David Lewis, Enrolled Agent

I schedule an appointment at my office in downtown Vero Beach in the beautiful CoLab building.  At the appointment, I ask questions to determine the type of IRS issues that exist, and then formulate a strategy with my customer to solve the problem.  For IRS problem resolutions, the first step is to get the customer to sign a tax power of attorney form, allowing me to act on their behalf.

Once that is done, a copy of the client's IRS account transcript is obtained and reviewed.

For some clients, a simple installment agreement is needed; for others, a more complicated arangement is needed with completed financial statement forms.  For yet others, with doubt as to collectibility or doubt as to liability, an Offer in Compromise may be in order.

Once a plan of attack is agreed upon by myself and my client, an email is sent after each step in the process is completed.  This continues until the issue is completely resolved with the IRS to the customer's satisfaction.

I have an undergraduate degree in Accounting Technology and a Master's degree in Accounting.  Coursework was taken through a number of accredited colleges and universities, including Harrison College, Ivy Tech State College, LaSalle Extension University, Liberty University, and Washington School of Law.

I became an Enrolled Agent on October 26, 1987, and have averaged 24 to 30 continuing education hours in tax law and ethics each year since.

In addition to my 30 plus years successfully representing clients before the IRS, I also have 10 years as Tax Manager/Tax Lead in 2 leading tax software companies.

I charge a flat fee of $1,000 for tax representation services.  The only additional charges are for filing back tax returns.  The fee for each 1040 prepared (no matter how complex) is $250 for each return year.  If a partnership, trust, or corporation return is required, the fee is $500 for each return year.

For those who need help with the payment, a non-interest bearing payment plan is available with payments of $250 per month.

Beware of tax representation firms that charge a "retainer" with "estimates" of what you will pay; especially if you are not working directly with a credentialized professional (EA, CPA, or attorney).  Many of these firms waste your money and you wind up paying thousands more than necessary.  Let the buyer beware.

I was blessed.  Shortly after graduating college, I went to work for the Indiana Department of Revenue as a Field Tax Auditor...I traveled the state auditing the records of businesses and some individuals.  I saw many people that were good, hard working taxpayers that just had some temporary financial problems and needed some understanding and leniency to get back on their feet again.  Unfortunately, even with my recommendations, the agency that I worked for was unwilling or unable to help.  That was frustrating to me.

Flash forward a few years.  An older tax attorney in my home town was getting close to retirement, and made an agreement with me:  If I worked for him for five years and became an enrolled agent, so that his clients could keep the same rights of representation that they had with him, he would retire and let me take over for simply buying the building and equipement.   I agreed, studied for and passed the EA exam (similar to an attorney's bar exam, but in tax law), and, when the time came, I took over his practice.  I practiced successfully with a tax planning, preparation, and represntation service for over 20 years.

Life changes things.  I got married, and we decided to move to Florida for a number of personal reason.  I left my practice to a CPA friend, and took a job as a Tax Manager for a professional tax software company; actually designing and trouble-shooting forms in the software, and managing a team of coders and designers. 

I loved that job, but five years in, the company was sold and moved to a suburb of Atlanta.  I didn't want to go.

I started doing some returns on the side, and went to work for another Fortune 500 firm, this time co-managing a team of CPAs, EAs, and tax attorneys that assisted customers in using our software to correctly file their own returns.

I developed some health issues that forced me to retire from that job at 62.  At 66, I decdided to come out of retirement.  I missed the life of helping people get out of trouble with the IRS, and decided to once again help where I am most needed.

I have worked with individual taxpayers, sole proprietors (business and agricultural), partnerships, C and S corporations, estates and trusts, and nonprofits.

A friend of mine from church was having some collection issues with the IRS.  We informally sat and spoke about his issues.

After learning about his issues, we discussed several options that he could look at.  He opted for requesting an offer in compromise.  I helped him get the forms and gave him some ideas on how to fill it out.  He did so, I reviewed it for him, and he sent it in.  A few weeks later, I learned that IRS had accepted it and his settlement offer.  He was able to pay the IRS in full, and get a tremendous weight off of his shoulders.   All I did was give him a little advice and he did the rest.

Be sure that you are working directly with the person who is representing you.  Many agencies hire customer sales reps that call themselves "tax resolution experts" or something along that line, while their whole purpose is to get your money away from you for a retainer.  There are many ways to waste retainers, and you can soon find yourself being asked for more funds, with very little (if anything) being done on your case.

Let the buyer beware.

The best bet is to hire a professional who will tell you upfront exactly what the fees will be, rather than an estimated range.

For example, our fees are as followed:  Tax Resolution - $1,000.00 flat fee.  If back returns or amended returns are required - $250.00 for each year due for individual returns or $500.00 for each year of corporate, partnership, or estate and trust returns.

(1) Will you be the one representing me?

(2) What are your qualifications?

(3) How long have you been doing this?

(4) What is the total amount that I can expect to pay?

(5) Do you take payment plans?  And, if so, what are the terms?