Co-Counsel and Referrals for Tax Professionals

Some tax matters outgrow the engagement they started in. An examination turns confrontational, a balance heads toward litigation, unreported income surfaces, or a client needs the protection of a privilege a preparer cannot provide.

When that happens, the accountant or advisor who has done everything right still needs a tax litigator in the room. Whiteford partners with CPAs, enrolled agents, financial advisors, and other attorneys as co-counsel, and accepts direct referrals, handling the controversy while helping protect the referring professional's relationship with the client.

When to bring in a tax attorney

The signals are usually clear in hindsight and worth catching early: an audit that starts probing intent rather than numbers, indications of a criminal referral or an eggshell audit where errors on the return could suggest fraud, or a matter heading to IRS Appeals or the U.S. Tax Court.

A client who needs privileged advice, or a situation where the preparer's own involvement makes independent counsel for the client the right call, belongs on the same list. In each of these, bringing in an attorney early expands the options and protects everyone, including you.