of experience.
Attorney Christopher M. Larson holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law and works as both an accountant and tax attorney, with more than a decade of experience and a top all-time tax contributor standing on Avvo. The firm represents clients throughout Pierce County.
Practice focus: IRS and state tax debt resolution, audits, installment agreements, liens, offers in compromise
Tax attorney Jonathan Sooriash carries a top-rated standing on Justia and focuses on resolving disputes with the IRS and state revenue departments, including audits, installment agreements, liens, and appeals. The firm is BBB A+ accredited.
Practice focus: Tax and bankruptcy, IRS and U.S. Tax Court representation
Attorney David A. Yando has about 44 years of experience, holds an LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound, and is licensed before the U.S. District Court and U.S. Tax Court.
Practice focus: Tax and IRS matters, bankruptcy, business, estate planning
Attorney Dallas W. Jolley Jr. has about 33 years of experience practicing tax, bankruptcy, business, and estate-planning law in Tacoma, representing individuals and small businesses.
Practice focus: IRS tax controversy, audits, appeals, collections, U.S. Tax Court
A tax-focused firm in practice for more than six decades, representing taxpayers before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and appellate courts. Several of its attorneys hold an LL.M. in Taxation.
Practice focus: State and federal tax problems, audit defense, IRS controversy
Attorney Lana Kurilova Rich is a former corporate auditor with over a decade of experience in tax and business law, resolving complex state and federal tax problems and reconstructing financial records for audit defense.
Match the firm to the problem. A first-time audit, an installment agreement, or an offer in compromise is efficient work for a focused tax-controversy attorney. A large liability, a payroll or trust-fund assessment, or anything carrying criminal exposure needs a lawyer with deep IRS experience and, ideally, U.S. Tax Court trial work. Planning and structuring is a different skill that tax-and-estate attorneys handle well.
Ask whether the attorney has worked inside the IRS, holds an LL.M. in taxation or a CPA credential, and has litigated in Tax Court. Ask who signs the correspondence to the IRS and who appears if the matter is contested. The strongest Tacoma tax practices tell you early whether your matter is civil or carries criminal risk and chart a realistic path to resolution rather than promising a number before they have seen your file.
What to look for in a tax lawyer
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.
Relevant, recent experience. “We handle everything” is a weakness, not a strength. You want a lawyer who works matters like yours in Tacoma week in and week out, not one who takes them occasionally between unrelated matters. Recent, repeated experience with matters like yours is the single best predictor of a good outcome.
Straight talk about your matter. A good lawyer tells you what is strong and what is weak in your situation at the first meeting, not just what you want to hear. If everything sounds easy and the outcome sounds guaranteed, be skeptical — real matters carry real risk, and an honest lawyer names it.
Communication you can live with. Most complaints about lawyers are not about losing — they are about silence. Ask who returns your calls, how fast, and whether you will reach the actual attorney or only a screener. Set that expectation before you sign, because it rarely improves later.
Fees in writing, in plain English. You should leave the first meeting knowing exactly what you will pay, what it covers, and what could cost extra. A clear written fee agreement is a sign of a well-run practice; a vague “don't worry about it” is a sign to keep looking.
Local knowledge. The lawyer who works in Tacoma regularly knows the local courts, agencies, judges, and opposing players, and which outcomes are realistic. That practical knowledge is hard to fake and easy to verify — just ask.
What a matter looks like in Tacoma
A tax matter usually starts with a notice — an audit letter, a balance due, or a lien or levy warning. An attorney responds on your behalf, gathers records, and deals directly with the revenue agent or officer so you are not negotiating alone. Many disputes resolve administratively through audit reconsideration, an installment agreement, an offer in compromise, penalty abatement, or currently-not-collectible status.
If the matter cannot be settled with the agency, it may move to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals or to litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, a federal district court, or the Court of Federal Claims. Timelines range from a few months for a straightforward collection resolution to a year or more for a contested audit or litigated case. The earlier you involve a lawyer, the more options you usually have.
What does a tax lawyer in Tacoma cost?
Tax-controversy work in Tacoma is typically billed hourly or, for defined projects such as an offer in compromise or penalty abatement, at a flat fee. Rates reflect the attorney's experience — former IRS lawyers and LL.M.-credentialed or CPA specialists command more, but they often resolve matters faster and avoid costly missteps.
The total cost depends on the complexity and the amount at stake. A simple installment agreement is modest; a contested audit, a trust-fund penalty fight, or a Tax Court case is a larger investment. Ask each firm whether your matter is better handled flat-fee or hourly, what a realistic all-in range looks like, and get the engagement terms in writing before any work begins.
Red flags to watch for
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees how your 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 matters” is marketing. Real evidence is named results, peer recognition such as Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers, board certification where it exists, 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.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most firms on this list offer a consultation. Use it, take notes, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and an email, not just a firm brand.
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 anything.
What costs am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket expenses surprise people. Ask up front.
What is the realistic range of outcomes here? A good lawyer gives you a range. A weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? Ask for an honest estimate with the assumptions stated.
Who else might work on this — associates, paralegals, outside experts? Know who is actually on your team.
How and how often will I hear from you? Set the communication expectation now, not later.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who will not discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? Make sure you understand how your file and any fee are handled.
What's specific about Tacoma
No state income tax, but plenty of state tax. Washington has no personal income tax, so most individual tax fights in Tacoma are federal IRS matters. Businesses, however, face the state Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and sales and use tax administered by the Washington Department of Revenue.
Former IRS experience helps. Several Tacoma and Puget Sound tax lawyers are former IRS attorneys or hold an LL.M. in taxation and know how the agency builds and settles cases from the inside.
Civil versus criminal. Most tax matters are civil, but some carry criminal exposure. An early, candid assessment of which you face is the most important thing a tax lawyer does, and it is best done before you respond to the IRS yourself.
Your first steps this week
If you are dealing with this in Tacoma right now, a few moves protect you while you take the time to choose the right lawyer.
Write down the timeline. Put the dates, names, and what was said on paper while it is fresh. Memories fade, and a clear timeline makes your first consultation far more productive.
Save everything. Keep the documents, emails, text messages, photos, and records connected to your situation in one place. The strength of a matter often comes down to what you can show, not just what you can say.
Do not sign or agree to anything under pressure. Whether it is an insurer, an agency, the other side, or a fast-talking intake person, you are allowed to say you want to speak with your own lawyer first. A reputable Tacoma firm respects that; anyone who does not is telling you something.
Book two consultations. Most firms above offer a free or low-cost first meeting. Talk to at least two before you commit, and choose the lawyer who explains your options clearly and answers your questions without rushing you.
Talk to a Tacoma tax lawyer — free, no obligation
Tell us what is going on. We'll match you with vetted Tacoma firms from the list above. Most respond within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
When should I hire a tax attorney instead of a CPA?
When you face an audit dispute, a large debt, collection action, or potential criminal exposure. Attorneys provide legal privilege and can litigate; several Tacoma tax lawyers are also CPAs.
Does Tacoma have a state income tax?
No. Washington has no personal income tax, so most individual tax disputes in Tacoma are federal IRS matters. Businesses still face the state B&O tax and sales and use tax.
What is an offer in compromise?
An IRS program that lets qualifying taxpayers settle a tax debt for less than the full amount. A tax attorney can assess whether you qualify and prepare the offer.
Can a lawyer stop an IRS levy or lien?
Often, yes. An attorney can request collection alternatives, challenge the action, or negotiate a release, depending on your circumstances and how quickly you act.
How much does a tax lawyer cost in Tacoma?
Work is billed hourly or flat-fee for defined projects like an offer in compromise. Former IRS lawyers and LL.M. specialists charge more but often resolve matters faster.
What happens in an IRS audit?
The IRS reviews your return and supporting records. An attorney can respond to the agent, present documentation, and dispute proposed adjustments through audit reconsideration or appeals.
What is the U.S. Tax Court?
A federal court where taxpayers can dispute IRS determinations, often without paying the tax first. Several Tacoma-area firms have Tax Court trial experience.
Could my tax problem be criminal?
Most are civil, but issues like willful evasion or fraud can carry criminal exposure. An early, candid assessment from a tax attorney is essential.
Does the Washington Department of Revenue matter too?
Yes for businesses. Washington's B&O tax and sales and use tax are administered by the state, so local knowledge of the Department of Revenue helps.
Do these firms offer consultations?
Many do, and several offer a free initial consultation. Use the meeting to learn whether your matter is civil or carries criminal risk and what resolution paths are realistic.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Compare credentials, then call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one how many matters like yours they have handled in Tacoma in the last three years. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team
Helpful next steps
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