| Do internet searches under the name of the business | | | | the majority of your case. Do not let a sales consultant |
| you may want to hire, and put the word "fraud" or | | | | sign you up! |
| "scam" after the business name, (THIS IS A MUST) or | | | | Your representative must have at least one of three |
| after the name of the representative who will be | | | | credentials: a CPA (certified public accountant), an EA |
| working on your case. Many so called IRS debt solving | | | | (enrolled agent), or an attorney. However, they must |
| companies are the subject of lawsuits and large | | | | also possess the accounting, tax help skills, and |
| amounts of consumer complaints. If they can't give you | | | | representation experience necessary to be effective. |
| referrals, hang up the phone. Even though this is | | | | Someone who has passed the CPA exam or the EA |
| confidential work, if they can put testimonials on their | | | | exam has shown the technical ability. Many ex-IRS |
| web site, then those people should be willing to speak | | | | collection division employees are given the Enrolled |
| well of the company. | | | | Agent title when they leave the IRS, without HAVING |
| If you are told that there will not be specific person | | | | TAKEN THE EXAM! I would not hire such a person or |
| assigned to your case or a group is assigned, turn the | | | | an attorney unless they can show you they have |
| other way. This is a way to hide their "lack of | | | | done a large number of tax returns and representation |
| responsibility". A team of $7.00 per hour accounting | | | | cases, to overcome not having passed the exam. |
| clerks will not benefit you. Be careful about references. | | | | There will always be a licensed person supervising the |
| Even bad accountants have a few people who are | | | | case otherwise they won't be able to negotiate in your |
| willing to say good things about them. Discuss exactly | | | | behalf. I am saying that the person doing the tax work, |
| what you will be paying for, and what results you can | | | | filing out the IRS forms, being responsible for due |
| expect with the person who will be actually working on | | | | dates, etc. must possess the above. |