Tax planning, IRS audit defense, back-tax resolution, and tax-strategy consultations for Texas individuals, families, and businesses.
Schedule a Consultation →Most Texans handle their tax preparation through a CPA — and that's usually the right choice. What attorneys add is something different: legal counsel on tax issues, attorney-client privilege for sensitive matters, and representation when something goes wrong with the IRS. PEEPL Law provides tax counsel and IRS representation for individuals, families, and businesses — including audit defense, back-tax resolution, and tax-strategy consultations that coordinate with broader estate, business, and family planning.
For tax return preparation, we work with a network of CPA partners and refer clients accordingly. We work with families in Travis County and the surrounding Hill Country area, including Lakeway, Bee Cave, Steiner Ranch, Spicewood, The Hills, Falconhead, Sweetwater, Rough Hollow, and Travis Club.
PEEPL Law provides the following tax services:
Tax practice in Texas has features worth knowing:
Texas does not impose a personal state income tax, which simplifies federal-tax compliance for most Texas residents. Texas does impose a franchise tax on most business entities, with thresholds and reporting requirements administered by the Texas Comptroller.
Federal tax representation is authorized under Circular 230, which governs attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents practicing before the IRS. Mark Bergeron is authorized to represent clients before the IRS as an attorney with an active CAF number.
Communications with an attorney about tax matters are generally protected by attorney-client privilege. This protection does not apply to communications with a CPA or enrolled agent about federal tax matters under most circumstances. For sensitive matters, this distinction can be significant.
Many tax issues we handle arise alongside estate planning matters — basis step-up at death, decedent's final return considerations, fiduciary income tax during estate administration, and federal estate tax for higher-net-worth estates.
Most tax matters benefit from collaboration between attorney and CPA. We work alongside the client's existing CPA where the client has one, and we refer to a network of CPA partners for clients who need return preparation.
We discuss the tax situation, the documents and notices involved, and what you're trying to accomplish. For audit or collection matters, we identify the relevant tax years and the IRS letters in play.
We send an engagement letter and a document request list. For IRS representation matters, we file Form 2848 Power of Attorney to represent you before the IRS and obtain account transcripts.
We review the records, identify the tax exposure or resolution options, and outline the realistic paths. For audit matters, we evaluate the strength of the IRS position; for collection matters, we evaluate the resolution alternatives that fit your financial situation.
We respond to IRS notices, attend examinations, or submit settlement proposals. Where return preparation is part of the resolution, we coordinate with the client's CPA or refer to a CPA partner.
We confirm IRS actions are processed and any installment agreements or settlements are on track. For multi-year matters, we schedule the periodic check-ins needed to keep the resolution on course.
All three can represent taxpayers before the IRS under Circular 230. Attorneys add attorney-client privilege protection (which CPAs and EAs do not have for federal tax matters under most circumstances) and can represent clients in U.S. Tax Court and other federal courts when matters escalate. CPAs and enrolled agents are typically the right choice for return preparation; attorneys are typically the right choice for matters involving privilege concerns, controversy with the IRS, or potential litigation.
Return preparation is highly specialized work that benefits from the volume and tooling that CPA practices are built around. Rather than do part-time return preparation, we focus on tax counsel, IRS representation, and tax-coordinated estate and business planning — and we refer return-preparation work to CPA partners we work with regularly. For most clients, that produces a better outcome than a single firm trying to do everything.
Yes — IRS notices typically have specific response deadlines, and missing them can forfeit appeal rights, allow assessments to become final, or accelerate collections. The first step on receiving any IRS notice is to identify the deadline and respond on time, even if that response is just a request for additional time to gather documents.
An Offer in Compromise is a settlement of a tax debt for less than the full amount owed, available under IRC § 7122. The IRS accepts an OIC when there is doubt about collectibility (the taxpayer cannot reasonably pay the full amount) or doubt about liability. Acceptance rates are not high, and OIC eligibility depends on detailed financial analysis. We evaluate whether OIC is the right path before recommending it.
Tax-strategy consultations are typically billed on a fixed-fee or hourly basis depending on scope. IRS representation matters are generally billed hourly, sometimes with a fixed-fee component for specific deliverables. We discuss expected costs at the initial consultation.
PEEPL Law provides tax counsel, planning, and IRS representation for individuals, families, and businesses across Travis County and surrounding Hill Country areas. Initial consultations are confidential.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Visiting this site or contacting our firm through this site does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Every legal situation is unique, and you should consult with a qualified attorney to obtain advice tailored to your specific circumstances. PEEPL LAW disclaims any liability for actions taken based on the information contained herein.
