What is a Tax Attorney?

A tax attorney is a lawyer or law professional who specializes in the complex field of tax law. Most tax attorneys have received a bachelor’s degree in law and many also studied accounting, a field closely related to tax law. In law school, tax attorneys learn to understand the Tax Code, the federal government document that details how individuals and businesses must pay taxes. The Tax Code is thousands of pages long and fully understanding it takes years of studying and practical application.

To become a tax attorney, a person must pass what’s called the bar exam, a notoriously challenging exam that determines whether or not a person is qualified to practice law. Fewer than half of all those who take the bar exam pass on their first attempt. All tax lawyers in the United States must pass their state bar exam before being legally able to practice.

In addition to the years of studying it takes to pass the bar exam, most tax attorneys have gone through rigorous internships at law firms or other legal businesses that give them an understanding of how to put their expertise on tax law into practice. Understanding how to use tax law to a client’s advantage is just as important as fully understanding the tax code, as this is what gives tax attorneys the ability to swiftly and expertly resolve complex tax issues.