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Tax Audits
Representation during an IRS audit, including document preparation, issue analysis and communication with the examining agent.
Learn About IRS Audits →IRS Tax Resolution Attorneys · Five Office Locations
Resolve Your IRS Tax Problem.
Back taxes, collection notices, levies, garnishments and audits can become more serious when they are ignored. Our team helps individuals and businesses understand the problem, communicate with the IRS and pursue a practical resolution.
✓ Take Control of Unpaid Taxes
✓ Respond to Wage & Bank Levies
✓ Get Guidance Before Talking to the IRS
1984Practicing Law Since
“The sooner you understand your options, the sooner you can start moving toward a resolution.”
The Law Office of Lance R. DruryTax debt does not usually disappear on its own.A deliberate response can help you protect assets, reduce collection pressure and choose the right path forward.
Since 1984Legal Experience
5 OfficesMissouri, Tennessee & Texas
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IRS Tax Resolution
A legal strategy for getting your tax problem under control.
Individuals and business owners can fall behind for many reasons: an unexpected tax balance, missed filings, financial setbacks, payroll problems or an audit that produces additional liability. When the IRS begins contacting you, the important question is not simply how much you owe — it is which resolution option best fits your financial and legal situation.
The Law Office of Lance R. Drury reviews the full picture, explains the available options and can communicate with the IRS on your behalf. The objective is to resolve the immediate problem while helping you move forward with a workable plan.
How a Tax Resolution Lawyer Helps
Replace uncertainty with an organized IRS strategy.
Tax resolution is not one form or one negotiation. It starts with understanding what the IRS is doing, what deadlines apply and which options are realistically available.
Start With a Free Consultation01
Review the Notices and Tax History
We examine IRS correspondence, prior returns, unfiled years, assessed balances, deadlines and active collection activity.
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Identify the Available Resolution Paths
Depending on the case, options may include an installment agreement, penalty relief, currently-not-collectible status, an offer in compromise, an appeal or another strategy.
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Communicate and Negotiate With the IRS
The firm can take over agency communications, present documentation and advocate for a resolution based on the taxpayer’s legal and financial circumstances.
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Help You Move Forward
Once the immediate problem is addressed, the next goal is staying compliant and reducing the likelihood that the same issue develops again.
What situations can an IRS tax resolution lawyer help with?
Tax resolution can involve far more than simply negotiating a bill. A lawyer can help assess how the liability arose, whether filings are complete, whether the IRS is already collecting and what procedural rights are available.
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IRS audits and document requests
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Unpaid federal tax balances
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Late or unfiled tax returns
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Wage levies and garnishments
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Bank levies and federal tax liens
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Penalty and interest concerns
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Payment-plan negotiations
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Settlement and collection alternatives
Can a lawyer help with both federal and state tax problems?
Yes. A taxpayer dealing with IRS debt may also face a separate balance or collection issue with a state taxing authority. Federal and state agencies operate under different rules, procedures and collection systems, so the strategy may need to address both matters separately.
The firm represents clients in federal tax disputes and can also assist with state tax matters, helping coordinate the response so one problem is not resolved while another is left unattended.
Why legal representation can matter when the IRS is involved
Back taxes, audits and levies are stressful because the IRS has substantial collection authority and taxpayers often do not know which statements, forms or deadlines will affect the outcome. Legal representation gives you someone who can analyze the legal posture of the case, communicate with the agency and negotiate from a documented position.
The objective is not to promise a particular result. It is to make sure the problem is approached deliberately, with the taxpayer’s rights, finances and long-term interests in view.
Professional Representation
Tax lawyer vs. enrolled agent.
Both tax attorneys and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS. The difference is primarily their professional training and the types of legal issues they are equipped to address.
IRS Representation
Enrolled Agent
An enrolled agent is federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS and may handle matters involving audits, collections and appeals.
- Federal tax-practice credential
- IRS representation authority
- Tax compliance and collection matters
Legal Representation
Tax Attorney
A tax lawyer is licensed to practice law and can combine IRS representation with legal analysis, negotiation strategy and advice when a tax dispute overlaps with broader legal rights or exposure.
- Law degree and state bar admission
- IRS representation authority
- Legal analysis, negotiation and advocacy
Federal & State Tax Matters
One tax problem can involve more than one agency.
Federal and state tax liabilities can exist at the same time, and each authority may have different collection tools, deadlines and resolution programs. The firm can evaluate the complete situation and develop a coordinated response.
Discuss Federal & State Tax DebtMissouri · Tennessee · TexasFive office locations serving taxpayers with IRS and state tax matters in Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.
Client Experiences
A plan can change how the problem feels.
Selected feedback from clients who sought help with IRS tax issues and collection problems.
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40+Years in Legal Practice
Tax Law Representation
Experienced guidance when the IRS is pressuring you.
Lance R. Drury has practiced law since 1984. The firm represents individuals and businesses facing tax collection, audits, disputes and compliance issues, with an emphasis on clear communication and practical problem solving.
The right first step is understanding what the IRS can do, what you can do, and which deadlines matter now.
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Start resolving the IRS problem today.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss back taxes, an audit, a levy, unfiled returns or another IRS collection issue. The firm can review the situation and explain the legal and practical options available.
St. Louis Office314-260-6120IRS Tax Resolution FAQ
Frequently asked questions about IRS tax resolution.
Every tax matter is different. These answers provide general information about common IRS collection and resolution issues. The right strategy depends on the tax years involved, filing status, notices received, deadlines, financial condition and current collection activity.
Start by identifying which tax years are involved, whether all required returns have been filed and whether the IRS has already started collection activity. Once the full picture is clear, possible options may include full payment, an installment agreement, penalty relief, currently-not-collectible status, an offer in compromise or another case-specific resolution strategy.
When properly authorized, a tax attorney can communicate with the IRS, review notices and account information, submit documentation, discuss collection alternatives and advocate for the taxpayer during many stages of the resolution process. The exact scope of representation depends on the matter involved.
A lawyer can review the levy, the notices that preceded it, available deadlines and the taxpayer’s financial circumstances. Depending on the facts, it may be possible to pursue a levy release, collection alternative, appeal or another resolution. A release is not automatic and generally does not eliminate the underlying tax debt.
A bank levy can freeze funds that are subject to the levy and create immediate financial pressure. The taxpayer should identify the notice, tax periods and deadlines involved and determine whether a release, appeal, hardship argument or broader collection resolution may be available. Acting quickly is important because levy procedures can be time-sensitive.
Some taxpayers may qualify for an offer in compromise, which can allow an eligible liability to be resolved for less than the full amount owed. Qualification is not automatic. The IRS generally evaluates assets, income, allowable expenses, ability to pay, filing compliance and other financial information before deciding whether an offer is acceptable.
An installment agreement is an arrangement that allows an eligible taxpayer to pay an IRS liability over time rather than in a single payment. The available terms can depend on the amount owed, filing compliance, financial information and the type of tax liability involved.
Currently-not-collectible status is a collection classification that may be available when making payments would prevent a taxpayer from meeting necessary living expenses. The IRS generally requires financial information before granting this status. The tax debt usually remains in place while active collection is suspended.
Penalty abatement may be available in some circumstances. Eligibility depends on the type of penalty, the taxpayer’s compliance history and the facts that caused the filing or payment problem. Removing a penalty does not necessarily eliminate the underlying tax or all interest associated with the account.
Yes. Delinquent returns often need to be addressed before a long-term collection resolution can be finalized. The first step is determining which returns are missing, gathering reliable records and bringing the filing situation into compliance before evaluating payment or settlement options.
A federal tax lien is the government’s legal claim against a taxpayer’s property and rights to property after certain requirements are met. A levy is an enforcement action used to seize property or money to collect a tax debt. Because the consequences and available responses differ, the specific IRS notices should be reviewed carefully.
Appeal rights may be available for certain collection actions, but deadlines can be strict. The notice received usually determines which administrative rights are available and when a request must be made. Missing a deadline can limit the taxpayer’s options, so collection notices should be reviewed promptly.
The firm handles federal tax matters and also assists with state tax problems. Federal and state tax agencies have different procedures, collection tools and resolution programs, so each liability needs to be evaluated under the rules that apply to that agency.