Most people I talk to about their IRS problem have already built the worst-case scenario in their head. The reality is usually much more manageable. I'm Darrin Mish, and I've been representing taxpayers before the IRS for 32 years. Here's what actually tends to happen.<\/p>\n\n
When the IRS moves from mailing notices to taking your money, you want a licensed attorney on your side. Not a national call center. Not a salesperson reading a script off a screen in another state. The Law Offices of Darrin T. Mish, P.A. sits at 15421 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa, and Darrin T. Mish has focused on IRS tax controversy for more than three decades.<\/p>
One goal drives the first conversation. Stop the IRS collection process and build a real plan.<\/p>
Directories list names. They do not tell you whether an attorney has handled a Trust Fund Recovery Penalty case, negotiated a levy release under genuine time pressure, or carried a client through an Offer in Compromise rejection and appeal.<\/p>
Here is the part most people miss. What you need depends entirely on your IRS issue. A levy notice comes with strict timing rules. An unfiled return problem starts with compliance, not negotiation. Audit representation takes someone who knows examination procedure, not just general tax knowledge.<\/p>
Before you hire anyone for IRS work in Hillsborough County, verify the Florida Bar license and ask about specific experience with your type of problem. More on how to do that below.<\/p>
The office at 15421 N. Florida Ave. is not a virtual mailbox or a satellite address rented to look local. It is where Darrin works. If you live in Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Temple Terrace, or Carrollwood, you are hiring an attorney who serves your county every week.<\/p>
That matters in IRS controversy work. Local presence means direct communication with Tampa area revenue officers and the ability to move fast when the clock is short.<\/p>
Darrin is admitted in the Middle District of Florida, which covers Hillsborough County, and he is admitted to the United States Tax Court for the cases that need to be litigated there.<\/p>
When the IRS moves past notices and into active collection, it usually assigns a revenue officer. Internal Revenue Manual Part 5 lays out the sequence: assessment, notice and demand, then enforcement through liens, levies, and wage garnishment when the taxpayer does not respond or reach an agreement.<\/p>
An IRS levy is a legal seizure of your property to satisfy a tax debt. It can garnish your wages and pull funds straight out of a bank account. IRM 5.11.5 covers the procedures for serving levy notices on wages, salary, and other income. Once a levy is in place, the windows to challenge or release it are narrow.<\/p>
The IRS Independent Office of Appeals is another avenue in many disputes. Appeals exists to resolve cases without litigation in a way meant to be fair and impartial to both the government and the taxpayer. Knowing when to request Appeals and when to pursue a Collection Due Process hearing is a judgment call, and that call affects outcomes.<\/p>
| Your Situation<\/th> | What Controls the Outcome<\/th> | Where to Start<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> |
|---|---|---|
| Levy or wage garnishment notice<\/td> | Timing. The response window is short.<\/td> | Get representation in place today<\/td><\/tr> |
| Years of unfiled returns<\/td> | Compliance comes before negotiation<\/td> | Reconstruct and file the missing years<\/td><\/tr> |
| Audit or examination notice<\/td> | What you say at the beginning<\/td> | Let counsel handle the contact<\/td><\/tr> |
| Trust Fund Recovery Penalty interview<\/td> | Personal liability exposure<\/td> | Do not attend without an attorney<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>How the Free Consultation Works<\/h2>During the initial call the focus is narrow. What is the IRS actually pursuing, what stage is the collection or examination process in, and what realistic options apply to your facts.<\/p> No outcome guarantees. What you get is a clear picture of where things stand and what the path forward looks like. After the consultation you will have a plan that defines the scope of work, the IRS process being addressed, and how communication with the IRS runs from that point on.<\/p> Verify the Attorney’s License Before You Hire Anyone<\/h2>Anyone can market tax help. Not everyone selling it is a licensed attorney.<\/p> |