The sooner you obtain competent legal counsel who is familiar with both the tax laws and IRS processes the better. Doing so will help you save money and time.
A number of situations require a tax attorney to be involved: fraud investigation, a lengthy audit, an audit involving legal issues, a large deficiency balance, incomplete or inadequate books and records, inability to pay, not filing returns for a number of years, not owing the taxes, the expiration of the statute of limitations.