Defending the Defenders of Tax Law Because your reputation deserves a winning defense!

When the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) contacts you, your ability to practice before the IRS is on the line. For tax preparers, tax attorneys, accountants, CPAs, EAs, enrolled actuaries/retirement plan agents and even appraisers tied to IRS submissions.  OPR actions can mean censure, suspension, or disbarment under Circular 230. At The Walton Firm, we exclusively defend Tax Professionals subject to Circuar 230, we move quickly to contain risk, defend your license, and safeguard your name.

• Due diligence and competency findings (e.g., credits, HOH, ERC patterns)
   
• E-file/EFIN and PTIN problems (unauthorized use, monitoring letters, revocations)
   
• Advertising & fee disclosures (misleading claims, “guaranteed refunds,” refund advances)
   
• Data-security lapses (breaches, shared logins, weak controls)
   
• Conflicts of interest / client funds issues
   
• Criminal or civil tax matters referred from CI/Exam or state boards
   

What’s at stake: public discipline, limits on client representation, collateral state-board consequences, employment and bank-product access, and long-term damage to your brand.

• Inquiry / Information Request – OPR asks for records, explanations, and policies.
   
• Positioning & Negotiation – We present a factual and legal narrative that mitigates or resolves allegations.
   
• Complaint & ALJ Hearing (if filed) – Contested matters proceed before an Administrative Law Judge.
   
• Decision / Sanction – Outcomes range from no action to censure, suspension, or disbarment; settlements (consent orders) are common.
   
• Appeal / Reinstatement – We pursue administrative appeal where warranted and plan for reinstatement if any sanction issues.

Rapid Triage & Risk Map

• Pinpoint the alleged violations, the evidence OPR will rely on, and downstream risks (EFIN/PTIN, CI, civil exam, state board).
   

Evidence Build-Out

• Due diligence files, QC audits, training logs, role-based access/MFA proof, engagement letters, fee disclosures, marketing copies, incident/breach logs, e-file and bank-product reports.
   

Strategic Response

• Fact-first, standards-driven submission that addresses Circular 230 obligations, shows remediation, and narrows issues.
   
• Where appropriate, consent resolutions that avoid harsher sanctions, with compliance undertakings we design for you.
   

Hearing & Posture

• If OPR files a complaint, we litigate before the ALJ, challenge unreliable assumptions, and present mitigation, controls, and expert context.
   

Parallel-Proceeding Control

• Coordinate with CI, Exam, Return Preparer Office, and state boards so one step doesn’t create exposure elsewhere.
   

• Current WISP/Data-Security policies, MFA/VPN evidence, encryption settings
   
• QC/due diligence procedures; EITC/CTC/HOH/AOTC checklists; internal file-audit results
   
• Training & discipline logs; compliance attestations
   
• E-file logs, user-access reports, bank-product summaries, complaint/incident register
   
• Engagement letters, fee disclosures, marketing/website screenshots
   
• Ownership, location, and responsible-official records consistent with your IRS e-file application.