An audit is a good time to have a tax attorney on your side, especially if you're a business owner. The Internal Revenue Service is single-minded in its attempts to collect what it sees as tax shortfalls, and an attorney can prevent them from taking advantage of you.

Remember that anything you reveal to an attorney -- even a tax attorney -- is utterly confidential and can't be revealed to anyone else without your permission. That being the case, be as straight with them as possible, and don't keep anything hidden; you never know what might help your case.

Most American states (and many foreign countries) have Tax Lawyer Associations of one kind or another. Check to see if your prospective tax attorney belongs to one; this will signal their commitment to that particular specialty. Tax Lawyer Associations may also be able to help you find a tax attorney if you can't find one on your own.