The top-rated tax relief attorneie in Salem, Massachusetts is Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C, rated 4.6 stars across 88 reviews. Other highly rated options include Porcello Law Offices, Total Tax Care Inc., Karas Law Associates/Joshua D. Karas. This directory lists 20 tax relief attorneies serving Salem.
Comparison
| # | Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C | 71 Washington St | (978) 878-5800 |
| 2 | Porcello Law Offices | 271 Lafayette St | (978) 338-7854 |
| 3 | Total Tax Care Inc. | Enterprise Center Main Entrance, 121 Loring Ave Ste 455 | (978) 766-7489 |
| 4 | Karas Law Associates/Joshua D. Karas | 76 Lafayette St #202 | (978) 828-8824 |
| 5 | Your Choice Tax & Business Services, INC. | 10 Colonial Rd STE 11 | (978) 594-4625 |
| 6 | Lamb and Lamb, P.C. | 26 Lynde St | (978) 744-8818 |
| 7 | Pierce, Pierce & Napolitano | 27 Congress St Ste 301 | (978) 935-4632 |
| 8 | Law Office of John S. Tangusso | 26 Lynde St | (617) 523-3622 |
| 9 | Bean Hatzis & Fultz, Inc. | 530 Loring Ave STE 202 | (978) 744-0015 |
| 10 | Simons Law Office | 10 Federal St #420 | (978) 741-7000 |
Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C. serves clients throughout Salem and Essex County as a Tax Relief Attorney. The firm focuses on resolving federal and state tax disputes for individuals and businesses. Its work includes negotiating settlements with tax authorities and handling offers in compromise. The company also assists with installment agreements and penalty abatement requests. Specific services include defending against tax levies and liens.
Porcello Law Offices provides tax relief services for individuals and businesses facing issues such as IRS audits, back taxes, and wage garnishments. Its service plans include negotiating payment plans, penalty abatements, and offers in compromise to resolve outstanding tax liabilities. The firm works with homeowners requiring lien relief, as well as commercial property owners dealing with tax disputes. It serves single-family homes, apartments, retail storefronts, and local restaurants.
Total Tax Care Inc. serves clients in Salem, Massachusetts, and the surrounding North Shore communities. The firm handles tax resolution matters for individuals and businesses, including IRS audits, tax liens, wage garnishments, and unfiled back taxes. It also addresses offers in compromise and payment plans to reduce or manage outstanding liabilities. To handle a typical case, the firm begin with a detailed review of the client’s financial situation and tax records before negotiating directly with tax authorities to settle the debt.
As tax season approaches in Salem, many residents and local business owners find themselves needing professional guidance through complex IRS issues or state tax liabilities. Karas Law Associates/Joshua D. Karas responds to these needs by offering legal representation for tax disputes, audits, and delinquent account resolutions. Based in Salem, the firm works with clients to negotiate settlements and provide clear legal options for resolving outstanding tax burdens. The initial step is a face-to-face assessment of each individual’s complete tax history to determine the best path forward.
Your Choice Tax & Business Services, INC. offers representation for clients dealing with federal and state tax liabilities, including offers in compromise and penalty abatement. It also provides general resolution for wage garnishments, bank levies, and unfiled returns. Serving individuals and small businesses in Salem, the firm addresses outstanding balances and audits. This includes handling urgent matters such as a missed tax deadline or an unexpected IRS notice, helping residents get current before penalties escalate.
Individuals, homeowners, and small business owners in the Salem area turn to Lamb and Lamb, P.C. for assistance resolving federal and state tax disputes. Its practice includes negotiating offers in compromise with the IRS, representing clients in audits and appeals, and addressing issues such as wage garnishments and property liens. The firm also provides guidance on navigating local tax codes and filing requirements. Its service area extends to the neighboring communities within Essex County.
Some tax issues require a one-time resolution, while others involve ongoing obligations such as payment agreements or audits that occur each year. Pierce, Pierce & Napolitano serves clients throughout Salem, Massachusetts, offering representation for problems with tax liens, levies, or unfiled returns. Their work addresses local tax disputes with state and federal authorities. This service runs on either a one-time or an as-needed basis depending on the client’s specific circumstances
The Law Office of John S. Tangusso in Salem, Massachusetts provides legal representation for clients facing tax disputes with government agencies. As a tax relief attorney, the firm focuses on resolving issues such as back tax liabilities, offers in compromise, and IRS penalty abatements. The practice assists local businesses and property owners in navigating tax liens and levies. It serves commercial sectors including professional offices, small warehouses, and food service operations.
Bean Hatzis & Fultz, Inc. is known for representing clients in Salem with tax relief and resolution services. Its attorneys handle federal and state tax disputes, including offers in compromise, penalty abatements, and lien removals. The firm assists individuals and businesses facing IRS audits or unfiled returns with negotiation and procedural support. It can also provide representation for innocent spouse relief claims.
Simons Law Office serves residential clients in Salem with tax relief assistance, handling IRS disputes, back taxes, and penalty abatements. The firm also represents commercial clients in the local area, offering guidance on business tax liabilities and notice resolution. Their practice focuses on negotiating settlements and payment plans. Following an initial case resolution, they provide ongoing support for future tax issues and can arrange periodic review services to address new liabilities between regular visits.
What Does a a Tax Relief Attorney in Salem Cost?
Tax relief attorney fees in Massachusetts generally range from $3,000 to $10,000 for standard cases such as negotiating an installment agreement or preparing an offer in compromise, with more complex cases involving audits, appeals, or litigation costing $10,000 to $25,000 or more. Flat fee arrangements are most common, with many attorneys charging a fixed amount for specific services like an offer in compromise ($3,500 to $8,000), penalty abatement ($1,500 to $4,000), or installment agreement setup ($1,000 to $3,000). Some attorneys offer payment plans for their fees, but clients should be wary of firms that require full payment upfront before any work is performed.
Hourly rates for tax relief attorneys in Massachusetts typically fall between $350 and $600 per hour, with experienced attorneys or those specializing in tax litigation charging toward the higher end. Initial consultations are often free or offered at a reduced rate, allowing taxpayers to discuss their situation and receive a fee estimate before committing to representation. This information is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Taxpayers should consult with a qualified Massachusetts tax relief attorney to obtain specific fee information and legal guidance tailored to their individual circumstances.
About tax relief attorneies in Salem
Tax relief attorneys in Salem, Massachusetts provide legal representation for individuals and businesses facing serious tax collection actions from the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. These attorneys handle a wide range of tax problems, including back taxes owed from prior years, IRS audits that have resulted in additional assessments, tax liens filed against property, tax levies that freeze bank accounts, wage garnishment orders that take a portion of each paycheck, and penalty abatement requests to reduce or remove failure-to-pay and failure-to-file penalties. The primary resolution tools include offers in compromise, which allow taxpayers to settle their tax debt for less than the full amount owed, installment agreements that break the debt into manageable monthly payments, and penalty abatement for first-time noncompliance or reasonable cause such as serious illness or natural disaster. Each case requires a careful review of the taxpayer's financial situation, including income, assets, and monthly expenses, to determine the most appropriate path forward under federal and Massachusetts law.
Federal tax issues often begin with a series of IRS notices, starting with a balance due notice and escalating to a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, which attaches to all real and personal property, and ultimately a Notice of Levy, which allows the IRS to seize bank accounts, wages, or other income. The IRS generally has ten years from the date of assessment to collect any tax debt, a period known as the statute of limitations on collections, though certain actions such as filing for bankruptcy or submitting an offer in compromise can pause or extend this period. Innocent spouse relief is available for taxpayers who filed a joint return and can demonstrate that the understatement of tax was solely the responsibility of their spouse or former spouse, with the IRS applying a strict set of criteria including lack of knowledge and economic hardship. Currently not collectible status is an option when a taxpayer has no disposable income or assets to pay the debt, placing the account in a suspended collection status where the IRS will not take enforcement action but interest and penalties continue to accrue. Massachusetts follows similar federal guidelines for its own collection processes, though with shorter timeframes and different penalty structures.
State tax issues in Massachusetts are handled by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, which has its own collection process that mirrors the IRS but with state-specific rules and deadlines. The DOR can file state tax liens, levy bank accounts, and garnish wages, and it imposes penalties that are often more aggressive than federal penalties, including a failure-to-pay penalty of one percent per month on unpaid tax and a failure-to-file penalty of one percent per month up to a maximum of twenty-five percent. Massachusetts offers its own offer in compromise program, known as a Compromise of Tax Liability, which requires a detailed financial statement and a showing that the taxpayer cannot pay the full amount due within a reasonable period, typically five years. State tax liens in Massachusetts automatically expire after six years unless the DOR takes action to renew them, and the DOR may also suspend driver's licenses or professional licenses for nonpayment of taxes, adding significant pressure to resolve the debt. Taxpayers with Massachusetts tax issues should be aware that the state does not have a formal innocent spouse relief program, so joint filers may both remain liable for the full debt unless they can prove fraud or duress.
Resolution options for tax debt include the offer in compromise, which allows taxpayers to settle their federal tax debt for a lump sum payment based on their reasonable collection potential, typically calculated as the net realizable equity in assets plus future income over a period of months or years. The IRS requires a nonrefundable application fee of $205 and a partial payment of twenty percent of the offer amount with a lump sum offer, or the first proposed payment with a periodic payment offer, though low-income taxpayers may qualify for a waiver of these requirements. Installment agreements are more common and can be set up for any amount owed, with streamlined agreements available for debts under $50,000 that allow monthly payments over up to 72 months without requiring a full financial disclosure. Penalty abatement is available under the First-Time Penalty Abatement policy for taxpayers who have not had any penalties in the prior three years and are current on all filing and payment requirements, or through reasonable cause arguments supported by documentation such as medical records, death certificates, or proof of natural disaster. Bankruptcy can discharge certain tax debts, including income taxes that are at least three years old, assessed at least 240 days before filing, and for which a return was filed at least two years prior, though payroll taxes and trust fund recovery penalties are generally not dischargeable.
When hiring a tax relief attorney in Salem, taxpayers should expect to pay flat fees ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 or more for straightforward cases, with complex cases involving audits, appeals, or litigation costing significantly higher amounts. Some attorneys charge hourly rates between $300 and $600 per hour, though flat fee arrangements are more common for standard resolution work such as preparing an offer in compromise or negotiating an installment agreement. Taxpayers should be cautious of tax relief scams, including companies that promise to settle debts for pennies on the dollar before reviewing any financial information, require upfront fees before providing any services, or pressure clients into signing contracts with hidden fees and automatic renewals. Enrolled agents are federally licensed tax practitioners who can represent clients before the IRS, but they cannot represent clients in court or provide legal advice on bankruptcy or litigation matters. Certified public accountants can also represent clients before the IRS but are limited to tax matters and cannot provide legal representation in court. Attorneys offer the broadest scope of representation, including court appearances, bankruptcy filings, and legal advice on complex issues such as innocent spouse relief and trust fund recovery penalties.
Taxpayers should hire a tax relief attorney as soon as they receive an IRS notice demanding payment, especially if the notice includes a final notice of intent to levy or a notice of federal tax lien filing. If a revenue officer has been assigned to the case, this indicates the IRS has escalated collection efforts and immediate action is needed to prevent asset seizure. A bank account levy or wage garnishment requires urgent legal intervention, as the IRS can seize funds within twenty-one days of the levy notice, and employers must comply with garnishment orders immediately. Receiving an audit notification, particularly for a business or complex return, warrants professional representation to navigate the documentation requirements and appeal process. Unfiled tax returns are a critical issue because the IRS can file substitute returns on the taxpayer's behalf, which often result in higher tax liabilities and loss of deductions and credits, and the statute of limitations on collection does not begin until a return is filed. Waiting too long to seek legal help can limit available resolution options, such as the ability to file an offer in compromise or qualify for penalty abatement, and may result in irreversible enforcement actions like property seizure or license suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Massachusetts law differ from federal law for tax lien filings against property in Salem?
Massachusetts law allows the Department of Revenue to file a state tax lien that automatically expires after six years unless the DOR takes affirmative action to renew it, unlike federal tax liens which remain in effect until the debt is paid or the ten-year collection statute expires. The DOR also has the authority to attach real estate in Salem through a court action called a tax taking, which can lead to foreclosure if the taxes remain unpaid for two years. Massachusetts law requires the DOR to provide a Notice of Intent to Levy at least thirty days before seizing property, and taxpayers have the right to request a Collection Due Process hearing to challenge the lien or levy.
What are the typical costs for a tax relief attorney in Salem, Massachusetts for an offer in compromise case?
A tax relief attorney in Salem typically charges a flat fee between $3,500 and $8,000 for preparing and negotiating an offer in compromise with the IRS, depending on the complexity of the financial situation and whether the case involves both federal and state tax debts. Hourly rates range from $350 to $600 per hour, and a straightforward offer in compromise case may require ten to twenty hours of attorney time. Massachusetts state offer in compromise cases are often less expensive, with flat fees ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, though the total cost depends on the amount of documentation required and whether an appeal is necessary. This information is general and does not constitute legal advice; consult with a qualified attorney for specific fee arrangements.
How long does the tax relief process take for a Massachusetts state tax case in Salem?
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue typically takes sixty to ninety days to process an offer in compromise application, though complex cases may take up to six months if additional documentation or appeals are required. Installment agreements with the DOR can be approved within thirty to forty-five days if the taxpayer meets the streamlined criteria, which requires a debt under $25,000 and a plan to pay within three years. If the DOR has already filed a tax lien or initiated a levy, the taxpayer must act quickly, as the DOR can seize bank accounts or garnish wages within thirty days of the final notice, and the entire resolution process from initial consultation to final approval can take three to twelve months depending on the complexity of the case.