What does a tax attorney do?
A tax attorney specializes in assisting clients in understanding tax laws. Their responsibilities typically revolve around conducting extensive research, meeting with clients to conduct initial assessments and interviews, understanding their needs, and helping them make business decisions by providing legal taxation advice. A tax attorney may also help clients to find ways to minimize their tax deductions. Furthermore, aside from working with individuals, a tax attorney may also work for companies as part of their legal team.
Tax attorney responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real tax attorney resumes:
- Manage the death administration department with approximately thirty-five plus estates through trust administration, Medicaid estate recovery or probate.
- Review IRS propose regulations, advisory letters and technical advice memorandums for tax litigation.
- Probate practice - estates and protect individuals.
- Participate in legal document review and compliance for large complex civil litigation matters.
- Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
- Handle all aspects of discovery including preparing interrogatories, document requests, taking and defending depositions and responding to discovery requests.
Tax attorney skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Tax Attorneys are proficient in Litigation, Law Firm, and Real Estate. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Tax Attorneys that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 13%
Reviewed IRS proposed regulations, advisory letters and technical advice memorandums for tax litigation.
- Law Firm, 12%
Conducted legal research in tax law to assist with writing a book on taxation of lawyers and law firms.
- Real Estate, 8%
Research and analyze related legal issues in areas, such as, real estate, bankruptcy and estate planning.
- Taxation, 5%
Tax liaison for all expatriate taxation functions.
- International Tax, 4%
Participated in international tax planning projects.
- IRS, 4%
Argued a case against the IRS involving criminal tax avoidance and was able to keep client from serving in prison.
Most tax attorneys use their skills in "litigation," "law firm," and "real estate" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential tax attorney responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a tax attorney to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Tax attorneys often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "drafted and analyzed estate tax legislation. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling tax attorney duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community." According to a tax attorney resume, here's how tax attorneys can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "demonstrated effective interpersonal skills through working closely with office of general counsel and administrative appeals judges. "
Problem-solving skills. tax attorneys are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to tax attorney responsibilities, because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." A tax attorney resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "trained new attorneys on financial analysis procedures and tax resolution recommendations. "
Research skills. For certain tax attorney responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "research skills." The day-to-day duties of a tax attorney rely on this skill, as "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what tax attorneys do: "researched federal tax law, drafted legal memoranda, and prepared clients and witnesses for settlement conferences and possible litigation. "
The three companies that hire the most tax attorneys are:
- Florida Power and Light 6 tax attorneys jobs
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.3 tax attorneys jobs
- Equifax2 tax attorneys jobs
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Compare different tax attorneys
Tax attorney vs. General counsel
A general counsel, also called a chief legal officer, is the chief lawyer in the legal department of an organization. The counsel represents an enterprise for any pending legal matters. They work proactively to lessen possible problems associated with legalities and potential risks. They have to monitor practices and the people within the law firm for misconduct. They also perform dominant roles in regulation, ethics, public affairs, and legislation. It is common for them to serve as the public spokesperson of the company during the publicity of legal matters.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a tax attorney are more likely to require skills like "real estate," "international tax," "cpa," and "appeals." On the other hand, a job as a general counsel requires skills like "intellectual property," "juris," "risk management," and "ethics." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that general counsels earn slightly differ from tax attorneys. In particular, general counsels are 9.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a tax attorney. Additionally, they're 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tax attorney vs. Council member
The bankruptcy specialist is responsible for filing and documentation loan bankruptcy materials with the appropriate attorneys. They ensure full compliance with loan bankruptcy regulations and monitor accounts throughout the loan bankruptcy process to contact the appropriate party when necessary. A bankruptcy specialist might be an administrator or lawyer in a bankruptcy office and supports bankruptcy law. They are likely to evaluate state declaration and affidavits for legal progression, interact with customers and outside counsel about bankruptcy proceedings through written and verbal communication, and work with local counsel and upper management in effectively reviewing client's files.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real tax attorney resumes. While tax attorney responsibilities can utilize skills like "litigation," "law firm," "real estate," and "taxation," council members use skills like "public policy," "finance committee," "community outreach," and "alumni."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Council members tend to reach similar levels of education than tax attorneys. In fact, they're 3.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tax attorney vs. Bankruptcy specialist
A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a tax attorney is likely to be skilled in "law firm," "real estate," "taxation," and "international tax," while a typical bankruptcy specialist is skilled in "relief," "pacer," "foreclosure," and "msp."
When it comes to education, bankruptcy specialists tend to earn lower degree levels compared to tax attorneys. In fact, they're 12.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 41.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tax attorney vs. Housing counselor
Types of tax attorney
Updated January 8, 2025
