Federal Tax Lawyer in San Diego

Federal tax, on this page, means a dispute with the IRS or a case in the United States Tax Court. That includes an audit, a proposed assessment, a lien or levy, an offer in compromise or other collection alternative, and a petition when you disagree with a notice of deficiency. It is not general corporate tax planning and it is not the Swiss practice of tax law. The deadlines are unforgiving: a notice of deficiency gives a limited time to petition the Tax Court, and missing it usually means you must pay first and sue for a refund. A tax controversy lawyer helps you read the notice, decide whether Tax Court, a collection appeal, or a payment plan is the right door, and keep the file consistent with what you already told the IRS.

Lawyers who list the Corporate Law specialization "Tax" also appear in this directory. That specialization stays on their profile. This area covers IRS controversy and Tax Court work.

San Diego sits on the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere and hosts a large military population — immigration, cross-border business, and military-adjacent legal matters are all common here.

Verified federal tax lawyers serving San Diego

Attorneys licensed in California can represent clients anywhere in the state — those based in or serving San Diego are listed first.

Othon Nuñez-MontelongoServes San DiegoCorporate Law · 7 yrs experience · ManhattanServes clients nationwide (federal patent and trademark law; federal tax law)Consultation from $250Languages: English, Spanish

When to hire a federal tax lawyer

Call when the envelope is a notice of deficiency, a levy or lien, a summons, or a letter that sets a response date you do not understand. Do not wait until the date printed on the notice. Also get advice before you sign an IRS agreement, before you ignore a collection notice because you cannot pay, and before you file a return that takes a position you cannot explain. Bring every IRS letter, the returns for the years in question, and any correspondence you already sent. If your question is how to structure a company or plan estimated taxes with no dispute underway, a corporate lawyer's tax work is a different listing.

Common matters they handle

IRS audits and information document requests
Notices of deficiency and Tax Court petitions
Liens, levies, and collection appeals
Installment agreements and offers in compromise
Penalty disputes
Innocent spouse relief

Federal Tax Lawyer FAQ

Is a federal tax lawyer the same as a corporate tax lawyer?

Not on Lawckin. Federal Tax here is IRS controversy and Tax Court. Routine corporate tax work stays under Corporate Law, including the existing Tax specialization. A lawyer who still lists that specialization also appears in this directory.

What happens if I miss the Tax Court deadline?

The notice of deficiency states a deadline to petition the Tax Court. If you miss it, Tax Court usually will not hear the case, and the remaining path is often to pay and then sue for a refund in a different court. Read the date on the notice and get advice before it, not after.

Can the IRS take money from my account while I disagree?

Collection and the dispute about how much you owe are related but not the same step. Some notices start collection, and some tools pause it while an appeal is pending. A lawyer should tell you which letter you have and whether a collection appeal, a payment plan, or a Tax Court petition is what the calendar allows.

How much does a tax controversy lawyer cost?

Fees vary with the notice, the years involved, and whether the case goes to Tax Court. Ask for the consult price and what it includes — reading the notice, a response to the auditor, or a petition — before you hire. Lawckin shows the consultation price on the lawyer's profile.