If the IRS or the Ohio Department of Taxation is auditing you, sending notices, or threatening a lien or levy, a tax attorney does something a CPA cannot — represent you in a dispute under attorney-client privilege and, if needed, in U.S. Tax Court. Columbus has a deep bench, from boutiques that resolve tax debt to BigLaw tax-controversy groups. Ohio also has its own wrinkles, like the Business Income Deduction, that interact with your federal return. Below: vetted Columbus tax and IRS firms.
Updated June 8, 2026
A CPA can prepare and even represent you in many routine matters, but a tax attorney is the right call when a dispute, debt, or potential exposure is involved. Talk to a Columbus tax lawyer if:
The earlier a tax lawyer is involved, the more options exist. Many notices have hard response deadlines, and missing one can turn a fixable problem into a lien, a levy, or a default judgment for the tax.
Tax-controversy work is usually hourly, though some resolution matters are handled for a flat fee:
Boutique tax firms generally bill below the BigLaw range; complex controversy and transactional tax run higher. Be wary of national 'tax relief' companies that promise to erase your debt — a local attorney gives you a real, privileged assessment. See our tax and IRS guide and the attorney cost guide.
Responding on time is everything. The IRS generally has three years to audit a return (longer if there is substantial underreporting), and most notices give you a fixed window — missing it forfeits options like appeals.
Attorney Matthew Porter is an Ohio Super Lawyer, Avvo Superb rated, and AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and has twice been named to Columbus CEO Top Lawyers. He holds an LL.M. in Taxation, and the practice focuses exclusively on resolving tax disputes — a strong fit for individual IRS controversy.
Attorney Kenneth L. Sheppard, Jr. brings 22 years of tax law practice, handling IRS and Ohio Department of Taxation disputes for individuals and small businesses. A practical choice for audit defense and back-tax resolution.
Founded by former Ohio Tax Commissioners, the firm specializes in helping businesses through audits, auditor findings, post-audit negotiations, appeals, and protests, with a particularly strong Ohio state-and-local tax (SALT) bench. Best for business and SALT matters.
A Columbus-headquartered firm recognized in the 2026 Best Lawyers 'Best Law Firms' report and the 2025 Chambers USA guide, handling complex federal tax controversies and tax-credit transactions. A fit for high-stakes and transactional tax work.
Handling Ohio tax matters since 1945, with a diverse client base including nonprofits, hospitals, schools, and tech firms, and a focus on economic incentives and tax-credit transactions. A strong option for organizations and incentive-driven projects.
See the full ranked write-up in our Top 10 tax and IRS lawyers in Columbus guide. Firm details are gathered from public sources; ratings not shown are not yet aggregated.
Tell us briefly about your IRS or Ohio tax issue. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Columbus tax firm in this directory.